As time goes on, workplaces are getting more diverse in the profile of their employees. A recent survey revealed that 62% of corporate employees work with people from three or more cultures.
So in this article, we’re looking at cultural diversity in the workplace.
What Do We Mean By Cultural Diversity ?
This is a term used to describe a society or organisation which is made up of people from different backgrounds. This can include different languages, religions, morals and traditions. For example, the UK is home to 19 ethnic groups which include:
- White British (74.4%)
- Asian (9.3%)
- White “other” (6.2%)
- Black (4%)
- Indian (3.1%)
All these cultures (among others) come together to create a pretty diverse melting pot!
Cultural Diversity In The Workplace: Communication Best Practices
A diverse society does, of course, mean a diverse workplace for many peoplewhich can greatly improve communication in the workplace. But this can sometimes provide a challenge to business owners and managers. In this article therefore we’re sharing best communication practices for a diverse work environment.
1. Education
As with anything else in life, educating yourself and your team on cultural differences helps to build a greater understanding of other cultures. Don’t assume that somebody’s culture is a taboo subject – instead ask questions of them in order to improve awareness for yourself and other employees.
2. Identify areas of bias
Bias has absolutely no place in an inclusive workplace but often we will display bias without even being aware of it. Have a think about your working day and try to identify any non-inclusive behaviour. For example; do you communicate with all members of your team equally or do you gravitate toward those who share your own culture? Identifying an issue is half of the battle so this step is extremely important in your cultural diversity journey.
3. Assumptions
Following on from the previous point, many people are guilty of subconsciously making the assumption that other people’s beliefs mirror their own. An example of this might be the assumption that all members of your team have the same lifestyle such as visiting pubs or watching certain types of films and TV programs. These types of assumptions can often make some employees feel isolated and left out.
4. Mind your language!
Workplace communication is usually what makes a business tick and, within a culturally diverse environment, the language you use is extremely important. When communicating with your team, remain mindful of cultural differences and try to avoid slang, swear words and religious inferences. While a word may seem innocuous to you, it may bear a different weight for others and so attention must be paid to your language to avoid offense and even possible legal action. An example might be the use of the words blacklist and whitelist which infer good and bad based on colour.
Needless to say, jokes about a particular culture should not be tolerated in the workplace and this should be clearly laid out within your company policy.
5. Make allowances … within reason
Different cultures enjoy different traditions, holidays and rituals – not all of which fit into our standard working calendar. This means that some members of your team may require changes to the curriculum such as a time and a place to be provided for prayers or time off during occasions such as EID or the Chinese New Year which does not fall on the first of January. While it may not always be possible to accommodate every request, endeavouring to do so will engender trust and respect between you and your team.
6. Emotional support
As well as being aware of cultural differences in team members it’s also important to offer support when needed. This may be helping with language difficulties or showing empathy toward an employee who is fasting and may therefore be feeling tired or lethargic. With the latter you might also, for example, politely request that other team members avoid bringing strong smelling foods into the workplace which may increase discomfort for the fasting employee.
7. Cultural misappropriation
This is a term which is used a fair bit these days and is something which can cause distress and anger. Cultural misappropriation is essentially the act of adopting an element of somebody else’s identity or culture for your own purposes. This can include using particular words or a type of attire for fashion purposes. While some may feel that this is a compliment toward that culture, many feel that it is offensive as it belittles and trivialises their identity.
While you can’t, of course, police everything that your employees do and say, remaining mindful of cultural misappropriation and taking action where necessary can help to maintain a harmonious and diverse workplace.
A Stronger Workforce Through Understanding
Gaining a better understanding of different cultures makes us better equipped to ensure that every person within a workplace feels represented and valued. This is also key when it comes to building relationships at work to help create stronger and more productive teams.
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