Introduction to

Operations Management

Prepared by: Mr. Joseph B. Dimaano, CTP

Manage workplace diversity

This Unit comprises three Elements:

1
Encourage respect for
diversity in the workplace

2
Use diversity as an asset

3
Deal with problems arising
from diversity issues
Assessment

Oral
questions

Formal report
from Written
employer/sup questions
ervisor

Assessment
for this unit
may include:

Practical Work
exercises projects

Workplace
observation
of practical
skills
Element 1 – Encourage respect for
diversity in the workplace
Performance Criteria for this Element are:

1 Role model individual behaviour that demonstrates respect for diversity

Create a climate where group identities do not inhibit employee ability

2 to contribute to organisational goals or achieve personal career goals

3 Use merit-based policies for recruitment, selection and promotion

Plan, develop and implement work practices that show respect for
4 workplace diversity

Assist and coach colleagues to embrace diversity in relation to both

5 colleagues and customers
Role model individual behaviour that
demonstrates respect for diversity
The concept of workplace diversity:
 Has evolved over time
 Began with a focus on age, gender, race,
religion and culture
 Now grown into consideration of issues
such as work-life balance, health-related
issues and people’s preferences for flexible
work arrangements

http://smallbusiness.chron.com/elements-diversity-workplace-3020.html - Elements of diversity in the workplace

Role model individual behaviour that
demonstrates respect for diversity
Managers and supervisors can role model appropriate behaviour by:
 Realising all they say and do is on public show to others in the
workplace
 Creating a suite of supporting ‘Diversity’ documents to guide and
direct workplace thinking and activities in relation to diversity
Role model individual behaviour that
demonstrates respect for diversity
 Dealing immediately with inappropriate behaviour or
language
 Acknowledging good work by staff in
relation to embracing and encouraging
diversity in the workplace
Role model individual behaviour that
demonstrates respect for diversity
 Themselves avoiding engaging in unacceptable
behaviour or using unacceptable language
 Celebrating successes flowing from having a diverse
workforce
Role model individual behaviour that
demonstrates respect for diversity
 Offering training and support to staff
 Creating a genuinely diverse workforce through
implementation of strategic action to include and
encourage a diverse workforce from a wide range of
diversity dimensions
Create a climate where group identities do
not inhibit employee ability to contribute
Group identity has major influences in the workplace on:
 How staff behave
 The way they speak to others
 The extent they communicate and share information
 Their dress standards
 Compliance levels with management/
organisational and legislated requirements
Create a climate where group identities do
not inhibit employee ability to contribute

Cultural
background

Group
Sexual
identities are
preference/ Gender
orientation strongly
linked to:

Age
Create a climate where group identities do
not inhibit employee ability to contribute
The following will help create the required workplace
climate:

Commit
UseDevelop to aan
formal
a work-based inclusive
‘Diversity
team workforce
to Strategy’
generate through
and withverbal
drive the
statements
defined
and objectives
written policies
and targets
and procedures
initiative – rather than impose the initiative ‘from
above’

(Continued)
Create a climate where group identities do
not inhibit employee ability to contribute
The following will help create the required workplace climate:

Develop policies to support and enable attainment of

the objectives/targets in the Diversity Strategy

Put the policies in the Staff Handbook

Write/revise the ‘public statements’ of the business to

reflect intentions

Make someone responsible for the initiative

Create a climate where group identities do
not inhibit employee ability to contribute
The following will help create the required workplace climate:

Introduce required workplace training

Identify diversity issues which are negatively

impacting the workplace

Take immediate action to address identified issues

Provide necessary resources to support/enable the

initiative
Create a climate where group identities do
not inhibit employee ability to contribute
The following will help create the required workplace climate:

Encourage participation and engagement

Involve managers and get them talking about

diversity

Implement ‘zero tolerance’ for non-compliance with

and/or breaches of requirements

Integrate individual goals with organisational goals

Create ‘Workplace Champions’

Plan, develop and implement work
practices to respect workplace diversity
It is important to note:
 Development of diversity practices may occur at same
time/as part of process to develop the diversity policies
 Diversity polices and practices/SOPs are often
combined into the same/one document
 All stakeholders need to be involved
at this stage/in the process
Plan, develop and implement work
practices to respect workplace diversity
Keys to the planning process:
 Ensure policies reflect/flow from
Diversity Strategy
 Read and understand all policies for
which SOPs are required
 Network with ‘relevant others’
Plan, develop and implement work
practices to respect workplace diversity
Keys to the planning process:

Set timelines and

Involve the Allocate sufficient develop schedules
workforce resources
Plan, develop and implement work
practices to respect workplace diversity
Keys to the planning process:

Identify support needed for staff to

implement as required

Determine (and advise staff) of

consequences of failure to comply with
requirements
Plan, develop and implement work
practices to respect workplace diversity

1Write drafts of SOPs

Important steps
in the 2
development Circulate drafts for comment
phase:

3
Revise drafts on basis of feedback
received
Plan, develop and implement work
practices to respect workplace diversity

Confirm alignment between

4Strategy, policy and SOP/s

5 Re-present revised drafts for approval

Important
steps in the
development
phase: 6 Submitted approved final drafts to
management for authorisation

7
Integrate final product into internal operational
protocols and documentation
Plan, develop and implement work
practices to respect workplace diversity
To optimise implementation of requirements:
 Establish timetable for introduction and implementation
 Provide necessary training
 Nominate a transition phase
 Remind staff of need for compliance
Plan, develop and implement work
practices to respect workplace diversity

To optimise implementation of requirements:

 Provide support for staff
 Monitor implementation
 Revise SOPs as/if required
 Report to management
Plan, develop and implement work
practices to respect workplace diversity
Possible topics for consideration:
 Acknowledging religious and cultural celebrations
 Appropriately allocating duties to particular staff
members
 Culturally appropriate mixing of staff
Plan, develop and implement work
practices to respect workplace diversity
Possible topics for consideration:
 Training employees in a range of issues
 Considering customers with special needs
 Addressing workplace communication
 Using personal differences of staff within the
organisation
Plan, develop and implement work
practices to respect workplace diversity
Possible topics for consideration:
 Tackling identified workplace barriers
 Preparing and developing appropriate issue resolution
procedures
 Initiating flexible work practices
 Incorporating the wearing of national
or religious dress with staff uniforms
required by the organisation