The idea of diversity in the workplace is a good one, but it is also one that has struggled. Some workplaces are more accepting and interested in diversity than others, of course, meaning that there are still problems and challenges that have to be handled by companies. These challenges are also dealt with by those who work for (or want to work for) these companies, since diversity can affect the hiring process and the work environment as a whole.
Diversity in the News and Inclusiveness
Almost everyone has heard of Volkswagen, but what they may not realize about the company is that it focuses on and clearly addresses diversity. That was a challenge for the company when it first came to the U.S. To build a factory, but VW knew from the beginning that it wanted to create a diverse workforce so it would be able to represent the community in which it was located (Pare, 2012). What would be expected from VW would be a lot of German people, since Germany is the country of VW's origin. However, when it opened a plant in Chattanooga, TN, it brought in and/or hired people from all over and with all types of nationalities (Pare, 2012). The goal was to make sure the plant and its workers respected and reflected the diversity of the area in which that plant was built. The plant was opened in February of 2012, and since that time VW has been proactive about hiring many different kinds of people from all types of backgrounds and walks of life (Pare, 2012).
While many companies say they are diverse, not everyone in those companies truly embraces that belief (Mujtaba, 2010). Additionally, there can be some issues with diversity because of the differences faced by the people who have ideal and opinions that are often culturally unique and not well understood by others (Mujtaba, 2007). That does not mean that people who are diverse should not work together, though. On the contrary, it is a much better way for individuals to get a company moving in the right direction (Harvey & Allard, 2012). With VW, it was very obvious that the company was interested in diversity. It was also very obvious that the company was working hard to ensure that its diversity was noticed, which may have been unnecessary.
Recommendations / Alternatives
While it is a good thing VW is doing by being diverse and attempting to mirror the community, it is something the company has to be careful of, as well. The reason for the concern is that VW should be hiring the best people for the job, no matter what their backgrounds are. Since that is the case, VW should look carefully at the people it has hired and will hire in the future with the main focus on the skills those people have. Diversity is a very valuable thing to have in a company, but it should not come at the expense of quality job skills (Harvey & Allard, 2012). In other words, each and every company that values diversity and wants to use it as one of the criteria for hiring a person should be sure that diversity is not the only reason that person is hired (Mujtaba, 2010). Instead of focusing only on diversity, the company must focus on hiring diverse individuals who have the skills that are truly needed by the company in that particular job or department.
When a company makes diversity part of the package instead of making it the focus of everything, the company gets diversity and skills. Together, that is a winning combination for any company, including VW. While VW does not currently have any problems, the company should focus on taking care to hire based on skills. There is also no reason that VW needs to tout how many minorities have been hired or brag about the diversity it has. Companies that are serious about diversity do things quietly, and they do not need to draw attention to themselves (Harvey & Allard, 2012). Word of mouth is enough for these companies, and it does not take long for those who are looking for work to realize that diversity and skills are both valued at that company.
Implementation / Mentoring Plan
When it comes to implementing a plan for hiring that revolves around skills but still includes diversity, there are several things a company must consider. These are all significant, and should include:
Creation of a good job description that is clear, direct, and addresses the necessary skills and abilities that a person hired for that position should have. If a company does not know what is really needed for a particular position, the company will have trouble hiring for that position (Harvey & Allard, 2012).
Recruitment of the right person (or people) for the job. Some jobs require much more skill than others, and some can be very specialized based on the kind of person needed for the line of work (Mujtaba, 2007). Because that is the case, it is important to actively recruit the person needed for the job, instead of simply choosing from a list of people who apply. Many companies focus on recruitment instead of listing a job opening for the general public to consider.
A focus on skills is vital to any implementation plan, especially when interviewing people for a particular job or position. For those who have the proper skills, training may still be necessary (Harvey & Allard, 2012). When training is a part of the hiring process, it allows growth and development to occur naturally in the person who was hired. This is not to say that diversity should not matter, but only that a person should be hired for his or her skills and trained to use those skills to his or her maximum potential. Diversity is a bonus, but it should not be the reason a person is hired for any job or position at a particular company.
Summary
You’re 72% through this paper. Sign up to read the full paper.
Sign Up Now — Instant Access Already a member? Log inAlways verify citation format against your institution’s current style guide requirements.