Diversity in the workplace! Canada's only monthly online publication dealing with Diversity in the Workplace : Toronto : Ottawa : Ontario: Canada

Canada's only monthly online publication dealing with Diversity in the Workplace

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August '08 - In this Issue

Pride at work: Part One

FYI: MGM MIRAGE

ETC: global news briefs

VIP: Stantec Consulting Ltd

MVP: diversity champions

POV: Why Sensitivity Training is Insensitive and Patronizing

Valuing diversity is an imperative for all of us

Equality and diversity in the workplace: Designing a benchmark standard for UK employers

August 2008

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Pride at work : Part One

Recognizing and promoting the value of inclusiveness and diversity in the workplace has become a simple “must do” rather than “should do”—mainly in the interests of productivity and marketplace success.

While the battle for recruitment and advancement of women on the job has made huge strides in the past three decades, business-savvy employers are finally acknowledging the need and value of maintaining a workplace made up of immigrants, people with disabilities, aboriginals and older workers. So why does sexual orientation remain a challenge for employers? Is it still a matter of ‘don’t ask, don’t tell’? The good news is that much progress has been made. But a lot more has yet to be accomplished. And there are critical business issues that come into play. ... [ read more ]

FYI: MGM MIRAGE

Headquartered in Las Vegas, MGM MIRAGE is the largest employer in Clark County, Nevada with 66,000 employees at 18 hotels, resorts and casinos across the U.S. and abroad. It’s also a diversity success story.

In 2002 the organization faced public criticism for not doing enough to hire minority executives or generate business with minority-owned companies. Today its minority employees are at 60.8%, its minority managers and executives at 45.5% and it has received the Supplier Diversity Program of the Year Award by the Nevada Minority Business Council....[ read more ]

ETC: global news briefs

United Kingdom
A landmark victory in the Court of Appeal means that more than 250 ‘stayed’ discrimination cases across England, Scotland and Wales have finally been told that mandatory retirement is unlawful. The ruling also means that up to 250,000 people who have been forced to retire at 65 each year can bring claims of age discrimination and wrongful dismissal against the government. Unfortunately the right to work past retirement age is still uncertain. Ailsa Ogilvie, director of the 50+ organization Heyday, said, “It is absurd to think that as soon as you turn 65, the knowledge and skills that you’ve built up over the years are no longer valued and needed. Our right to work should not be based on our birth certificates, but on skills and motivation.”...[ read more ]

VIP: Stantec Consulting Ltd

At Stantec the employees are a virtual United Nations. Little wonder people come from all over the world to work there. It’s ranked as one of the top five design and consulting firms in North America. But, at the end of the day, it’s still business as usual.

“We respect the cultural differences but we don’t try to elevate them either,” explains Don Belliveau, vice president for Atlantic Canada. “At some point these folks need to be able to come and work within the culture that they’re basically immersed into, in relating with the clients, relating with other teams. They need to get onto the program.”

So the company goes “the extra mile” in an effort to get its diverse team members “onto the program” by enlisting mentors, phonetics coaches, and ergonomics consultants..[ read more ]

MVP diversity champions

Diversity Edge Magazine has named its 2008 Best Companies for Diverse Graduates. The list of 20 organizations was compiled from a survey of various university career centers across the country that measured a company’s recruiting policies, leadership development initiatives, training and mentorship programs and employee affinity groups.

For the complete list... [ read more ]

POV: Why Sensitivity Training Is Insensitive and Patronizing
BY SIMMA LIEBERMAN

I've often been asked if I "do sensitivity training.” I found myself getting irritated by the very term "sensitivity training," and didn't know why I had such a visceral reaction. After spending time thinking about it, and talking to people who professed to be “sensitivity trainers” I realized that "sensitivity training" was actually insensitive and patronizing.

For an organization and its individuals to reap the benefits of diversity it must develop a culture that is inclusive at all levels. Just having representation of different groups with people trying not to say the "wrong thing" has no impact on the systems and processes that reinforce a diverse and inclusive culture where people respect each other...[ read more ]

Valuing diversity is an imperative for all of us
BY KELLY OTTE

Last month I introduced a discussion regarding how and why respect for diversity on boards and staff of nonprofits is important. As promised, I’d like to talk more about that.

Recently I saw an ad in the paper highlighting the board of a local business. There were 9 white men and 1 white woman. I can already tell you who is doing business there. And I can tell you why they don’t have a more diverse customer base – because the people in power in that business don’t look like the people who are deciding which bank to go to. Who sets policy and makes decisions matters to the people who aren’t represented. The people who say it doesn’t matter are those who see themselves reflected in the leadership and do not feel excluded. I believe that because of the responsibility that nonprofits have to the entire community they have a higher moral obligation to be inclusive. And if they are taking government funding, then they may well have a legal obligation as well...[ read more ]

Equality and diversity in the workplace: Designing a benchmark standard for UK employers
BY PAUL JOHNSTONE

As part of the strategy for improving equality of opportunity for workers in the region, Equality North East has developed a user-friendly benchmarking standard for small and medium employers to assess how well they deal with equality and diversity issues within the workplace.

Why create a benchmark?

The standard has been designed as a practical tool to support businesses in...[ read more ]

To the top

In Quotes

“Diversity … is so much bigger than putting out glossy brochures with a variety of faces from different genders, races and other groups. Companies …need to 'walk the talk,' living and breathing diversity every day.”

~ Tom Floyd, Founder/CEO
Insight Educational Consulting

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