Diversity in the Workplace : Multi-disciplinary and International Perspectives

Diversity in the Workplace looks at the concept of diversity in different social and legal contexts, and from perspectives such as sociology, anthropology, psychology, philosophy and organizational theory. The contributors add a European view to the existing, mainly US-oriented, literature, examining how the modern organization promotes and manages diversity, accommodating and integrating different value and belief systems and anti-discrimination laws.

Most regions and countries in the world are experiencing increasingly diverse populations and labour markets. While the causes may vary, the challenges businesses face due to a heightened awareness of this diversity are often similar. Internally, organisations promote diversity and manage increasingly heterogeneous workforces, accommodate and integrate employees with different value and belief systems, and combat a range of different forms of discrimination with organisational and also societal consequences. Externally, organisations have to manage demands from government, consumer, and lobbying sources for the implementation of anti-discrimination policies and laws. This has generated demand for appropriate higher level teaching programmes and for more diversity-focused research. Diversity in the Workplace responds to the increasing social and political debate and interest in diversity throughout Europe. The contributors discuss the concept of diversity in different social and legal contexts and from the perspectives of different academic disciplines including sociology, anthropology, psychology, philosophy and organizational theory. The book includes a European view and the makings of a conceptual framework to literature on diversity that hitherto has tended to be US orientated and overwhelmingly practice focused. It will stimulate fruitful exchanges of ideas about different approaches to the challenges faced by businesses and organisations of all kinds. With chapters by authors involved in research into diversity issues at leading academic institutions across Europe, this book offers much that will interest academics, researchers and higher level students, as well as practitioners wanting to understand managing workforce diversity; affirmative action programmes; and anti-discriminatory policy and practice in a wider context.