Cultural sensitivity in the workplace is something that is often overlooked by employers and employees. Yet in today's multicultural US labor force, there are hardly any workplaces not impacted by cultural diversity issues. To be successfully managed, these need to be considered in the context of recruitment, wages and customer service as well as part of everyday working practices.

Whether you work in a factory, warehouse, restaurant, construction business or hotel, you will probably come face-to-face with cultural issues occasionally. This article aims to offer an introductory guide on how to ensure your workplace is sufficiently sensitive to the needs and expectations of different cultures, without having to compromise business efficiency or show undue bias to any one culture.

 Cultural diversity can take a number of forms:
       

                                                                                                            ·       Ethnicity

·        Language

·        Religion

·        Cultural expectations/conventions

There are a great many well-documented examples of well-known companies failing to take these issues into account and paying the price for it, but what should you do to get it right?

Start With the Basics

People's natural inclination is to focus on differences, and these can all too easily start to be seen out of proportion. Generally, the differences are not as great as everyone imagines, and are often the result of incorrect stereotypes or assumptions on the part of a few employees. What is important is to identify and emphasize the common areas, through team-building and encouraging a sense of belonging, and above all to ensure that any concerns can be raised through safe and established channels.

Here is a checklist to get you started:

·        Communication. The number one tool for managing cultural diversity. People have to talk to each other about cultural differences and preconceptions as it is only through understanding different cultures that issues of cultural sensitivity can truly be resolved.

·        Develop a sense of team amongst your workforce. If people are focused on a common goal, that of their business, they will be more likely to find things in common and to keep their differences in perspective.

·        Adopt a flexible and understanding approach where possible. Cultural diversity has been proven to contribute to productivity where managed successfully, so small compromises that cost very little can be worth developing.

·        Never resort to stereotypes. Deal with people as individuals.

·        Make certain that there is a visible commitment to cultural diversity from the head of the company downwards. Cultural sensitivity must start at the top and must permeate through every level of a company to be effective.

 Above all else, achieving a happy and culturally sensitive workplace depends on developing understanding of different cultures. With this understanding comes the ability and the will to accommodate any differences, as it becomes apparent that doing so benefits everyone involved.