Category Archives: diversity training programs

What is Diversity?

What is Diversity?

 

What is Diversity?

 

What is Diversity?

Many ask what is diversity is while our organizations are ever changing and facing shifting demands in clientele and resources.  The answer to what is diversity can be found in the very people we hire and serve.  Diversity is a mixture of people, and all of these people are needed to foster an inclusive environment for both internal and external client.  What is diversity?  Consider the changing demographics as over 15 states have a “minority majority” demonstrating that diversity is here to stay. In answering the question what is diversity, organizations should also guard against the type of tension by not honoring the different people on staff. In answering the question what is diversity, organizations should have policies which address religious, racial and gender differences.  In addition, when answering the question, what is diversity, consider the backgrounds within status.  People can generate incivility within class; women harassing women, racial minorities harassing other racial minorities.  By addressing the question what is diversity, leadership styles can address these differences to avoid bullying and create a healthy workplace.

 

What is diversity?

As the community is shifting to being minority /majority by 2040 or sooner, what is diversity is answered by, a good business strategy.  As evident by the commercials featuring more women and racial minorities, our society and resources controlled by these populations show that answering the question, what is diversity, is key to constant evolution.  One way to address the question, what is diversity, is to have proper training, workshops, and assessments of the organizational culture. In addressing the question, what is diversity, organizations can conduct exit interviews, devise safe zones for complaints, and continuously train managers in the best strategies to engage employees. What is diversity is a question that is continuously asked; yet an organization that can answer the question, what is diversity, for its own establishment, is creating a healthy workplace. Reflect on your own organization; what is diversity.  And in answering the question, what is diversity, what is the organization doing to maintain that diversity?

Diversity management at McDonalds?

Diversity management at McDonalds?

Diversity management at McDonalds?

Diversity management at McDonalds?

 

Some were saddened to read that diversity management might have been lacking at McDonalds here in greater Philadelphia.  Diversity management could have helped McDonalds avoid a very costly workplace bullying case. Lacking diversity management led to a $90,000 settlement for a young man who was bullied at work. Diversity management would have trained the supervisor and staff not to harass this young man with cognitive challenges. Diversity management is not just about developing cultural sensitivity; diversity management would continuously train staff.  An organization like McDonalds is particularly vulnerable when a diversity management plan is not in place.  Staff attrition is high at such jobs, but a diversity management plan can help keep that staff compliant.

Often organizations believe they don’t have time for diversity management. However, consider what happens in the absence of diversity management.  Diversity management could have helped the organization avoid costly legal fees.  Diversity management would have helped this McDonalds avoid a time consuming discovery process.  Diversity management is priceless; diversity management keeps organization compliant with changing trends in hiring, recruitment and retraining.  Diversity management can keep manager educated to avoid Title VII complaints.  Without proper diversity management, organizations expose themselves to staff problems. Diversity management is a necessary cost of doing business… just like any other training.

What is diversity?

What is diversity?

What is diversity?

What is diversity?

 

According to the US Census, our community is evolving to be a “minority majority” country.  In several states, minority children are actually in the majority under the age of fifteen.  So just what is diversity?  Diversity is beyond a black and white race issue. Then what is diversity?  It is beyond a man versus woman issue?  What is diversity again?  Diversity is about understanding the different background and experiences of people and embracing those differences? What is diversity? It describes a group of people, whether they are in the same race, gender age or background, but understanding they are all unique individuals. What is diversity? It is the fabric of our schools, communities, and workplaces. What is diversity? It is ubiquitous and constant.

What is diversity management?  Diversity management moves beyond the tolerance that we discussed in the 1990s. Diversity management includes a leader’s understanding of what motivates people from different classes, races, regions, ages and experiences.  What is diversity?  From a leadership point of view, it is also the clear knowledge of Title VII, FMLA, and ADA rules that help a manager not only answer the question “what is diversity” but make decisions properly informed by federal laws.  When a staff member asks “what is diversity” and why is it important, a leader can recognize that diversity is at the root of innovation. What is diversity?  It is the germ of diverse ideas and solutions which emerge from a diverse workforce.  When companies engage different demographics and ages, knowing the answer to “what is diversity” can lead the way to opening a new market share, and creating diverse revenue stream.

