What do you mean by workforce diversity. Point out its advantages and disadvantages. Short note on Workforce diversity.

 Workforce diversity may be defined as the similarities and differences among employees in an organization in terms of age, culture, physical abilities, race, religion, gender, and sexual orientation. Diversity makes the work force heterogeneous. In recent years, employing a diversified workforce has become a necessity for every organization. However, management of such diversified workforce is also a big challenge for management.

Blank and Slipp"Workforce diversity refers to the involvement of heterogeneous types of employees in the organization having differences in education level, intelligent, age, gender, race, and ethnicity."

Stephen P. Robbins "Workforce diversity is the concept that organizations are becoming more heterogeneous in terms of gender, age, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation and inclusion of other diverse groups."

Objectives of Workforce Diversity 

The management of workforce diversity has the following objectives.

• To create of an organizational climate in which people from different age, culture, physical abilities, race, religion, gender, and sexual orientation, respect each other, co-exist and work together with full cooperation of each other.

• To encourage people to perform to the best of their potential 

•  To rule out any discrimination among people on any ground.

•  To work towards the better attainment of organizational goals.

Levels of Diversity

There are two levels of diversity. They are;

1. Surface level diversity: As the name suggests, surface level diversity can be seen at surface i.e. visible. It is the diversity based on individual characteristics that are readily visible, such as age, body size, visible disabilities, race, or sex.

2. Deep level diversity: The deep-level diversity is related to individual characteristics that are non observable, such as attitudes, values, beliefs, and religion. They are intrinsic in nature and affect the behavioral aspects to a greater extent.

Advantages of Workforce Diversity

Workforce diversity affects individual career as well as s organizational well being. The following are some of the notable advantages of workforce diversity.

1. Source of creativity and innovation: Diverse workforce brings many new ideas for the organization with unique experiences. The workforce composed of the people with diverse background, experience, culture and ways of thinking. It is more creative due to the blend of multiple components, hence is also able to develop innovative products and services.

2. Reputation and cost advantage: An organization with diverse workforce is admired by the customer as well as the society. It has a better relationship with the customer as well as the society. It can address the customer and social problems more effectively. As such, the reputation of the organization is high.

3. Address customer needs: An organization with diverse workplace can solve organizational issues and customer needs in many ways. With diversity an organization can get local connections through different language skills, and cultural understanding.

4. Problem solving and talented workforce: Diversity helps companies get the best talent and high quality workforce. This is because the organization has a wider pool of prospective employees as it welcomes people from diverse experience, age, religion, and culture.

5. Employment fairness: An organization with diverse workforce does not practice employment discrimination. Due to this, the social climate in the organization is nurtured for a better harmony and understanding. 

6. Competitive advantage: An organization with diverse workforce has diverse capabilities and skills. The employees or workforce have different knowledge, rules, values and thoughts which can be used for innovation and better organizational performance. In conclusion, the diverse workforce becomes the source of competitive advantage.

Disadvantages of Workforce Diversity

Workforce diversity is not free from disadvantages. They are;

1. Communication barriers: Workforce diversity may hinder communication. Sometimes it may be difficult to bring employees together when they have different characteristics and cultures and communicate with them. Everyone may not speak the same language or understand the other person's language well. This can be a great communication barrier in an organization.

2. Resistance to change: Forming or turning an organization into a diverse organization requires major changes and adjustments within an organization which are basically related to attitude and culture. Such changes, if not taken positively by the employees, may be resisted. It may bring confusion, conflict and complexity in the organization.

3. Sources of conflict: Diverse workforce may be a source of conflict. This happens when the members do not respect each others' race, cultural background, or belief.

4. High cost of training: To promote diversity in the workplace, trainings, seminars, programs, and lectures are to be managed frequently. This may be costly and it may affect the profitability and growth of the organization adversely.

5. More stress to employees/managers: When the workforce is diverse, the employees bear different characteristics, values and attitudes. In such a situation, communication and cooperation among them may be poor. This may be stressful for the employees. Likewise, managing employees with different characteristics would since the managers.