Voices Of Diversity

The ideal of a harmonious and diverse workplace has been given much lip service, but the daily realities of working with people who are not like you have proven to be difficult. Featuring “voices” (actual comments from members of diverse groups), this book reveals how individuals feel about their treatment and their relationships on the job. By listening to the “voices,” readers will learn to understand what it means to be “the other” and so improve communication, morale, and productivity. The range covered is extraordinary: African-Americans, Asian-Americans, Latinos, recent immigrants, disabled workers, gays and lesbians, young and old workers, women, white males. For each group, the book provides: (1) background on the culture and values of that group (2) honest comments from members of the group and a synthesis of the group’s most common problems (3) typical scenarios where supervisors and co-workers from diverse groups often hit communication barriers (4) explanations of what went wrong in each situation and how to correct it Many people want to communicate with others, but don’t know how. Voices will help them understand diversity not as an academic concept, but as a human reality.