...IN AN AGING WORKFORCE 1 Diversity in an Aging Workforce Patricia Parker Southern New Hampshire University DIVERSITY IN AN AGING WORKFORCE 2 Abstract As American ages, so does its workforce. This means changes in the work place. Diversity has long been a part of the American culture but aging brings a new element to the work environment. This addition to diversity will challenge organizations on how they view their employees and what changes might need to take place to meet these employees' needs. It will also challenge some organizations on new types of discrimination, how to train managers on the benefits of a diverse workforce, and how to build functional work teams with both cultural and age diversity. Organizations will also be challenged to review policies, job descriptions and work practices to ensure that age is not a deterrent to success in the organization. But with these challenges also comes many benefits of an aging workforce. Understanding that older workers are typically dependable, have a broad range of knowledge, and are loyal is of benefit to any employer. In addition, as an organization's customer-base ages, having older workers that understand that customer-base may lead to a needed competitive edge. To be successful in the future, an organization will need to meet the challenges and understand the benefits of an aging workforce by being creative, flexible, and most of all diverse. DIVERSITY IN AN AGING WORKFORCE 3 Diversity...
Words: 1847 - Pages: 8
...Managing Diverse Workforce Name Institution Introduction The concept of workplace diversity refers to the differences that exist within an organization based on the employees working together in a team (Sonnenschein, 2009). It is imperative to note that the modern working environment calls for the need to manage the diverse workforce. As such, the management shoulders the responsibility of ensuring that they effectively manage diverse employees within their organization. It would sound simple to think that managing such team does not require tact and knowledge. However, it is pertinent to note that the aspect of diversity encompasses many fields like ethnic background, race, and age of individuals, gender, educational level, and the personality type of people. Additionally, diversity involves how the individuals perceive themselves and others of the different background than theirs. Hence, the perceptions will interfere with how they interact with others and the manner in which the organization will operate (Blunt, 2009). Therefore, for various assortments of employees to be in a position to function effectively within an organization, the human resource personnel must effectively deal with a broad range of issues. For instance, they must address change within the organization, communication aspect, and adaptability to the working environment. Furthermore, the issue of diversity will significantly increase in the future hence the need...
Words: 2288 - Pages: 10
...As the U.S. population is becoming gradually diverse, so its’ workforce. With these changes, expecting to continue for many years, it is imperative for any organization’s success to value the difference of today’s multicultural society, respect the uniqueness of eachother and to maintain an environment in which everyone is being treated with dignity. To achieve this, one need to recognize the U. S. workforce demographics and most importantly, understand the impact of a diverse workforce in the business world. Companies are being faced with various challenges and benefits resulting from a workplace with different demographic attributes; Demographic traits like aging. According to the bureau of labor statistics, 55years to 64years old individuals represent 60% of the workforce and 65years, older individuals represent 17.7% of the workforce (bureau of labor statistics, 2013). These statistics show that, the U. S. aging workforce that represent both a challenge and opportunities for industries. 1. What changes in employment relationships are likely to occur as the population ages? Researchers have shown that with age come positive workplace behaviors. For instance, older employees are likely to demonstrate exemplary ways such as volunteering, a higher respect for safety rules, lower work injuries and lower counterproductive behaviors. They are also likely to show strong commitment and work ethic at work. Nevertheless, the relentless fight to changes and struggle to adapt to...
Words: 1109 - Pages: 5
...The Treasure Trove of the Aging Workforce Mohammad Zeeshan Southern New Hampshire University 1. What changes in employment relationships are likely to occur as the population ages? As the population ages there are some changes likely to be seen in the employment relationship include both positive and negative changes. The employees are more committed to organization and are less likely to quit. The employees are more experienced and committed to quality of work they do in organization. The negative changes that are likely to be seen are that the employees are lack flexibility and resistance to new technology. As the workforce ages it is likely that companies will look to other options such as outsourcing which will make jobs more flexible. 2. Do you think increasing age diversity will create new challenges for managers? What types of challenges do you expect will be most profound? As the age of the workforce increases, managers will surely face new diversity challenges. Most of the challenges will be due to the generation gap. With the technological advancement the older generation it resistant to adopt it as compared to younger generation. Managers will need to balance the age diversity by providing the trainings for the new technology to the older employees .So the most profound challenge associated with the increased age diversity is to integrate the new technology to the older employees of the organization. 3. What types of policies might lead to charges of age...
