This paper presents a plan for managing diversity in the workplace or a public sector organization.
This paper studies the diversity plan proposed for implementation by Los Angeles County in its different departments and analyzes the significance and relevance of the plan. The paper discusses how this management plan uses three general approaches in implementing diversity that are affirmative action, valuing diversity and managing diversity. The paper identifies the features of the plan and considers alternatives available. The paper concludes that the changing demographics of United States make it necessary for firms to adopt diversity management.
“Diversity in workplace or a corporate environment refers to the different inherited characteristics of all employees. These characteristics range from religion, race or creed, to culture or nationality. Such natural differences that form an employee’s identity in a society cannot be and should not be changed, hence must be accommodated within the work environment. Apart from these natural differences, acquired traits also exist. A person acquires personality traits that are different from others as he goes through life which are shaped by his experiences, his station in life, his qualifications etc. Not only should the natural traits be accommodated but also the acquired ones so that an employee is comfortable within himself and his environment and can perform at his best. An employee’s differences and similarities with other employees can be classified into four different dimensions.”