Diversity management aims to utilise diversity as a positive resource within a company. This diversity manifests itself in various areas such as the classic diversity categories of age, gender, sexual orientation, religion, ethnic background, mental and physical disabilities and social status, as well as other distinguishing features.
The EU-wide anti-discrimination laws from 2000 state that discrimination on the basis of these categories is unlawful. This has resulted in numerous anti-discrimination measures in companies and institutions, such as programmes for the advancement of women, generation management, consideration of religious regulations in everyday working life, cultural awareness training and the removal of barriers for physically impaired people and much more.
In order to see diversity as a positive resource, measures are also needed to reduce prejudice. So-called ‘unconscious bias’ often prevents an open attitude towards diversity, e.g. unconscious bias towards people with a dark skin colour, women in management positions or people with physical disabilities.
Diversity training is about raising awareness of this unconscious bias and becoming aware of blind spots in one's own perception.
inclusion
Inclusion is a term that is often used together with diversity these days. Inclusion means the involvement of all members of our society and the elimination of discrimination against individual groups, e.g. due to their origin or appearance.
Behind this is the aspiration to make the members of a society visible on an equal and equal basis and to guarantee them equal access, e.g. in education or the labour market.
Diversity as a whole, and cultural diversity in the workplace in particular, should therefore be a desirable goal for a number of reasons: Competitive advantage and image building for companies, utilising the diverse resources of the workforce, complying with anti-discrimination laws and actively responding to demographic changes and the expectations of younger generations.
Karin Schreiner has been conducting diversity trainings for companies and institutions for many years.
SCOPE OF SERVICES
If you want to achieve a positive approach to diversity in your company and sensitise your employees to diversity and difference.
Planning a diversity training for your team?
Contact me at office@iknet.at