Diversity and Equality at Work. Opportunities and Challenges

Abstract or Introduction

This paper defines diversity and equality in the context of workplace and describes associated opportunities and challenges. The two aspects of equality and diversity in the workplace are multifaceted and they include more than just embracing the dissimilarities amongst individuals and the equality elements protecting particular individuals from racial, ethnic, sexual orientation, disability, religion, gender, and age factors.

Diversity in the workplace refers to recognizing, understanding, consenting, appreciating, and celebrating the dissimilarities amongst individuals with respect to their age, social class, culture, sex, capability, ethnicity, sexual orientation, and religion. Globalization is always advancing, thus requiring more collaboration and communication among individuals from various beliefs, cultures, and backgrounds than before.

Currently, individuals do not live and work in a parochial market; instead, they are part of a global economy that is facing competition from about every continent. Thus, organizations require diversity in order to become more innovative and receptive to change. According to Esty, Richard, and Marcie (1995), exploiting and making the most out of diversity in the workplace has become an imperative issue for organizational management today.

Equality in the workplace is about impartiality or fairness and giving every individual a chance to participate in organizational development, and the opportunity to accomplish their potential. The Society for Human Resource Management (1998) holds that equality comes about through eliminating prejudice and discrimination.

Equality reinforces accomplishment in the workplace since it goes further than just providing equal opportunities for all. It includes a promise to providing every individual with services that are of equal value to all, and understanding that this could mean providing different services to different individuals in order to accommodate their diverse needs.