Effective training can help minimize cultural conflict in a diverse workplace

The labor shortage in the United States has increased the amount of diversity in the workplace. Not only are there increasing numbers of minorities, women, disabled, gay, and other diversity individuals in the workplace, but there is also a consistent rise in the number of foreign-born individuals in the workplace. This can create misunderstandings, conflicts and tension in the workplace that result from the cultural, religious, and language differences that exist. One way to help minimize these sorts of conflicts in the workplace is by developing effective training programs which will help diversity, international, and mainstream employees alike understand culture nuances and appropriate behaviors in the workplace.

Much of the fallout that comes from cultural confusion can be minimized with early and ongoing training. White employees, diversity employees, and foreign-born employees may all have different cultural conceptions of what a company expects from them, so it is important that managers define and observe the company’s expectations from the very first interview with a job candidate. It is important to make sure there is no ambiguity among culturally distinct employees as the policies and procedures of the company in the US workplace may be very different from policies adhered to at the company’s foreign subsidiaries. Companies can avoid the pain and difficulty involved in dismissing an employee and finding his replacement by clarifying what the company expects (in terms of performance and workplace conduct) of its employees before someone is hired— and by reinforcing it throughout an effective training process.

In training employees of different cultures and backgrounds, managers should be aware of the process of acculturation that will affect both managers and employees. Managers can help employees move swiftly through the acculturation process by showing that they have some understanding of what a new foreign, diversity, or mainstream employee is going through. Companies can also tailor their training programs to help employees understand the mission of the company and the importance of diversity both within the company and among clients. Early and ongoing training will help acculturate all employees to the norms of the company and can be used as a forum to answer questions and resolve concerns.