So when you think, “What is diversity,” it is the current trajectory of our population.  In regard to business, when we think, “What is diversity,” it is at the root of problem solving and innovation.   What is diversity?  The answer changes in every community.  But the answer to “what is diversity” lies in our ability to embrace difference and respect the civil right of each other. What is diversity?  It is just good business.

The Perfect Storm… Discrimination, Retaliation, Lawsuit, Settlement

The Perfect Storm… Discrimination, Retaliation, Lawsuit, Settlement

The Perfect Storm… Discrimination, Retaliation, Lawsuit, Settlement

 

A discrimination law suit is much like a perfect storm… it can come from all four directions, and wreck an entire organization

Let me tell you a story.

Imagine an older staff member has been passed over for a position.  While the organization might have its genuine rationale for choosing the younger candidate, our colleague over 40 is still dismayed.  Perhaps the younger candidate has more direct experience, or more education.  Nonetheless, your older staff member takes issue with being passed over.  He then files an internal complaint that specifically invokes Title VII legislation by stating he feels he was passed over because of his age.

The organization is now at a cross roads.  Whether the complaint is valid or not, our over forty colleague has invoked Title VII protections.  Here is the forecast of the perfect storm.    The organization can get mad, and immediately take a defensive posture, claiming there is no way that age discrimination exists,  simply because there are policies against it.   Nonetheless, the organization conducts an investigation and interviews a number of people.  Once the investigation is complete, the complainant is transferred to another department because his manager doesn’t want to deal with a complainer.

The perfect storm still brews as every single person who participated in that investigation is also protected by Title VII.  The transferred colleague now has a clear retaliation charge; because he was transferred after he made a complaint.  If he views the transfer as a downgrade or unfair change, this age discrimination case now morphs into a retaliation charge.  Further, if the participants in the investigation face adverse employment actions, demotions, transfers, even uncustomary poor performance evaluations, they too will have retaliation charges.  As an organization can see, ill feelings about being passed over have quickly mushroomed into retaliation complaints which can cost easily $75,000 a piece to defend.

While the original complaint of age discrimination might not have yielded a finding in favor of the complaint, if the complaint is mishandled,  the subsequent retaliation charges can embroil an organization for years.   Patricia Berkly LLC helps organizations anticipate these problems and guides managers through sticky situations which can land the organization in court. The recent book Unequal Opportunity, offers details about these types of cases, and  suggests solutions for managers.  Visit www.diversitytrainingconsultants.com for more details.

Diversity training programs, discussion on WZBN TV

Diversity training programs, discussion on WZBN TV

Diversity training programs, discussion on WZBN TV

Diversity training programs, discussion on WZBN TV

Dr. Leah Hollis has appeared on several radio shows national wide to discuss the importance of diversity training programs.  Whether she has appeared on the Jim Bohannon show, Jim Blasingame show or others, diversity training programs which include EEO rules training are the topic which can help organization avoid costly and time consuming workplace discrimination law suits.  Diversity training programs are not just about understanding diverse staff, but diversity training programs from Patricia Berkly LLC also focus on the application of Title VII.  Diversity training programs and EEO rules education are an essential part of managing a compliant business.

This week, Dr Hollis will be on WZBN from Trenton, NJ to discuss diversity training programs and how her book, Unequal Opportunity, which can help managers properly utilize employment law offered in Patricia Berkly LLC’s diversity training programs.   Her conversation with Mark Fontes on WBZN television reviews the record trends in discrimination cases and the urgent need for diversity training programs which include EEO rules training.  Dr. Hollis and her discussion on diversity training programs will also be featured on The Business of Life with Coach Ron.  Diversity training programs were also part of a webinar dealing with workplace bullying. Recently, Dr Hollis brought the need for diversity training programs to West Chester University.  Along with articles in Payscale and AOL Jobs, Dr. Hollis is a leading expert in workplace discrimination who develops diversity training programs that help organizations avoid being the next target of a lawsuit.

Diversity training programs truly affect everyone.  The managers and supervisors can learn a great deal through diversity training programs about discrimination by association and how the Title VII laws are applied to caregivers, aging staff, and those who complain about their civil rights.  Patricia Berkly LLC goes beyond diversity training programs and incorporates those vital rules.  Given the media attention and busy schedule, diversity training programs are clearly needed by organization when they decide diversity training programs that teach the EEO rules can truly benefit their staff. Diversity training programs with EEO rules education should be an essential part of any manager’s training.