Managing Diversity

We are always told that diversity is critical to business success, but if thatís the case, why do we hear so much about businesses failing to implement it? Media attention constantly focuses on a minority of women holding down top jobs and the need to get under-represented groups into senior positions, says Judith Watson, head of employment at leading law firm, Cobbetts.

Judith continues: ìEvery business should have a diversity policy, but many have one in the loosest sense and do not adhere to it seriously. Diversity training schemes have also come under fire by a number of sectors for being set up to generate positive public reactions, while others believe that they have been created because the companies have feared prosecution.

ìDiversity at work should be about making the most of differences within the workplace and this should be perceived as a benefit and not a threat. Equal opportunities policies by themselves will not bring about racial or sexual equality and organisations should have a system for checking whether their policies are being carried out and whether they are actually working.

ìFor example, although it is not obligatory under the Race Relations Act for private sector organisations to keep ethnic records, without them it would be difficult to establish the nature or extent of any inequality, the areas that need to be addressed and whether attempts to reduce inequality are working. This type of monitoring is beneficial not only for the employee but also the employer because without any records it is virtually impossible to prove whether or not people are being discriminated against. This is also the case for other types of discrimination.î

ìTo be successful in an increasingly competitive market place, businesses need to attract and retain the best employees from a whole diverse range of backgrounds so that their workforce better reflects the local community or customer base. Put quite simply, the better your staff can communicate with their customers can only mean one thing ñ more sales. It makes business sense,î Judith concludes.