VII. The Importance of Workforce Diversity
A. The Characteristics of Workforce Diversity (Figure 10.6)
1. Diversity refers to the participation of different ages, genders, races,
ethnicities, nationalities, and abilities in the workplace. (Table 10.9)
2. Differences can be separated into primary and secondary
characteristics of diversity
a. Primary characteristics of diversity are inborn and cannot be
changed and include age, gender, race, ethnicity, abilities,
b. Secondary characteristics of diversity can be changed and
include work background, income, marital status, military
experience, religious beliefs, geographic location, parental
status, and education.
population
2. More and more companies are trying to improve HRM programs to
recruit, develop, and retain more diverse employees to better serve
their diverse customers.
C. The Benefits of Workforce Diversity
a. More productive use of a company’s human resources.
b. Reduced conflict among employees of different ethnicities,
races, religions, and sexual orientations as they learn to respect
each other’s differences.
c. More productive working relationships among diverse
employees as they learn more about and accept each other.
d. Increased commitment to and sharing of organizational goals