Does diversity in the workplace ensure workplace equality?

No

9 of 10

by Irina Diaconescu

Write now Print Invite a writer™ Add to Favorites RSS Feed Contact this writer

Whether diversity in the workplace, or anywhere else in the world for that matter, brings quality to its environment or not, is extremely difficult to gauge. Much like soft skills (intuition, interpersonal and
intrapersonal relationships, motivation), there is no exact scale that would allow proper and precise measurement of the impact of diversity. So all we can do at this point, is merely speculate on the effects of diversity.

More often than not, diversity in any environment brings forth many challenges. Diversity is made up of such things such as different geography, culture, skin color, beliefs and so on. Something as simple as being born and raised in a different geographical location, even if born in the same country, can bring forth difficulties for a relationship between as little as two individuals, let alone in the workplace, where there are certainly more than two individuals. Therefore, the question of whether diversity ensures quality in the workplace is a hard one to answer. There is no one single factor that can ensure quality in the workplace, and diversity is probably one of the harder ones to determine the effects of on quality. Diversity can increase or decrease the quality of a work environment, depending on how that particular organization's culture assimilates and copes with diversity.

Due to the complexity of diversity and the challenges that arise from functioning in the middle of diversity, I believe that, at the moment, diversity does not ensure quality, but rather diminishes it in the workplace. We have not yet evolved to a place where we can be non-judgmental, where we don't stereotype, where we can fully accept each other's differences. By nature, humans are made to be different from one another. That both attracts us and distances us at the same time. We migrate to others with same qualities as ours, but, as soon as we notice their differences, we try to mold them to fit our idea of what they should be like. That's what annual performance reviews are, that's what peer reviews are, that's what "constructive criticism" is. They are all attempts to make others be how we want them to be, which goes against accepting diversity.

Where there is diversity in any environment, there will be friction, there will be misunderstandings, there will be stepping on toes. We all come from different backgrounds, locations, systems of values and beliefs, different morals. All these factors will do nothing to help the quality in any environment, but especially in the workplace, where we have to properly and professionally have to deal with our differences. If an American worker has to share his workspace with say, a European worker, there will immediately be friction. Europeans are touchy-feely people, their cultures encourages blunt and direct communication, while Americans seldom make physical contact even with close friends, use more finesse and take a longer time to get to the point when communicating. So imagine what it would be like for two such individuals to be in the same break room during lunch time. The American would probably feel like his personal space is being invaded and that the European is rude by in the way he expresses himself, while the European may feel the American is cold because he physically keeps his distance, and that he's trying to sugar coat some piece of information because he uses more finesse. And when lunch time is over, they both go back to the workplace with prejudice and formed opinions that will do nothing to lessen their relationship. And that's just lunch time. That's a half an hour. Think about working 40 hours a week in that environment, and multiply two by two hundred. Now throw in all 400 different backgrounds, cultures, traditions and personal beliefs and what do you get? A medley of differences on a large scale. And, unfortunately, very little good can come from that; because we are made to be different. And we each think our way is the right way.

Diversity is encouraged and embraced in most places around the world, but it is very prominent in the workplace in the United States, because this country was built on diversity. Unfortunately, while we embrace diversity, we simply have not yet developed the skills, patience and understanding to deal with it. We are a judgmental nation, one that unfortunately still stereotypes and discriminates based on such things as skin color, nationality descent, level of earning, etc. We are curious about other's differences, but we also create barriers and put up walls to keep those differences from invading our domain. It seems that the very things that makes us different, make us appreciate, as well as discriminate one another. And that is a very unfortunate paradox.

Learn more about this author, Irina Diaconescu.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.