A workplace is a place where someone works for their employer or themselves, also known as a place of employment. A place like this can be anything from a home office to a large office building or factory.
Workplace culture is the, attitudes, belief systems, and assumptions that employees share. Individual upbringing, as well as social and cultural context, influence this. A positive workplace culture:
- Promotes collaboration
- Boosts morale
- Increases productivity and efficiency.
- Promotes employee retention.
- Makes people feel less stressed.
Outline relevant equity and diversity principles:
A diverse workforce gives an organisation a competitive advantage by allowing it to supply a diversified range of skills, ideas, resources, and energies. Organisations that embrace diversity have access to a much larger pool of talent. A larger market, increased production, and a stronger presence in the community would all benefit them.
Some of the most important advantages of ‘diversity management' (i.e. actively encouraging the recruitment of a diverse workforce) are as follows:
- Knowledge of various aspects of the community can be put to use.
- It is possible to gain a better understanding of market segments and consumer behaviour.
- When recruiting, you will be able to retain a larger talent pool.
- Your workforce will be more 'balanced' and representative.
It states that employees should be treated as individuals, with no judgments based on stereotypes. It entails:
- Understanding, appreciating, and valuing each employee's unique skills and abilities and leveraging those differences for the best personal and organisational outcomes.
- Providing all individuals with fair, courteous, and equal opportunities.
The organisation is dedicated to promoting equity and diversity in the workplace. It seeks to create a work environment that promotes fairness, equity, and respect for social and cultural diversity and one free of unlawful discrimination, bullying, harassment, defamation, and victimisation.
In support of this commitment, the organisation will make every effort to:
- Foster a workplace culture that values and responds to its community's rich diversity.
- Provide an inclusive and flexible work environment for employees by identifying and removing any remaining systemic barriers to equitable access, participation, and advancement in the workplace.
- Ensure that employees are aware of their rights and responsibilities as organisational members.
- Use non-discriminatory language and practises.
- To overcome disadvantages, develop proactive plans and programmes to increase access to and promote success in employment for designated under-represented groups.
- Ensure that all employees have equitable access to benefits and services, including assistance to accommodate a person's Disability.
- Educate the community on the principles and goals of equal opportunity, equity, and social justice.
- Develop and promote processes that support the systematic implementation, monitoring, reporting, and management of equal opportunity, as well as the elimination of illegal direct and indirect discrimination and harassment, as well as workplace bullying
- Provide effective mechanisms for resolving allegations of unlawful discrimination, bullying, harassment, defamation, and victimisation
- Create a culture of support for employees who have experienced domestic or family violence.
All employees must understand and apply the principles of equal opportunity, equity, and social justice. Supervisors are especially accountable for taking reasonable steps to ensure that the learning and working environment is safe, inclusive, and free of discrimination, bullying, and harassment.
Employees with management and supervisory responsibilities will receive targeted equal opportunity, equity, diversity, and social justice issues. All employees will receive equal opportunity, equity, diversity, and social justice training.
Steps to create a positive workplace culture:
- Instilling a sense of pride and ownership in employees requires a positive workplace culture. When people are proud of their organisation, they invest their future in it and work hard to create opportunities that will benefit it.
- Companies can encourage others to do the same by identifying and rewarding those actively working to create a positive work culture and support those around them.
- Positive workplace attitudes and behaviour are the direct results of effective leadership and a positive management style.
Establish a clear organisational ethos and values
It is critical to have a clear set of organisational core values that are effectively communicated and discussed with employees to feel a part of it. This will allow them to assess and celebrate their attitudes toward these positive core values. Positive attitudes and actions contribute to positive workplace culture.
Encourage cooperation and communication
- To build a healthy work environment, a leadership and management style that promotes teamwork and open and honest communication is essential.
- Open and honest communication also implies that regular audits are conducted to evaluate how people interact with one another, that feedback is welcomed and taken into account, and that opportunities for social interaction are made available.
- Coffee mornings, team outings, and family weekends are examples of these.
- This allows team members to nurture and foster connections outside of work.
Make your workplace more inclusive
- A positive workplace is one in which all employees, regardless of gender, sexual orientation, or colour, are valued, supported, and nurtured.
- All employees should have equal opportunities for advancement and access to all perks and rewards.
- An inclusive workplace values individual differences and makes employees feel welcome and accepted.
Establish clear goals and rewards for employees
- Having a clear progression and promotion policy allows employees to assess their performance.
- Measurable performance indicators will imply healthy competition, but an honest policy statement will help avoid negative feelings and resentment among team members toward one another.
- When goals are positively reinforced and accomplishments are recognised and celebrated, employees feel valued, which creates a positive atmosphere in the workplace.
What will I learn?
This module will provide you the skills and knowledge required to:
- Promote respect toward people in the workplace.
- Provide support to others.
- Promote an environment that encourages people to enhance their skills and knowledge.
- Encourage teamwork.
- Reduce potential for cross-cultural misunderstandings.
- Provide constructive feedback.
