The US population has become incredibly diverse over the past 40 years. From 1980 to 2020, the percentage of white workers has dropped from 83% to 63%. In the meantime, the number of minority workers has doubled. But the sad truth is that these workers often have to face workplace discrimination. A Gallup study says that 45% of American employers experienced harassment or discrimination over the past 12 months. And the majority of these cases happened at workplaces that were lacking proper diversity training programs.
Having diverse training programs enable the training team to understand how they can eliminate discrimination in the workplace. It also helps them to figure out what works and what doesn’t on diverse workforces.
Multi-Lingual
To train diverse staff, companies should offer their programs in multiple languages. The benefit of using a virtual training solution is it allows the information to be loaded into the session in different languages so the learners can review the data in their preferred languages.
Multiple Learning Styles
Every person has a different learning style. For example, some people are visual learners and need videos, images, infographics, etc., to grasp a concept. Similarly, some people are auditory learners, and recorded lectures are enough for them to learn new things. Another type of learners is kinesthetic learners. These individuals learn best through games and interactive lessons. Trainers should plan that they will have all levels and types of learners so utilizing all type of content and techniques during a single session will help capture the attention and engagement of everyone.
Unconscious Biases
Unconscious bias resides in a part of the brain called the amygdala. It is responsible for the reactions that produce in your brain when you see someone from a different race. Businesses are helping their teams confront unconscious bias by enabling them to recognize their tribal nature and its negative impacts on the workforce through informative material and activities.
Educate them about the importance of diversity and inclusiveness
According to a study, diverse companies are 70% more likely to capture new markets. This is one reason more companies are trying to facilitate diversity in workplace. Training teams can help guide the workforce in understanding the unique needs of a diverse workforce. Human resources will generally continue to enforce diversity through various communications to the organization. Teams that understand the cultural differences and the unique qualities that a diverse workforce brings is far more likely to excel in meeting their goals. The number of companies supporting diversity in the workplace is increasing rapidly. A study states that inclusive companies enjoy 2.3% more cash flow per worker than their non-inclusive counterparts. Considering this, it’s important to introduce diversity at your company and to train your learning and development team in how to best provide a training program that will meet the needs of everyone.