Words: 807 - Pages: 4
...Outcomes of a Cultural Diverse Workforce on leadership Eligio Solis Southern New Hampshire University Abstract This paper explores three articles that reports on results for research on the positive and negative outcomes for leadership when working whit diverse workforce. These articles explore different perspectives of diverse workforce and its challenges. These challenges are mainly affected by the different types of culture and personalities that employees bring to organization mainly affecting its leaders. Outcomes of a Cultural Diverse Workforce Diversity is becoming more common among organizations and its rapid growth especially in the United States, is creating challenges across the globe. Diversity is not just defined for the different type of cultures that there is within an organization, there are other definitions to diversity. You can also find diversity in organization from the gender of a person, the sexual preference, religion, nationality, age and color. Diversity refers to an individual differences, that are within each person and creating some challenges for the organizations. Research shows that a diverse workplace can challenge the leader’s skills, attract top performers and eventually making corporations more global competitive by adapting to new culture and having more proficient leaders. Diversity is becoming more common among organizations and it is rapidly growing in this business. Diversity is refers to the differences between individuals...
Words: 1943 - Pages: 8
...Introduction Attention grabber. A tremendous challenge in organizations is learning how to efficiently diversify the workplace (Hostager & De Meuse, 2008). As we continue to emerge from the global recession the marketplace continues to remain extremely competitive. Even within this contentious environment, however, one could say organizations have become increasingly open minded about diversity. Competition is coming from all over, and because of this, organizations have to become more resourceful and seek for competitive advantages. Diversity has now become essential for management in order to ensure success. Diversity brings forth more creativity and it can have a positive effect on the way individuals work. People bring their cultural principles with them to work so it is important to identify culture orientation. However, because diversity is still somewhat a challenge, managers need to teach their employees as well as themselves the skills and abilities needed to work in a multiethnic environment. (Green, Lopez, Wysocki, & Kepner) This paper will highlight ways to create and maintain a diverse workforce, as well as the benefits and challenges of diversity as well as equal employment opportunity programs. Background For a long time “diversity has been one of the most controversial and least understood topics”. (Rohini, 2008 ) A recent survey conducted among human resources (HR) and diversity practitioners examined how they defined diversity (Society for Human Resources...
Words: 1362 - Pages: 6
...INTRODUCTION As we enter the 21st century, workforce diversity has become an essential business concern. In the so-called information age, the greatest assets of most companies are now on two feet. Undeniably, there is a talent war raging. No company can afford to unnecessarily restrict its ability to attract and retain the very best employees available. Although we all share many traits and needs, human beings are different and unique. While diversity has always existed, globalization, an increase in immigration, the sexual revolution and the output of the open formerly taboo subjects - such as living with a disability and gender preference - were placed in front -plan diversity of our concerns and the need to accept it. In the workplace, diversity encompasses elements that are evident, among other demographic differences such as gender, ethnicity and age, and more subtle differences, for example, the way we think or solve problems, social class or education. Because of the variety of backgrounds and approaches, it is not always easy for people to get along in the workplace (Diversityworld.com, 2014). However, it could be quite different. By learning to understand the challenges posed by differences and accept different points of view within your workgroup, you can use the strengths that represent a diverse team, in addition to expanding your horizons. Workforce diversity refers to organizations that are becoming more heterogeneous with the mix of people in terms of...
Words: 2686 - Pages: 11
...Workplace Diversity: Benefits, Challenges and Solutions Workplace diversity refers to the variety of differences between people in an organization. That sounds simple, but diversity encompasses race, gender, ethnic group, age, personality, cognitive style, tenure, organizational function, education, background and more. Diversity not only involves how people perceive themselves, but how they perceive others. Those perceptions affect their interactions. For a wide assortment of employees to function effectively as an organization, human resource professionals need to deal effectively with issues such as communication, adaptability and change. Diversity will increase significantly in the coming years. Successful organizations recognize the need for immediate action and are ready and willing to spend resources on managing diversity in the workplace now. Benefits of Workplace Diversity An organization’s success and competitiveness depends upon its ability to embrace diversity and realize the benefits. When organizations actively assess their handling of workplace diversity issues, develop and implement diversity plans, multiple benefits are reported such as: Increased adaptability Organizations employing a diverse workforce can supply a greater variety of solutions to problems in service, sourcing, and allocation of resources. Employees from diverse backgrounds bring individual talents and experiences in suggesting ideas that are flexible in adapting to fluctuating markets...
