Intercultural understanding

Twentieth-century workplaces focused on treating minorities with equal respect. In the twenty-first century, however, groups of people who used to be considered minorities can now make up equal shares, or even majority shares, of a company’s workforce. Twenty-first-century workforces are shifting away from the mentality of respectfully accepting outsiders and toward a total blending of all cultures represented in a workplace. A workplace of mutual respect encourages employees to understand each other’s cultural differences, embrace diverse cultures and never place specific cultures in the “exotic” or “different” categories.

Please Note: Employers and employees have shared obligations for creating respectful and courteous workplaces. Employers want a productive workforce that manages its performance and achieves results. Employees want to work in a place where:

• they know what is expected of them
• the workplace is safe, and they are treated fairly
• their skills and contribution are recognised and valued
• training and development support career progression
• they can work harmoniously with others.

Communications plays just as important a role in your careers. Here are some tips on how you can communicate more effectively with people at work, be they customers, co-workers, subordinates, or superiors.