Diversity is the sense that no matter where you come from, who you are, or what your background is, there is a place for you. Diversity has gone beyond legal mandates and has become an environment that is inclusive of all groups, maximizes the potential of all employees, and values the variety of perspectives all employees bring to the workplace at the scientific, technical, management, and administrative levels As global competition opens world markets, North American business people will increasingly interact with customers and colleagues from around the world. At the same time, the North America workforce is also becoming more diverse – in race, ethnicity, age, gender, national origin, physical ability, and countless other characteristics. No longer, say experts, will the workplace be predominantly male or Anglo-oriented.
Nearly 85 percent of new entrants to the workforce will be women, minorities, and immigrants, according to estimates from the U. S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. By the year 2005, groups now considered minorities (African-Americas, Hispanics, Asians, Native-Americans, and others) will make up 27 percent of the workforce, women will make up 48 percent of the workforce, and more than 22 million workers will be 55 years or older. While the workforce is becoming more diverse, the structure of many businesses in North America is also changing. Workers are now organized by teams instead of by individuality.
Organizations are flatter, and rank-and-file workers are increasingly making decisions among themselves. What does all this mean for you as a future worker? Simply put, more jobs may require you to interact with colleagues and customers from around the world and from different cultural backgrounds. Your work environment will probably demand that you cooperate effectively with small groups of coworkers. And these coworkers may differ from you in race, ethnicity, gender, age, and other ways. A diverse work environment has many benefits. Consumers want to deal with companies that respect their values and create products and services tailored to their needs.
The Essay on North America
North America is a very unique region because of the cultural, population, and environmental differences from other regions. North America’s climates and vegetation are diverse, mainly because of the regions size. The drier climates are found from west Texas to Alberta. The soils of this region are fertile. Prairie vegetation dominated by tall grasslands in the East. Western North American ...
Organizations that hire employees with different experiences and backgrounds are better able to create the different products that these consumers desire. In addition, businesses with diverse workforces suffer fewer discrimination lawsuits, fewer union clashes, and less government regulatory action. That’s why a growing number of companies view today’s diversity movement as a critical bottom-line business strategy for improving employee relations and increasing productivity.
