ASSESSING YOUR DIVERSITY CLIMATE: A SURVEY
To discover if your organization is perceived as one that embraces the concept of diversity, ask your employees these simple questions:
Diversity Management Questions
1. How would you describe the work climate? Is it supportive? Why or why not?
2. How has the company contributed to your personal growth through an understanding of your needs?
3. What do you like best about working here?
4. What do you like least about working here?
5. Do you think your co-workers and the company understand your culture and heritage?
6. Do you feel that opportunity exists here for everyone, regardless of color or gender? Why or why not?
7. What is the image of women, men, or people of color here?
8. Do you feel free to discuss any issue with anyone you desire?
That's it. Eight questions to enlightenment. The responses could be eye-openers. A word of caution, however: anytime you survey, you set up the expectation that something will be done concerning the answers. If you are not prepared to deal with the responses, don't administer the survey.
As an example of responses, I administered this survey to a group of technicians at a computer manufacturing facility. The findings were frank and diverse. Here are some comments:
“There are two manufacturing sites here. The people at the other site look down on us because we are hourly workers.”
“Women and people of color must make a conscious effort to fit here; otherwise, we go unnoticed.”
The company referred to in these examples held sensitivity sessions to explore the comments further. They empowered the people to make recommendations on ways to improve. This is a good beginning.
Empowerment creates ownership