The Benefits of a Multicultural Workforce

The Benefits of a Multicultural Workforce

The purpose of this paper is to forecast possible cultural changes inside Worldwide Telecommunications, Inc. It will be proven that a multicultural workforce will benefit teamwork and communications within Worldwide Telecommunications, Inc. The twenty-first century may best be remembered for the globalization of large companies and closer interpersonal relationships among a multicultural workforce. Cultural changes are imminent; however, educating personnel towards cultural competence, teamwork, and communication will amount to huge profits for a large company and richer personal experiences.

The globalization of telecommunications and industry poses many important challenges for organizations to remain competitive. “At the same time it is recognized that in a multicultural society there is real value in organizations diversifying their workforce and encourage knowledge sharing” (Al Mousa & Jones, 2006, p.119). The very basis of Worldwide Telecommunications, Inc. is to be able to communicate globally to diverse ethnic, linguistic, and cultural populations. Traditionally, American business did not experience multiculturalism. However, corporate executives recognize that there is a growing trend toward culturally diverse workforces, which leads to success (Cox, 1993). It is important to focus on the challenges and opportunities associated with a multicultural workforce.

In a recent poll, 81% of respondents said that it is somewhat or very important to hire employees of different races, cultures, and backgrounds in the workplace, as stated by The American Council on Education. Implementing a diverse workplace is becoming a goal for most employers because they do not want to be perceived as discriminating against other cultures or races. Affirmative Action laws have been put into place to force companies to become more diverse. There are exorbitant costs associated with failure to provide a supportive social environment for diverse populations - for example, law suits. Legislation acts were established to safeguard the rights of individuals to retain their cultural and ethnic identity and to be treated equally in employment (Singh, 2003).

Creating a more diverse workplace has its negatives and positives. Diversity is defined as acknowledging, understanding, accepting, valuing, and celebrating differences among people. It is imperative to recognize and value the uniqueness of oneself and others on the basis of race, class, ethnicity, gender, culture, age, sexual orientation, religion, language, socio-economic status, and physical and mental ability (D’Netto, Smith & Da-Gama-Pinto, 2000, p.78).

Disadvantages of a Multicultural Workforce

Within a multicultural workforce, there may be differences in culture, regional dialects, and life experiences, which are potential barriers to effective communication. On the negative side, some employers may decide that implementing a multicultural workplace may mean having employees in other parts of the country whom are usually paid less. Customer services are a great example of this. Unfair hiring practices force jobs away from our society and also cause a language barrier issue when one needs to call customer service.

For women of multicultural backgrounds, the trauma of immigrating to a new society is accompanied by difficulties of combining salaried employment with their domestic responsibilities, which their customs have demanded of them. In a study conducted, it was found that two-thirds of immigrant women had never even worked outside of their home (Alcorso, 2007). This can be difficult for employers hiring women of various cultures.

Another problem associated with employing women in a multicultural workforce is that of sexual discrimination, as discovered by an American insurance company when it hired a large number of male and female employees from a variety of racial and ethnic backgrounds. Communication between men and women of other cultures is very different from that of the United States. In many cultures, women are seen as second-class citizens compared to men. Many resource managers received complaints from migrant women who believe the migrant working men disrespects her. This created animosity in their work environment and created ongoing problems for managers attempting to keep peace in the workplace (Lindberger, 2007). The Equal Opportunity Commission Act and the Affirmative Action Act require organizations to have policies and procedures to promote equal opportunity employment. Depending on the size of the company, you are required to hang a poster in highly visible areas.

Advantages of a Multicultural Workforce

There is a need to develop strategies to explore the benefits of a multicultural workforce. There are many