Recruiting and Retaining a Diverse Workforce

Have you ever felt excluded from the inner workings of an organization because you were the only person with a particular characteristic? Have any of the people in your organization ever felt excluded? The answer may surprise you. In various contexts, employees in the minority--whether based on race, color, sexual orientation, gender, age, national origin, disability, or even a nonphysical characteristic--may feel marginalized by subtle (and not so subtle) encounters with majority members of the organization. This marginalization can result in high attrition rates, difficulty recruiting top talent from diverse backgrounds, and lawsuits. When managers are unaware of these problems, the organization's good intentions to increase diversity are not good enough.Based on interviews with professionals from various backgrounds, RECRUITING AND RETAINING A DIVERSE WORKFORCE provides managers, employees, and students with advice for navigating the overlay issues of cultural and generational diversity.Natalie Holder-Winfield is an experienced employment lawyer who proactively works with corporations, law firms, educational institutions, and non-profit organizations to meet their workforce training needs. As QUEST's Diversity & Employment Consultant, she uses recent legal precedents to create realistic customized training videos and training programs.