Daily Times

Workforce diversity refers to a variety of differences amongst a group of employees ranging from racial and ethnic backgrounds, age and gender, education and personality. The workforce diversity is widely prevalent at the workplaces due to accelerating globalization, multi-generation, multi-culturalism, and increasing group of minorities in the job market.

Besides, the organizations and institutions in Pakistan are characterized by differences in age, abilities, culture and norms, religion, and ethnic origins. The globalization is resulting in integration of people from different countries differing in religion, cultures, and race which leads to nuances of thoughts, values, attitudes, behavioral styles and norms. This calls a need for effective management of diverse workforce.

The minorities, especially the women, are increasingly becoming a part of almost every organization due to rising economic problems, and to prove themselves as productive members of the economy. Therefore, this underlines the importance of managing workforce diversity appropriately.

This inclusion of baby boomers with the millennial at the workplaces results in a diverse workforce, whereby younger and the older generations considerably differ in behaviors, goals, values, experiences and norms. This results in a conflict of interest, which again requires effective management of workforce diversity by the human resource managers.

Multi-generations is also increasingly resulting in workforce diversity. The elderly people in contemporary times are willing to work even after their retirement age due to inflation, economic problems and a desire to remain busy and occupied. This inclusion of baby boomers with the millennial at the workplaces results in a diverse workforce, whereby younger and the older generations considerably differ in behaviors, goals, values, experiences and norms. This results in a conflict of interest, which again requires effective management of workforce diversity by the human resource managers.

The impact of globalization, inclusion of minorities and multi-generation in the workplaces together leads to multi-culturalism, which consequently results in behavioral and attitudinal differences.  It requires the managers of today to effectively handle these differences of workforce diversity by safeguarding the rights of all employees without anyone being discriminated or exploited.

It stands an important responsibility of the managers of an organization to create a harmonious workforce by adhering to strict laws rejecting favoritism and nepotism. The organizational culture should be based upon the principles of democratization and egalitarianism, which calls for equal involvement of all employees, social justice and equal opportunities. In addition, a need to formulate special laws preserving the rights of the minorities, women and disadvantaged groups as an essential segment of the diverse workforce should be emphasized.