Top Advantages of Workplace Diversity Programs

 

I often get asked "what are the tangible benefits of investing in a diversity program?" According to American Express, here are some of the top advantages of workplace diversity:

1. It builds your employer brand. Having a diverse workforce makes your company more interesting, people can expect to learn more from your employees and you can attract better talent from around the world. 
2. It increases creativity. When you bring a variety of different people from various backgrounds together, you'll end up getting better solutions to business problems. If you don't have a diverse workplace, you might not be able to tackle problem the best way. 
3. It encourages personal growth. This is a major advantage to workplace diversity because it can help employees learn new ideas, perspectives and connect intellectually and personally to different people. 
4. It makes employees think more independently. If you have similar people at a company, it will be harder to solve complex problems. One study by Katherine Phillips, a professor at Kellogg, shows that by even adding one employee from a different background can get people out of their comfort zones and thinking different about a situation.