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A Publication of WTVP

With this issue focusing on tourism, I thought it would be appropriate to tie that topic in with diversity. Just as we work diligently to attract visitors from many different places, cultures and age groups to create a thriving community, so too should we strive for diversity in the workplace. Consider the following facts from the 2010 U.S. Census:

So how is diversity defined? First, it is not about affirmative action. Rather, it integrates awareness of, and respect for, the differences in the ways people communicate and interact. It also makes an organization more responsive to continually changing demands of the marketplace by drawing on the cultures, talents and ideas of a broader group of people. We are diverse in many ways:

Employers who embrace diversity are likely to build morale, retain employees and increase productivity. Through training, employers can encourage workers to appreciate the differences between themselves and their coworkers and create a work environment that not only recognizes those differences, but leverages them as well.

If you are not already involved in diversity initiatives, there are many books, videos, articles and training programs available to help you learn how such programs are contributing to other organizations. You might want to appoint someone in human resources to coordinate your diversity initiatives and drive this process throughout your organization. Developing and providing diversity awareness training programs can be an enriching and beneficial experience for everyone in your organization.

Diversity awareness can help the organization as a whole create a work environment in which everyone’s abilities and potential can be fully realized and appreciated. Diversity makes everyone more conscious of the fact that being different is a benefit instead of a liability. iBi

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