...Brad Sears Christy Mallory OCTOBER 2011 Economic Motives for Adopting LGBT-Related Workplace Policies Introduction This study evaluates the economic impact of corporate non-discrimination and benefits policies by analyzing the extent to which economic reasons motivate corporations to adopt such policies. The past decade has seen a large increase in the number of corporations adopting LGBT-related workplace policies. In 1999, 72% of Fortune 500 companies included sexual orientation in their non-discrimination policies, and only a handful included gender identity.1 By 2009, 87% of such companies included sexual orientation and 41% included gender identity in their non-discrimination policies.2 Over the same time period, the percentage of Fortune 500 companies offering domestic partner benefits increased from 14% to 59%.3 This study reviews statements issued when adopting such policies by the top 50 Fortune 500 companies and the top 50 federal government contractors. Since companies began to adopt these policies, and state and local governments began to amend their laws to prohibit sexual orientation and gender identity discrimination, arguments have been made that the requirements are costly and burdensome for private businesses. As recently as May 2011, the Tennessee legislature repealed an ordinance passed by the city of Nashville requiring city contractors to include sexual orientation and gender identity in their non-discrimination policies.4 The Tennessee Chamber of Commerce...
Words: 4464 - Pages: 18
...Behavior – Diversity Issues (Chapter Three) Study Guide Specific Diversity Issues 1. Gender Diversity in the Workplace 2. Race Diversity in the Workplace 3.Age Diversity in the Workplace 4.Religious Diversity in the Workplace 5.Employees with Disabilities in the Workplace 6. Sexual Orientation Diversity in the Workplace Gender Diversity in the Workplace The Equal Pay Act (1963) prohibits discrimination in pay based on gender. Title VII of the Civil Rights Act (1964) prohibits discrimination in all employment-related decisions based on gender Earnings Gap The median earnings of women who worked full time in 2008 was 79% of men working full time. One explanation is that women are more likely to have gaps in their résumés because they are more likely to take time off to have children Race Diversity in the Workplace Title VII of the Civil Rights Act (1964) prohibits race discrimination in all employment-related decisions. Yet race discrimination still exists in organizations Age Diversity in the Workplace Despite their positive workplace behaviors, employees who are older often have to deal with age-related stereotypes at work. For example, a review of a large number of studies showed that those between 17 and 29 years of age tend to rate older employees more negatively, while younger employees were viewed as more qualified and having higher potential (age discrimination is prohibited by the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967) Religious Diversity in the...
Words: 711 - Pages: 3
...Role of Sexual Orientation in Leadership and Communication Style John M. Stinnett ORG300 – Applying Leadership Principles Colorado State University – Global Campus Dr. Wendy G. Wilson February 14, 2015 Role of Sexual Orientation in Leadership and Communication Style Leadership can be defined as the process through which an individual guides and motivates a group towards the achievement of a common goal/s. Until recently, men have largely held leadership positions and men were thusly stereotyped to be more effective leaders. Women were seldom seen in senior leadership roles, and openly gay individuals were almost unheard of as leaders. However, currently with a more liberal trend to be open about one’s sexuality; gays and lesbians have become more frequent in the workforce over the past few decades, especially in management and leadership positions. The stereotypes are changing as more and more homosexuals enter leadership roles. Diversity in Leadership and Communication Today’s leader must be skilled in intercultural and diversity communication styles. As Van Hoyes and Livens state, “an organization’s success, profit and growth depend increasingly on the management of a diverse work force” (2003). Diversity includes such things as race, gender, age, color, physical ability, national origin, etc. The definition of diversity has recently been more broadly updated to include religion, ethnicity, sexual orientation, education, language, lifestyle, beliefs, physical appearance...
Words: 1183 - Pages: 5
...Workforce Diversity: How Can A Leader Manage A Diverse Workplace?Successful Workplace Diversity For ManagersMonique RodgersColorado Technical UniversityJanuary 9, 2011The dimensions of diversity include; race, sexual orientation, religion, age, disability and gender. Diversity in the workplace has an influential perspective on the atmosphere of the workplace. A diverse workplace is one that does not focus primarily on the job alone but also on the employees that work at the company. The diverse workplace is centered around bringing people together as one and working together on a common goal. At times this is not easy to do in a workplace as it creates a lot of conflict between the workers due the differences that are being displayed. For some people, is not easy to work with someone of a different gender, and for other’s it is not easy to work with another person who expresses a different religion. Then for others they cannot handle working with someone who has a different sexual orientation such lesbian, bi-sexual, or gay couples. Diversity helps to bridge the gap between the differences and helps employees to work on a level that is conducive and effective for the workplace. A manager helps to bridge the diversity gap by joining the company together to celebrate the differences that are associated amongst the employees. A manager’s role is not to necessarily accept or believe in what the employees portray but to only accept them and respect what they believe in. Diversity helps...
