Home
Advantages of Diversity in Workplace
By Claire Mitchell, chairman of Brighton-based LEADER (Local Employers Acting on Diversity, Equality and Race), which focuses on creating better business through equality and diversity in the workplace
ALL decent employers give everyone a fair chance regardless of race, gender, culture or sexuality. So why do we need to consider equality or diversity issues?
Well the reality is that, despite positive attitudes, most organisations in our city have problems recruiting and retaining talented employees from diverse cultures. Addressing the issues at the heart of this problem can provide a powerful boost to business.
Both academic studies and anecdotal experiences show that cultural diversity in the workplace contributes to a business's overall growth and prosperity. This is partly because a diverse workforce supplies a greater variety of solutions to problems in service, sourcing, and allocations of resources.
Employees from different backgrounds bring individual talents and experiences and this amounts to a greater variety of ideas that help organisations adapt to fluctuating markets and customer demands.
At the same time, employers shouldn't feel obliged to create a perfect representation of the city's population in their workforce. And no one should be employed simply for their cultural background rather than their skills.
This is about business success and social justice, not arbitrary government targets. Brighton businesses need a forum to discuss these complicated issues constructively. LEADER is lending a helping hand and aims to help Brighton and Hove employers reap the benefits of multicultural employment practices at the Profit through Cultural Integration seminar.
The seminar is taking place tomorrow from 3.30pm to 5.30pm at the University of Brighton, Grand Parade.
Guest speakers from Martin Searle Solicitors, Freeman Breckon Accountants, Brighton and Sussex University Hospitals NHS Trust and Brighton and Hove City Council will provide practical advice along
with case studies and legal updates.
Diversity contributes to the bottom line by making it easier to retain good employees, lowering costs by enhancing skills in-house and developing a reputation that helps attract new clients and new employees.
LEADER's seminar will concentrate on the current position regarding employment law, the implications of recently introduced legislation and examples of how others have benefited from cultural diversity.
This will provide genuine practical advice on how to progress your business and realise the opportunities available to your staff, and your consumers. For more information, visit www.leaderbrighton-hove.org .