Words: 4512 - Pages: 19
...entering the country every year (Government of Canada). One of the distinguished features of Canada’s current workforce is its growing diversity. As a concept, diversity refers to a broader set of qualities than race and gender. Its dimensions include, but are not limited to, age, ethnicity, educational background, geographic location, income, marital and parental status, religious and moral beliefs, physical abilities, working experiences, and job classifications. For example, for the first time in history, today’s workplace accommodates four different generations — the Matures, the Baby Boomers, Generation X, and the Generation Y. Each age group brings different perspectives on life and work; all of them relate differently to the same working environment; all of them bring new ideas that benefit the workplace on different levels. It is a great challenge for both employers and employees to learn to value and to embrace differences and not get caught up in stereotyping those who look, think and act differently. It is a great need to start learning about diversity by talking to people, asking questions and listening. The more we know about differences, the more we understand them and the more we can appreciate and value their contributions to the workplace. Employers need to learn how to integrate and manage their diverse workforce; employees need to recognize the challenges diversity brings and to be more flexible and adaptable. It is a process of cooperative efforts where everyone...
Words: 1720 - Pages: 7
...MULTI-CULTURAL WORKFORCE WITHIN THE UNITED STATES A MASTER’S CAPSTONE RESEARCH PAPER Presented to Professor Robert B. Donaldson Division of Public Administration Problems in Applied Public Management In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Master of Public Administration College of Business and Public Administration Governors State University By Shari Denise Holloway Winter 2007 Approved: ____________________________________________ Dr. Robert B. Donaldson Date: TABLE OF CONTENTS PAGE ABSTRACT………………………………………………………………………….....4 INTRODUCTION…………………………………………………………………...….5 WHAT IS DIVERSITY ……………………………………..........................................6 WHAT IS WORKPLACE DIVERSITY ………………….………………….….…….7 Corporate Culture and Diversity ………………………………….……………9 DIVERSITY POLICIES AND PRACTICES IN THE WORKPLACE………………14 Workplace Discrimination ……………………………………………………14 Glass Ceiling ………………………………………………………………….15 Affirmative Action…………………………………………………………….16 Equal Employment ……………………………………………………………17 FROM VALUING DIVERSITY TO MANAGING DIVERSITY …………………...18 MANGING A DIVERSE WORKFORCE: A Multicultural Approach ………………18 DIVERSITY FACTOR (THE ISSUES)………………………………………………21 Cultural Collision ……………………………………………………………..22 Benefits ……………………………………………………………………….22 Challenges……………………………………………………………...
Words: 6971 - Pages: 28
...MANAGING DIVERSITY The Managerial Implication of an Increasing Diversity in Workforce Author/Student Note:Bong joseph laila ,MBA Student; Frederick Taylor University Moraga CA USA. This Research paper was conducted independently without any funding support nor groupwork;all correspondences should be addressed to josephlaila86@gmail.com. Managing Diversity Abstract Diversity means different things to different organizations.True diversity management articulates and raises performance standards by requiring organizations to learn to recruit, train and support people. Finding ways of working with diverse people involves valueing and utilizing differences as well as finding a common ground for intergrating a mix of people into organizations.This paper shows that organizations more often prefer a more diversified workforce basically because it makes business sense.By maximizing talent,fostering innovation;and tapping into the creativity of a diversified workforce;the altimate result will be increased profits,increase competivity and organizational effectiveness as a whole. Managing Diversity Introduction Between the 1960s and the 1970s management approach layed emphasis on eliminating unfair discrimination through legal compliance for women and ethnic minorities.This was the affirmative action approach which “focuses on achieving equality of opportunity in an organization and...