Words: 917 - Pages: 4
...Diversity assignment MIB 33 group A Pierre-Luc Giulj Hala Announ Federica Terruso Qiangwen Zhang Summary: Sid Shawn is a 10-year veteran of MNO Financial Services and a mainstay of the pension marketing group. He has been a good, consistent worker and an invaluable resource for the salespeople and consultant relations managers. Sid also weighs 400 pounds, so when he is the only internal candidate for the customer-facing position of consultant relations manager, sales and marketing VP Bill Houglan feels that he has a tough hiring decision to make. Indeed, the position of consultant relations manager means that Sid would stand for the image of the company. As a result it may cause some negative effect on the company’s impression towards clients. On the other hand, Sid is familiar with the company’s products backward and forward, he has even already found potential client, Dick Huff, for the equity product. This case explores whether a talented employee obesity’s should affect his manager’s decision whether to promote him. We consider issues of discrimination, diversity awareness, and employer intervention in matters of employees’ health. Recommendation: Bill should give Sid a chance to try the new job because: * He has the required skills for the job. * He is an internal candidate so he already knows the company very well. * He has a great personality and good social relations with his co-workers. * Bill should monitor Sid’s performance and see if the...
Words: 1068 - Pages: 5
...www.thetimes100.co.uk The business benefits of diversity Introduction Diversity describes people’s differences. Differences can come from individual characteristics and life experiences, such as where you went to school or where you live. Being married or in a civil partnership, being a parent, your political affiliation, career path or level of income can also influence your personal perspectives. These factors make us react, approach challenges and solve problems differently. CURRICULUM TOPICS • Business environment • Business strategy • People in organisations • Communication GLOSSARY When people refer to ‘diversity’, especially in a business context, they often focus on a particular set of key characteristics or differences. These are: • gender • ethnicity (which refers to colour, race and national origin) • religion • disability • age • sexual orientation. These differences are protected by law. This means staff and customers have the legal right to be treated fairly and equally in relation to these characteristics. Diversity brings real benefits to society and businesses. For society, diversity brings richness and variety. There are always new and interesting things to be learnt from each other. For a business, employing a diverse workforce enables it to use a wider range of talents and skills. These lead to creativity and innovation. Businesses need to mirror the communities and cultures they work in so they can understand and anticipate the diverse needs of...
Words: 2356 - Pages: 10
...Article: Gender Diversity in the Workplace Author: Lisowska, Ewa. Kobieta I Biznes Date of Article: 2009 This article talks about women in the workplace in Poland. In Poland women represent 45% of the total number of employee. This is observed in most of the European Union counters. Over 50 years this was very different, they had fewer woman because they prefer men, and the workplace was still only for hiring white, fit (not disable) and young males. Companies are trying to aim towards diversity and equality, and are establishing equal chances for everybody of both sexes. The polish labor market is fully implementing equality, but there is still discrimination against women. In this article they talk about why diversity, including gender diversity is so important. Women in Poland represent over half of the population, which is about 52%. The women are educated on various levels than men. The women that are deployed are better education than the working men. It does not matter in Poland because all of the decision making position in business or politics are taken by men. There have been significant changes in the last few years. Women have increase interest in male jobs, like police, transportation, bus and tram drivers. Women advancement has still been hindered. Another problem is that women are discriminated against when it comes to pay. Even if they are in the same positions the man are paid more. This is observed in the European Union. Gender diversity is happening...
