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Employee Training: Workplace Diversity
Employee Training: Workplace Diversity
In order for diversity training to be successful, all members of an organization need to be on board. Everyone is diverse, whether it's based on skill set, skin colour, religion, experiences- we are all different from one another in some unique way. Unfortunately, in some workplaces, stereotypes tend to hold precedence over the positive value diversity brings to a workplace. In order to reduce, and hopefully eliminate discriminatory actions from the workplace, effective diversity training is required. Employees at all levels must be trained to respect the differences of not only their fellow employees, but the customers and clients they serve. Diversity training is becoming a focal point for many companies, as organizational leaders strive to create a workforce reflective of the communities they operate in.
In keeping with the spirit of diversity, include a mix of training methods in the diversity training program. Employees have different learning patterns. Some people learn better through role play and practical examples, whereas some take in information better when they are required to read and answer questions. Another benefit to mixing up training methods is that it makes training seem less like, well, training.
2. Frequency of Training
As with any training program, diversity training should be ongoing. Break training down into smaller sessions to allow for better digestion of information. Some forms of training will require lengthy time commitments due to the nature of the event, such as team building exercises, retreats and diversity training excursions. Whenever possible, conduct training sessions in smaller groups and tackle one issue at a time. Sometimes it's recommended to keep instructional training sessions to an hour in length to avoid information overload, the same goes for web based training modules. Ongoing diversity training must be built into an organization's corporate culture to ensure change occurs throughout the entire organization.
4. Train Everyone
Make diversity training mandatory for every employee within the organization- even those at the top. A major workplace diversity issue is the continuing lack of diversity amongst those who hold managerial and high level executive positions within some organizations. Diversity training, along with
all other forms of training in an organization, must be offered to everyone. In the USA Today article "Ten Tips for Fostering Diversity in Your Organization," the author, Jane Howard-Martin, writes: "A common complaint among disgruntled workers is that capable employees do not have a chance to become qualified for advancement because training was only available to a select few. To ensure all employees have an opportunity to advance as far as their talents take them, make training available on a broad scale."
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