Rethinking the policies : motivation and managing diversity - Essay Example

A harmonious work environment cannot be created without proper diversity management strategies (Bagilhole 2009, p97). Discussion Diversity management focuses on boosting organizational capacity by recognizing and appreciating employees’ contributions without discriminating on any employee. For diversity management to be successful, a comprehensive diversity management plan must be developed. This plan acts as a guideline to diversity management initiatives as well as providing ways on how to achieve diversity management objectives.

The plan should offer detailed approaches on how to attain diversity management objectives, promote a workplace free from discrimination, and offer employment opportunities to all employees (Paludi 2012, p3). Through proper diversity management, employees can attain their full potential, which is in line with the organization’s mission. In addition, organizations with proper management of its diverse workforce have an outstanding reputation with job seekers, which enables such organizations to win the best human resources in the job market.

Engaging, rewarding, and valuing employees’ contribution in a diverse work environment motivates employees, which boosts their commitment to their respective duties. The other benefit arising from exceptional diversity management is the decreased turnover due to increased employee engagement (Terry 2011, p.53). In diversity management, the issue of inequality plays a fundamental role in the success of an organization. While diversity focuses on recognizing and valuing differences in workforce, equality focuses on creating fairness in the workplace.

Equality allows all employees to participate in all affairs of an organization without discrimination. The issue of equality in workplaces is supported by Legislation structured to address issues of discrimination on employees. There are a number of behaviours regarded as acts of discrimination when practiced at the work place. Organizations with well-structured diversity management strategies have policies that address issues related to discrimination (Paludi 2012, p.10). Apart from addressing issues related to discrimination and inequality, organizations have the responsibility of ensuring that the diverse workforce is fully motivated.

Motivating employees in a diverse workplace is an art every organization should perfect at in order to achieve its mission and objectives. Different theories support the idea that employees vary in terms of motivating factors. Studies done on work behaviours suggest that employees reach a point where they are no longer motivated in whatever they are doing. Variation in personality is thought to contribute to the perception different people have on their jobs, which leads to loss of motivation.

Handling issues of declining motivation at the work place remains a challenge to many supervisors and managers. However, managers and supervisors have the potential to take care of certain variables, which contribute to loss of motivation (Lauby 2005, p.5). From this point, this paper will look into ways to motivate a diverse workforce, benefits of team work, and behavioural contexts of inequality and discrimination at the workplace. Other issues that are of concern in diversity management include organizational policies, which promote equality at the workplace and legislations that address