Diversity Definition
What is diversity?
People are not alike. Everyone is different. Diversity therefore consists of visible and non-visible factors, which include personal characteristics such as background, culture,personality and work-style in addition to the characteristics that are protected under discrimination legislation in terms of race, disability, gender, religion and belief, sexual orientation and age.
Harnessing these differences will create a productive environment in which everybody feels valued, their talents are fully utilised and organisational goals are met.
CIPD defines diversity as valuing everyone as an individual - valuing people as employees, customers and clients.
Managing diversity
Managing diversity is about ensuring that all employees have the opportunity to maximise their potential and enhance their self-development and their contribution to the organisation.
It recognises that people from different backgrounds can bring fresh ideas and perceptions, which can make the way work is done more efficient and make products and services better. Managing diversity successfully will help organisations to nurture creativity and innovation and thereby to tap hidden capacity for growth and improved competitiveness.
(Definition taken from the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development)
For the LEADER Brighton & Hove enterpretation of diversity, please see the below video clip.