Module 3: Diversity in the Workplace

3.2 Opportunities of Diversity in the Workplace

Press the play arrow to continue the narrative (1 minute 42 seconds).

Note: The audio transcript is available in the footnotes.


“Diversified workplaces were shown to enjoy a two point three times higher cashflow per employee over a three-year period” (Deloitte as cited by AFOA, para.1, 2022).

Bridging the skills gap

Organizations face the ongoing challenge of hiring and retaining employees who are skilled to competently complete the requirements of their position. You’ve seen that technology is quickly evolving — especially with the rise of artificial intelligence (AI) — and business leaders are saying that there’s currently a talent gap which can potentially limit their organization’s economic growth (World Economic Forum, 2020). Organizations are responding to this by developing innovative ways to find qualified candidates by searching for a diverse talent pool.

Case study: Dell’s Neurodiversity Hiring Program
In 2017, Dell launched a hiring program for adults with autism. In their Neurodiversity Hiring Program, Dell adjusted their traditional interview process (which could be an overwhelming experience for certain candidates on the autism spectrum) to include a two-week assessment then a 12-week internship with a potential job coaching opportunity (World Economic Forum, 2020).

Dell has seen strong successes with their Neurodiversity Hiring Program, and in 2020, they further innovated to create an enhanced delivery model which allows them to virtually interview, train, and employ qualified candidates remotely (Palumbo, 2020).

To explore testimonials from participants of Dell’s Neurodiversity Hiring Program,
click here: A Look Inside Our Neurodiversity Hiring Program

Promotion of a diverse business landscape

The Government of Canada has created a number of programs to provide initiatives, programs, and services (some of which are seen in the list below) to assist underrepresented groups succeed in business and grow Canada’s clean technology economy. The support includes funding and/or advisory assistance from the government.

  • The 50 – 30 Challenge: Your Diversity Advantage
  • Aboriginal Entrepreneurship Program
  • Black Entrepreneurship Program
  • Business Women in International Trade
  • Equal by 30 Campaign
  • Farm Credit Canada’s Women Entrepreneur Program
  • First Things First
  • Futurpreneur Canada
  • Indigenous business development programs
  • Indigenous Climate Funding
  • Indigenous Entrepreneur Loan
  • National Aboriginal Capital Corporations Association
  • Thrive Venture Fund and Lab for Women
  • Women Entrepreneurship Strategy
  • Women in Technology Venture Fund
  • Women in Trade

If you’d like to learn more about the initiatives, programs, and services listed above,
click on Reconciliation, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion 

Working in a Diverse Workplace

When working in a Canadian organization, you’ll likely interact with individuals from different ages, races, cultural backgrounds, sexual orientations, religions, abilities, genders, socioeconomic backgrounds, and professional experience. Below are six tips to consider when working in a diverse workplace.

Tip 1

  • Connect and listen.
    Chat with people — and listen. Hear their stories. Learn more about them as individuals. You can also provide “I’m listening” signals by nodding your head and using verbal confirmations (such as saying “mhmm”, “yeah”, “yes”, or “that’s interesting”).
Tip 2

  • Share your story.
    Join the conversations. Share your story with others. You don’t need to tell your co-workers every single detail about your life (and, of course, be careful with oversharing) — but share insights about you which will allow them to get to know you more as a person.
Tip 3

  • Adapt according to feedback.
    Ask others for their preferred communication style. Also, individuals may express non-verbal cues (such as their posture, facial expression, eye movements, and use of space through closeness) differently; therefore, continue to observe your audience and adjust your communication style in accordance to their needs.
Tip 4

  • Attend social events.
    Check out your company’s (or school’s) social calendar(s) to see if there are any events you haven’t attended before. Getting out of your comfort zone by visiting social events and interacting with individuals who would not normally be a part of your “inner circle” of friends is an excellent way to meet others who are different from you.
Tip 5

  • Continue to learn.
    Review your organization’s education and awareness programs. Also consider conducting your own research to familiarize yourself with the constantly evolving Canadian workplace landscape.
Tip 6

  • Proceed with an open mind.
    Reflect on potential biases you may hold. There are several ways you can do this (such as journaling and/or chatting with a trusted friend). We often hold unconscious biases which prevent us from fully experiencing situations for what they are. Realizing this and making an active effort to approach others with an open mind may change your interpersonal exchanges with them.

 

Audio transcript for Module 3.2 Opportunities of Diversity in the Workplace

Your work projects are getting more manageable. As a working professional you find that each project has its own needs. When you did your undergrad, you wanted to do well to secure a good mark. Now you’re finding that marks aren’t the only important thing. You want to do well to provide your clients with the best possible service as they’re relying on you. Your coworkers are also depending on you as you often work with several others on a project and the quality of your work will determine how well they can do their jobs.

Your boss, Samantha, has tasked you with an exciting new project. You’re to collect stock photos to add to this year’s annual report. She advises you to make sure to find photos of diverse employees. So, you make an active effort to gather pictures which feature individuals from different cultural backgrounds, ages, and abilities to show Canada’s inclusive working environment. Right now, your stock photo selection is a good representation of the employee group, but you’ve noticed a lack of diversity in management. However, while at the potluck last week, Barbara did mention that the company is making an active effort to hire more diverse leadership in the upcoming years.

As you collect the stock photos, you occasionally ask your co-workers what they think of your collection. Getting their input and advice is helpful. The more time you spend in the company, the more you realize the power of institutional knowledge — many of your coworkers have been with the company for several years, and it’s useful to get their input. Okay, there are times when their comments don’t really help, but most of the time, it’s definitely worth asking them.

 

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Practical Business Communication for Knowledge Workers: From Job Application to Promotion Copyright © 2024 by Dianne Nubla, Robert Bajko, Catherine Jenkins, and Michael Lapointe is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License, except where otherwise noted.

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