In my last post I said that a culturally diverse workplace has people with many different traditions and values. Managing diversity in the workplace requires you to be sensitive to differences while still being fair to everyone.
One characteristic that is quite common to different cultures is the importance of personal relationships. Your employees may be from countries where life was not easy. A strong family and close friends might have been needed for survival; family and friends are first priority, work a distant second.
Here are two more strategies for managing diversity in the workplace.
3. People come first. Managers need to be able to at least pronounce names properly! This shows respect and attention to detail. Show interest in your employees by asking about how they, and their families, are adjusting to life in their new home. Offer to help them get access to medical care and insurance; point the way to community programs that will benefit their entire family.
Some culturally diverse workplaces are very flexible with their staffing. Many of these employees earn money to support their families and flexible staffing systems allow them to return home for long periods.
4. Support social networking. Support social and recreational activities that improve quality of life outside of the workplace. Some of your employees may have no social network outside of work and that can be very lonely. Employees who get to know each other on a social basis begin to form a “surrogate” family for themselves. Soon cultural differences cease to be a problem and become a source of enjoyment.
Remember...You Are a Super Hero!
Jinsoo
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