Diversity in the Workplace

Every year when we celebrate Heritage month and Heritage Day as a country, I am just in awe of the beauty and richness of culture that resides in our land! It fills me with so much pride and joy to be South African!

When I see all the bright colorful traditional outfits adorned by the young and old alike it is one of the most beautiful sights to see. The beauty and experience are also enriched as we celebrate cultures and traditions that are different from our own by wearing the traditional outfits from those cultures. In organizations that I have been a part of, I have always made a big deal of this special tradition and encouraged employees to participate in the celebrations by wearing an outfit that celebrates a particular culture. I was always so pleasantly surprised how the employees embraced Heritage Day celebrations. The multi-colored traditional outfits that painted the organizational hallways were a tapestry of pure beauty and splendor!

As a Human Resources Professional, Diversity in the Workplace is not just a phrase or topic for me. It is something I hold very near and dear to my heart. It is a way of life. Therefore, it must be recognized and celebrated. I believe that in an organization, its positive impact has to permeate the walls of the organization. It must be present and felt as you walk down the hallways. It must be seen and experienced with every employee that you interact with. Employees must also feel that it is not just one of the organizational policies that are tucked away in a file somewhere but it is lived and interwoven within the culture of the organization. It must be felt from the recruitment process and throughout the lifecycle of the employee experience until the employee exits the organization. #Diversityintheworkplace is not just about race and gender. It also includes ethnicity, sexuality, age, language, educational background, cultural background, and so much more. Currently, for the first time, we have more than five generations represented in the workplace. When organizations have hired these diverse individuals, they must ensure that they have a voice. In leadership roles, they must not only have a voice and a seat at the table, their voice must carry weight and have the ability to make an impact and a difference in the organization. It is for this reason that in today’s workplace organizations have to relook at their strategies on how they not only recognize but also leverage diversity in their workplaces. The Employment Equity & Transformation Plan must be a living document for South African based organizations.

When I first entered the workplace many moons ago, there was no focus on diversity and inclusion in the workplace. However, many strides have been made over the years to bring this to the fore. I must say, until recently, I thought we were making some progress in valuing the diverse nature of individuals and recognizing the impact that this can make in not only the profitability of an organization but also on the economy as a whole. But alas, recent events have shown us that we still have a long way to go in educating each other about the importance of recognizing each other’s differences and similarities and leveraging those to make us a better people and a better society.  The optimist in me still believes that the glass is half-full as opposed to half-empty.  We can each make a difference in our small corners and remind each other of the value that lies in recognizing each other’s uniqueness and the wealth that it can bring to our lives both personally and professionally.