When you step into your workplace, doesn't it look different than it did just a few years ago? Nationally, these are some of the changes we are experiencing. Women and minorities comprise 75 percent of the U.S. workforce. 18.6 million physically and mentally challenged -- but able -- workers are in the workforce as well. An estimated 10 percent of the population is gay, lesbian or bisexual. Customers, colleagues, and staff will be increasingly made up of women and people of color.

America was once a microcosm of Europe. Now it's a microcosm of the world. We can no longer presume that the "typical" U.S. citizen traces his or her descent in a direct line from Europe. Whatever industry you work in, regardless of your position, tenure, or years on the job, your work environment is rapidly changing. Managing this diverse workforce is both our challenge and our opportunity.

What is meant by "diversity?" It's most commonly thought of in ethnic or racial terms, sometimes in terms of gender, age, or differences in physical ability. The wider view of diversity is more comprehensive. The concept incorporates not only differences in gender, age, ethnicity, race, and physical or mental ability, but religion, military status, and sexual orientation.

People have other differences, too, including those in lifestyle, culture, and education. We vary in the ways we process information, show respect to authority, and learn, think and reach agreements. To survive and to prosper, we must at least learn to be more tolerant of these differences. And better yet, learn to appreciate them. Tolerance, in this case, does not mean "to put up with," or "to endure" -- which is one part of its dictionary definition -- but is used in the word's broader sense: "sympathy for beliefs and practices differing from our own."

Managing the workforce of today and the future requires new skills. What are some of the ways you can learn about the issues faced by the physically challenged, gay and lesbian employees, African Americans, or women in nontraditional fields, to name a few? Some basic sources of information include watching relevant public television or listening to public radio programs, reading culturally specific newspapers and magazines, and listening.

An atmosphere of flexibility and sensitivity will help all employees work better together. Sometimes the "little things" can make all the difference. At work, does your organization celebrate the holidays with Christmas trees? Honoring only Christian holidays leaves out those who celebrate Hanukkah, Kwaanza, and "Chinese New Year," all of which fall in the December/January time frame. (Chinese New Year, of course, can fall anywhere from late January to the middle of February, depending on the lunar calendar.) To help everyone celebrate and worship, floating or optional holidays can be implemented instead of a mandatory December 25 day off. This policy is more inclusive.

We need to watch our language -- not just the obvious slurs, but the slang, abbreviations and jargon. Employees have reported co-workers and even supervisors using the offensive phrases "jewed me down," told an "old wive's tale," or "hadn't been seen in a coon's age" -- all of which build walls instead of bridges.

How can we be sensitive if we are unaware of the concerns of others? Asking questions that are open and genuine go a long way to building better relationships. Asking is one part of the equation; the other is listening to and accepting the response.

The person most successful at navigating this new workforce will make fewer assumptions. There's no reason to suppose that everyone is married or wants to be -- or is heterosexual, for that matter. We don't all eat the same foods, either. All vegetarians are not the same, nor are they vegetarian for the same reasons.

Our changing mosaic is exciting: Diversity is here to stay. And our individual efforts toward working together will determine our status as a nation in the international marketplace of the future. The challenge seems overwhelming, but it need not be. Don't expect to be perfect or try to learn four new languages overnight. Start where you are. Get to know the different people around you. Individual one-to-one efforts really do matter. By embracing our differences, we can all make a difference.

-- Odette Pollar is a nationally known speaker, author, and consultant on work and time management issues; she is also president of Smart Ways to Work, based in Oakland, California. Her most recent book is Take Back Your Life. Please share your comments and questions by e-mail: Odette@SmartWaysToWork.com or 800/599-TIME. This story is part of a nationally syndicated series.

First published October 20, 2000
Last updated March 28, 2007
Copyright © 2000 Consumer Health Interactive

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