Words: 2415 - Pages: 10
...DIVERSITY IN THE WORKPLACE What is a diverse work place? Well, a diverse workplace could be a place that has mixture of gender, age, ethnicity, disability and other dimensions of diversity. I didn’t know that diversity included disability or even other dimensions of diversity. Well according to our HR book other dimension is a person’s sexual orientation. (DENISI/GRIFFIN, 2011) Sexual orientation means a person's sexual identity in relation to the gender to which they are attracted; the fact of being heterosexual, homosexual, or bisexual. Benefits of Diversity in the Workplace. A diverse workforce drives economic growth which is beneficial to all the valuable markets. We have in the United States a big growth in more women, racial and ethnic minorities, and gay and transgender going into the workforce. A diverse workforce can have a better share of consumer market. By bringing in a diverse group of employees it brings together different experiences that can be more marketable to consumers. Recruiting from a diverse pool of candidates means a more qualified workforce. A diverse and inclusive workforce helps businesses avoid employee turnover costs. Diversity fosters a more creative and innovative workforce. Businesses need to adapt to our changing nation to be competitive in the economic market. Diversity is a key aspect of entrepreneurialism. Diversity in business ownership, particularly among women of color, is way to moving our economy forward. Diversity...
Words: 648 - Pages: 3
...“Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” has been a policy enforced in the United States Armed Forces, however the attitudes of this policy in some aspects has transferred to the business sector. Some American citizens believe the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy is effective, yet others find it problematic. The policy has affected not only homosexuals wanting to serve our country, but also those attempting to find employment. Homosexuals serving in the military have been a long debated topic throughout U.S. history. As early as Revolutionary War times, the military did not exclude homosexuals from serving our country. However, they did consider sodomy a criminal offense. According to the “Article 125 of Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ) prohibits all service members from engaging in sodomy. Service members found violating this article can be court-martialed and imprisoned if found guility.” (Alexander) Sodomy is defined as, “anal or oral copulation with a member of the same or opposite sex” (Sodomy). In 1778 the first solider, Lieutenant Gotthold Frederick Enslin, was discharged from the Continental Army for sodomy. The military’s main focus was on homosexual behavior, but eventually shifted to eliminate homosexual personnel all together. During this time, psychiatric evaluations were administered to prevent homosexuals from entering the military due to an alleged “medical” reason. In 1916, the Articles of War clearly forbid homosexuals from serving in the U.S. military. ...
Words: 2918 - Pages: 12
...of different age groups (traditionalists, baby boomers, Gen X and Y) and ethnicity. Recent new hires have added to the diversity of the company, some of them have different sexual orientations and parental status compared to the employees already working within the company. The first few days has seen some awkwardness among the employees. A workplace should be a neutral environment where everyone feels welcome and comfortable to perform their job. However not all workplaces can be this simple and put together. Indie Software represents numerous workplaces that deal with this situation everyday. Whether you’re a new employee that is bringing something new or unknown to the majority or you’re an existing employee that is now surrounded by a new belief or value from a new employee it can be difficult in either situation but it really does not have to be and in this report we will learn how. Indie Software’s existing employees may be feeling uncomfortable because they have become so use to the same faces, the same beliefs, values, cultures and personalities. When someone becomes too comfortable and bit of change can be unsettling whether it is meant to be or not. The existing employees may feel uncomfortable because they’re not familiar with the way the new employees may act, speak or behave. Not everyone is educated enough to know that sexual orientation is a personal matter and every human being regardless of what they do behind closed doors should be treated the same,...
Words: 969 - Pages: 4
...According to Chapter one of the textbook (Schaefer, 2011), the dimension of cultural diversity groups is: racial groups, ethnicity groups, religion groups, gender groups. The other dimensions of culture diversity that also categorize other groups are set apart on the basis of age, disability status, physical appearance, and sexual orientation. These groups share five characteristics, “unequal treatment, distinguishing physical or cultural traits, involuntary membership, awareness of subordination, and in-group marriage” (Schaefer, 2011) Race group, is the group known by obvious physical differences. In society today’s, people classified, and classify others by skin color, they either Black or White. Ethnicity group are” set apart from others because of its national origin or distinctive cultural patterns” (Schaefer, 2011) the culture traits such as language, strong belief, food, traditions, and habits make this a dominant group on the foundation of cultural. Religion and gender groups; Religion groups are associations set apart from the dominant religion and gender group, male and female are set apart on the basis of sex. “An ethnic group is a group of people whose members identify with each other, through a common heritage, common language, a common culture, religion and interest in a homeland connected with a specific geographical area, traditions, food...
