DDeep Singh

Work Place Diversity

By
Daman Deep Singh
Student ID-10276769
SMIPA-2011

Lecturer
Ms. Natalie Wheeler

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DDeep Singh

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Index

Executive Summary.................................................................3
Introduction..............................................................................3
Religion.....................................................................................3
Race...........................................................................................4
Gender......................................................................................4
Age.............................................................................................5
Intellectual Importance...........................................................5
A company well known for diversity......................................5
Personal view point and experience.......................................6
Reference:.................................................................................6

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Work Place Diversity

Executive Summary
Issue of workplace diversity id directly related to people, it is focused on the differences
and similarities that individuals carry on with them to an enterprise. Workplace diversity
is generally defined to include the dimensions which influence the identities and
perspectives that people bring such as Religion, Race, Gender, Age and Intellectual
Abilities. The report discusses these dimensions in brief, as these five dimensions are the
basic individual differences in colleagues, clients or customers in the workplace and how
they contribute to diversity. The report also throws light on Hyatt Hotels and Resorts
which has integrated workplace diversity as one of their important core values as a
company. In the end, how does the author view diversity and its importance?
And, a time when the author has encountered diversity in workplace.

Introduction
Diversity relates to gender, age, linguistic and cultural background, disability, religious
belief and pregnancy and family responsibilities. Diversity also refers to the many
other ways everybody is different in other respects such as educational background,
socio-economic background, personality profile, geographic location, marital status,
etc

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Religion
Religion is an important factor of living a life on the values which does not hurt anyone.
The ethics preached in religion helps a individuals to be an ethical in a workplace and
also provide a helping hand to their colleagues when needed. The companies have
actually realised the importance of religion and formulated polices to adjust religion in
the work place .Crown Casino had introduced the services of chaplain to aid its
employees if they are having personal or workplace issues. Similarly many institutes
have introduced prayer rooms so that their employees may perform prayers in their
respective holy days.
This helps a workplace becoming a more employee friendly and may result in more
loyalty, productivity and retain their well trained and able staff members. ( Josh Jennings
2010).

Race
Race plays an important role in making a work place excel. It is a global world today, the
best of the best are being hired but many companies, so as to earn great profits and
advance their products and services to next level. A genius is not a stereotype of any
particular race; geniuses come from all the races of the world. (Jared Diamond-1997).
By having a strong work force of different races not only promotes creativity but also
gives a company a sense of investment.( Nadra Kareem Nittle-2010)

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Gender
In 21st century gender does not play a significant role in placing a right candidate for a
suitable position, theoretically. However, there are certain sectors where gender
discrimination still exits. For example; Defence sector, imply that women and nonheterosexual males are weaker in performing certain tasks, like going in the battle field as
combat soldiers. (Review of the Equal Opportunity for Women in the Workplace Act
1999 Issues Paper (2009))
In the corporate world though strong Human Resource practices are always on the agenda
of the board but still majority of women feels that gender discrimination persist in their
work place. Recent studies indicate that women in workplace bring more productivity
and profitability the business. (Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights
Commission Annual Report 2009/10)

Age
Over the last few years the issue of age is emerging in formulating the policy of work
place environment. It is important to address intergenerational issues arising in the
workplace effectively to retain employees with suitable skills from the broad spectrum of
ages. (Australian Public Service Commission report 2008).
While age discrimination is a difficult to prove, its existence and negative impacts on
older work fore in general are undeniable. Ageism is a reality in Australia but workers
who are 45years and older should be represented as a source of knowledge and resource
and should be continued to reinvest in. (Age Diversity Report: Mature Age Participation
in Australian ICT Sector Poor Compared to Other First World Countries-report 2009).

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Intellectual Importance
Intellectual disability is not looked as a bane in an efficient workplace .Accommodating a
person with intellectual disability depends on strategy. People with such disability are
capable of learning however this ability to learn depends on competency of delivering the
instruction in a manner understandable by these individuals. The support of others plays
an important factor in successful training of these job seekers.
A workplace with such individual unarguably showcases itself in having ultra
sophisticated systems and processes as its standard operating procedures.(Nadra Kareem
Nittle -2010)

A company well known for diversity

Hyatt Hotels and resorts is well known for its workplace diversity. As long as a candidate
is guest focused, the individual is accepted by the company from any background, belief
or styles. Every year Hyatt celebrates Our people and acknowledges and understands
the culture and other beliefs and tries to promote these ideas. (www.hyatt. com)

Personal view point and experience.

When a business uses the term diversity they specifically try to promote women and
people of colour. This labelling can create stereotyping and can have negative impact on
certain section of men. When discussing diversity move beyond race and gender and try
to emphasize the exclusive talents, knowledge, experience skills and insights people
bring to their jobs. Diversity needs to include one and all.
In the personal experience of the author, the author when arrived on the Australian shores
was warned by his fellow countrymen about the opportunity to work in a five star hotel
will be limited to menial jobs as the author is of Sikh religion, where wearing a turban is
considered as a part of body, but is wrongly misunderstood by Australians as a radical

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extremist. Author was approached by the hotel and was selected in a Front of House job
as the companys core value was diversity in work place and was welcomed with open
arms.

Reference:

Australian Public Service Commission report 2008,http.www.apsc.com,viewed 7th

December,2011.
Jared Diamond -1997, (Guns, germs and steel).
Josh Jennings 2010, Religion in the workplace?
Nadra Kareem Nittle ,2010,How to support job seekers with intellectual disability?
Review of the Equal Opportunity for Women in the Workplace Act 1999 Issues Paper
(2009
Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission Annual Report 2009/10)

Workplace Diversity, www.hyatt.com, viewed 7th December 2011.