Diversity and Human Resource Management
The Society for Human Resource Management says: “To celebrate diversity is to appreciate and value individual differences. SHRM strives to be the leader in promoting workplace diversity. Although the term is often used to refer to differences based on ethnicity, gender, age, religion, disability, national origin and sexual orientation, diversity encompasses an infinite range of individuals’ unique characteristics and experiences, including communication styles, physical characteristics such as height and weight, and speed of learning and comprehension.”
- TAHRA Vice President of Diversity
- Grover Hall
US Cellular
4700 S. Garnett
Tulsa, OK 74146
Work: 918-855-4855
Commitment
Commitment from the top – the Board and Executives – sends a clear message about the seriousness and relevance of diversity to your overall business plan. Commitment through the middle and management levels translates the message into projects, assignments and tasks. Commitment from the staff and line workers turns the message into results.
Leadership
Integrate the concepts, skills and results of your diversity program into the framework of the organization. Hold senior management accountable for pushing diversity through the organization (some organizations tie managers’ and business unit performance in the area of diversity to bonuses). Besides implementing training and beginning a diversity council or taskforce, consider incorporating additional components, such as employee networks, a mentoring program, an intern program and/or a work/life balance program, into your diversity plan. Look hard at the way you develop leaders to make diversity an integral part of the organization, its operations, systems and policies.
Training
Training is the fundamental opportunity to inform and educate staff and management about diversity. Without a solid training component, your diversity efforts have no real chance of success.
Recruitment & Retention
Your recruitment efforts will depend on the quality of the relationships you cultivate with diverse individuals, both inside the organization and outside in the community. A proactive approach to recruitment can enable you to be more effective in helping your organization achieve its goal of a productive and diverse workforce. Developing mutually beneficial relationships internally and externally is an important recruitment mechanism.