Words: 866 - Pages: 4
...Workplace Diversity: Benefits, Challenges and Solutions Workplace diversity refers to the variety of differences between people in an organization. That sounds simple, but diversity encompasses race, gender, ethnic group, age, personality, cognitive style, tenure, organizational function, education, background and more. Diversity not only involves how people perceive themselves, but how they perceive others. Those perceptions affect their interactions. For a wide assortment of employees to function effectively as an organization, human resource professionals need to deal effectively with issues such as communication, adaptability and change. Diversity will increase significantly in the coming years. Successful organizations recognize the need for immediate action and are ready and willing to spend resources on managing diversity in the workplace now. Benefits of Workplace Diversity An organization’s success and competitiveness depends upon its ability to embrace diversity and realize the benefits. When organizations actively assess their handling of workplace diversity issues, develop and implement diversity plans, multiple benefits are reported such as: Increased adaptability Organizations employing a diverse workforce can supply a greater variety of solutions to problems in service, sourcing, and allocation of resources. Employees from diverse backgrounds bring individual talents and experiences in suggesting ideas that are flexible in adapting to fluctuating markets...
Words: 4512 - Pages: 19
...Diversity in the Nursing Environment Robin Glunt RN SOC/315 December 12, 2011 Jenel Cavazos Diversity in the Nursing Environment Diversity is a fact of the nursing environment in terms of relationships with colleagues and with patients. Nurses are required to work with and take care of individuals from a range of cultural and ethnic backgrounds. This can be both a challenge and an enriching experience. In nursing all dimensions of cultural diversity are experienced regularly including the primary dimensions of diversity such as age, ethnic heritage, mental/physical ability, race, gender and sexual orientation. Secondary dimensions are considered as part and parcel of understanding patient needs in a health care setting and these may include income, religion, education and family status (Stockdale M.S., 2004). Understanding diversity is pivotal to successful patient care because patient needs are often largely defined by patient experience and expectations. All of the factors that define diversity are inherent in how a patient will perceive their care and what their expectations will be in receiving care. Nurses who understand this are better able to offer compassion, appropriate services, tolerance and support. It is important when considering patient care to recognize the difference between diversity and inclusion. Diversity compared to inclusion in the health care environment Diversity defines the lifestyle and experiences and individual may have which will inform...
Words: 957 - Pages: 4
...INTRODUCTION This TESCO case study for diversity summaries that, in a worldwide marketplace, big companies that hires a diverse workforce around the world, are better to explain and understand the different demographics of the global marketplace, TESCO better service and is equipped to grow in the marketplace because of its diverse workforce than that of all those small companies that has limited or small range of employee demographics. Tesco provides banking, insurance and telecommunications services as well as having a strong online presence. Tesco is a business that puts people first, ensuring its customers and colleagues are at the heart of everything it does. ‘Our core purpose is to create value for customers to earn their lifetime loyalty. Our success depends on people: the people who shop with us and the people who work with us. Earning customer loyalty is crucial and Tesco focuses to helping customers in lots of small ways which together can make a big difference. ‘Every little helps’ is more than just a slogan. It describes Tesco’s way of working with all of its stakeholders, and that includes colleagues as well as customers. Tesco works in a competitive market where products, stores, tastes and even the way customers shop are constantly changing. Tesco needs to be proactive in preparing to face these changes. This means finding talented people who will be ambassadors for the brand in the communities it serves. Diverse communities mean that it needs to recruit and...
Words: 1334 - Pages: 6
...Reflection Journal #4 Leo Vodovozov Diversity in the Workplace Professor Tamu Chambers November 24, 2014 | | Introduction to self-assessment in diversity workforce Did you know, in United States; individualsstill legally are fired based on their sexual orientation in 29 states and their gender identity in 35 states? With that said, after completing my exercise in Pie Chart and Diversity Questionnaire (in Canas and Sondak, Chapter 11), I’ve came to realize that in our society we are very prejudices towards people as of this moment, some may not even realize their actions and the effects of the smallest thing can do to another person. There is constant discrimination everywhere we look at; it is almost as though society is incapable of evolving away from it. Discrimination is a very hard barrier to break. To discriminate means to "distinguish between one another; to make a difference in treatment or favor on the basis other than individual merit. "Everyone at some point in their life experiences some form of discrimination that might be on the basis of their race, religion, age, or sex. Discrimination is currently viewed from many different angles. Because of this, I have decided to discuss one types of discrimination, which is equal employment opportunity discrimination. Throughout this paper, I will attempt to answer several questions. Such questions are as follow, what is equal employment opportunity discrimination and whom does it affect? What did I learn...
Words: 1337 - Pages: 6
