Diversity

Diversity will be Tomorrow's Workplace

Diversity in the Workplace

The workplace of the future will have a diverse workforce. An innovative aspect of Tomorrow’s Workplace is about creating opportunities for businesses to work with the diverse employment service organizations representing Surrey’s full labor force, and building mutually beneficial partnerships. New immigrants, persons with disabilities, and other marginalized groups, are comprised of skilled and job-ready individuals that want to contribute within Surrey’s community. Surrey businesses have those opportunities and will greatly benefit from looking to the community to sustain and grow their business.

 The workplace of the future will have a diverse workforce. An innovative aspect of Tomorrow’s Workplace is about creating opportunities for businesses to work with the diverse employment service organizations representing Surrey’s full labor force, and building mutually beneficial partnerships. New immigrants, persons with disabilities, and other marginalized groups, are comprised of skilled and job-ready individuals that want to contribute within Surrey’s community. Surrey businesses have those opportunities and will greatly benefit from looking to the community to sustain and grow their business.

Why is diversity top of mind?

Every organization has a diverse workplace. Workplace diversity refers to the variety of differences between people in an organization. Often ‘ethnic diversity’ comes to mind when thinking of workplace diversity, however, diversity has a broader scope, distinguished by visible and non-visible types of diversity. These many characteristics include age, skin color, language, physical disability, gender, personality, organizational function, background, cognitive style, religion, education, and more. Immediately detectable characteristics are likely to be the most influential in that they tend to cement often stereotypical assumptions which are then not easily shaken.

Leveraging Diversity

Businesses in Canada will need to adapt to an increasingly diverse workforce.  The BC Chamber of commerce estimates that by 2015 there will be one million new job openings in BC; however given current birth and immigration rates, there will be a labour shortfall of 350,000. By 2030, the Chamber expects 100% of net labour force growth will be through immigration. Clearly diversity is a labor market imperative.

Building Inclusive Workplaces

Workplace diversity is about acknowledging differences and adapting work practices to create an inclusive environment in which diverse skills, perspectives and backgrounds are valued. Diversity can provide tremendous benefits in terms of improved morale, outside-the-box thinking, greater teamwork, and an atmosphere of mutual understanding and respect.

We welcome your comments and questions about diversity; please connect and contribute to the Tomorrow’s Workplace blog. Watch for more on diversity in the workforce, and plan to attend our May conference, details coming soon.