Workplace diversity issues can fall into two broad categories for most employers:

·        Attempting to introduce greater diversity, to meet diversity targets or requirements

·        Managing existing workforce diversity

For most US employers, both of these will apply at one time or another, but if you are employing significant numbers of non-professional staff, you will almost certainly have to deal with managing the existing diversity of your workforce.

Workplace diversity should be embraced – the old saying "variety is the spice of life" is certainly true when it comes to people, and a diverse workforce has a lot to offer any organization.

At this stage, it is probably worth taking a moment to understand what diversity means, in the context of a workplace. Diversity means employing, and working with people who have different qualities and experiences to oneself.

Workplace diversity takes on many guises, and all these factors combine to give people different outlooks on life and different abilities and approaches with regards to their work:

·        Age

·        Ethnicity

·        Gender

·        Sexual orientation

·        Race

·        Physical abilities

·        Employment experiences

·        Religion

·        Education

·        Language

·        Country of origin

·        Income

These are just a few examples of how people can differ. At this stage, I hope that it is starting to become apparent that diversity is an unavoidable and welcome part of the fabric of life. Workplace diversity can no more be avoided than changes in the weather.

Workplace diversity should be embraced, and doing so makes it far easier to manage than otherwise. It's true, a little sensitivity is necessary sometimes, and in situations where disagreements or conflicts arise, the key to resolving these successfully is to remember that a result of diversity is that people approach problems differently. An employer's job is to create a balance between understanding differences and maintaining efficient and consistent processes and procedures.

Maintaining healthy and open channels of communication, and developing an environment in which employees feel able to speak openly is the key to managing any issues that may arise within a diverse workforce. Employers should encourage a sense of team identity and trust, as this will help keep employees' minds focused on the most efficient way to do their jobs, and not encourage them to dwell on any disagreements or differences that they may perceive to exist.

Despite the challenges that managing a diverse workforce can sometimes present, workplace diversity brings unmistakable benefits to an organization. The breadth of talent, experience, ingenuity and resourcefulness that a diverse workforce can offer mean that every organization should actively seek to maintain, encourage and nurture diversity in its workplace.