The wonderful trend of inclusive workplaces – an immigrant’s perspective

 

Inclusion and diversity are the new buzz words in the modern corporate world . Every employer vociferously emphasizes the importance of a heterogeneous workforce  where talent, expertise and character are the main attributes that determine the worth of an employee, and never their ethnicity.

What is truly commendable is that companies are doing the best they can to weave cultural diversity and equality into the very ethos of their daily interactions. This task isn’t easy, since it requires people in the top management to cast aside many personal prejudices, most of which have been too ingrained in their psyche as a result of societal mindsets passed down through generations and centuries. Fortunately, the attitudes are fast changing and more and more companies today are open enough to accept that stereotypes can be misleading and that reality may not conform to a set of fixed beliefs and impressions. 

The most obvious stereotype to be busted in recent years is that it is impossible for immigrants to possess anything but a working knowledge of the English language. It is extremely reassuring to notice that  inclusive and diverse workplaces display an enhanced awareness about the external world beyond one’s own limited sphere. 

Employers in the modern age are more in tune with international trends and acknowledge that having a non native English accent (American/Canadian, British, Australian…etc) does not affect one’s grammar and vocabulary and is not an indication of one’s ability to write and/or express themselves in English. It is common knowledge today that many of the top awards for English writing have been bagged by non-native speakers of English (Kiran Desai, Aravind Adiga, Arundhati Roy, Ben Okri – winners of the Booker Prize are just a few examples) and that a command over the English language is no longer a prerogative of individuals only from English speaking countries. It is heartening as an immigrant to work for companies that display the spirit of multiculturalism at its best. 

What I love about diverse workplaces is that they are open to dissimilarities in cultural norms  – where differences are perceived as strengths and not aberrations. They are all about celebrating what distinguishes people rather than trying to fit everyone into rigid, inflexible molds just because they have, up until now, been the only benchmarks considered to be of any value.

Our constantly changing world is giving way to constantly changing realities. Inclusion and diversity, in their truest sense means embracing these new realities by rising above outdated preconceptions. It means dissociating ability and talent from race, origin and appearance by obliterating the biases hidden within the deepest recesses of our subconscious minds. It means cultivating a discerning intellect that is as high on the emotional and human quotient as it is on skills and expertise. 

As businesses develop the newest strategies to outpace one another, companies that whole-heartedly join in this positive wave of change will be the ones to contribute with a flourish to furthering the true spirit of globalization. In return they will reap the rich benefits of having at their disposal, a diverse pool of human resources from every corner of the world, representing the collective talent of humanity as a whole.

The art of valuing an employee

 

First impressions work both ways. It’s a given that new employees are (often inadvertently) subject to not so subtle a scrutiny by employers and colleagues during the first couple of weeks of their joining. But what is often disregarded is the fact that employees too are judging the company minutely, and as exaggerated as it may sound, their collective impressions are going to shape its future.

I have always been particularly interested in the human element of any corporate business. Whether it is human resource, customer service, or talent acquisition & retention, it’s the intangible quality of the human element of organizations that fascinates me. Metrics fall short of measuring this attribute, yet it is this quality that proves to be the most accurate predictor of a company’s future success.

A warm and welcoming first day at work, friendly, approachable colleagues, a manager who has faith in my abilities, and senior staff that gives credit to my experience was what I encountered as a new hire at my current location. And I will take this opportunity to add that it has been my good fortune to have previously worked with employers who have always valued and appreciated my efforts. The mutual respect between us continues even today, years after I have moved on.

In my opinion, that is real success for any company – the fact that previous employees still vouch for an organization and speak with nostalgia about the time spent there. For all the material wealth a business may create, the goodwill that is generated between people far surpasses every other parameter of success.

As businesses strive to get ahead of their competition, drive more sales and generate greater profits, they need to focus on their most valuable resource – their employee. Investing in this resource is an everyday affair – it is a delicate rapport that is steadily built, bit by bit, at every interaction. At the heart of this rapport is trust, respect and a belief in the best that the employee can offer (unless absolutely proven otherwise). It involves casting aside preconceived notions and prejudices, valuing the differences and judging every individual as a unique entity.

The first few weeks in my new role have brought in a haul of positive impressions for me. As I dive headlong to work on my tasks with complete sincerity and integrity, I hope to achieve success and watch the company grow from strength to strength – both tangibly & intangibly.