Words: 3005 - Pages: 13
...Review on Workforce Diversity Training Abstract Diversity training has significantly influence equality and fairness in the workplace. Many organizations may face challenges how to balance diverse workforce, and they have realised the importance of diversity as a key of their business in order to quickly respond the needs of customers. Accompanying with the global economic integration, diversity has been a priority on the development of human resource. Creating equal and fair working environment would be significantly associated the profitability of organizations. This essay will mainly review the literature of workforce diversity training from several perspectives: definitions of diversity, benefits of diversity, diversity training and organizational attitude, evaluation of diversity training, challenges and resistance to diversity. The major benefits of diversity include increased quantities of high quality decisions, high employee loyalty and low turnover, and improved business performance. Diversity training approaches can be categorized into awareness-based training and skill-based training, and six major training techniques such as lecture, questioning, brainstorm, small-group discussion and role-playing can be adopted. Evaluating diversity training should be aligned with organizational business goals, and four steps could be used to evaluate diversity training programmes. Diversity blindness and diversity hostility are recognized as the major challenges...
Words: 3768 - Pages: 16
...continue to see an increase in the number of diverse employees as well as the types of diversities within an organization. With this diversity comes some difficulties but the benefits exceed the negative by increasing an organizations competitiveness. This competitive increase is due to the ability of diverse groups to enhance creativity and innovation while making better decisions but only if diversity is properly managed. If organization want to become leaders in their market then effective practices and diversity initiatives must be a cornerstone beginning with Human Resource Departments and expanding though every aspect of the organization. Why encourage Diversity? One important if not overlooked reason is to meet legal requirements. The government has mandatory non-discrimination laws which can result in large monetary penalties or the loss of government contracts. Therefore, it makes sense to employ a diverse workforce if for no other reason than to prevent loss of revenue through legal ramifications. Second is organizational marketing strategy. Having a diverse workforce will assist in selling products to people from different ethnic groups and backgrounds. By hiring employees with diverse backgrounds, organizations ensure that their products and services meet the needs of their diverse customers. As diversity grows within their organization it also grows within their vendors and partners. So by having a diverse workforce organizations are better equipped for...
Words: 1831 - Pages: 8
...Team C University of Phoenix Managing Diversity Research Paper Proposal Workplaces today are become increasingly diverse with employees of different genders, races, cultures, ethnic origins, and lifestyles. There have been so many changes in the cultural make-up of organizations that it has become imperative for leaders and supervisors to understand cultural diversity and how it can affect their organization. By understanding how this diversity can affect their organization, leaders are taking steps to assure a conflict-free environment and promoting positive outcomes for the business, as well as its employees. “Diversity today is being viewed as a key means to strengthen the human capital of an organization and improve overall performance” (Bowes, 2007/2008). Studies have shown that diverse workforces can positively affect and strengthen the organization, but what can organizations do to assure this type of environment? What programs or tools do leaders need to implement when looking to improve their ability to manage this diversity? The main purpose of this research paper will be to explore what methods organizations and leaders can use to successfully manage increased cultural diversity within the workforce. This research will reflect not only why it is important for organizations to embrace the differences in a diverse workplace, but will discuss the consequences that may occur if they do not incorporate effective methods for addressing a multicultural...
Words: 2076 - Pages: 9
...IMPORTANCE OF DIVERSITY IN THE WORKFORCE 1 The Importance of Diversity in the Workforce Michael O. Russell Southern New Hampshire University THE IMPORTANCE OF DIVERISTY IN THE WORKFORCE 2 Abstract The basis of this study is to describe the importance of having a diverse age difference in today’s workforce. It will also describe how age discrimination, in particular with elderly people, presents challenges to organizations. It will also describe what policies and practices management my use to alleviate these challenges, and how continuity in the workforce is important for future generations of workers as the workforce continues to age. THE IMPORTANCE OF DIVERSITY IN THE WORKFORCE 3 The Importance of Diversity in the Workforce With an uncertain economy and the rising cost of living, more and more senior personnel who are eligible for retirement are staying in the workforce instead of retiring at the traditional age that generations before them did. This is not just happening in the United States, it is happening all around the world. As Robbins stated, “U.S. legislation has, for all intents and purposes, outlawed mandatory retirement. Most workers today no longer have to retire at age 70, and 62 percent of those aged 45 to 60 plan to delay retirement” (Robbins, pg 46). The fact that people are foregoing the traditional age of retirement forces management to focus on ways to create a diverse atmosphere in the workplace that...
Words: 1185 - Pages: 5
