Diversity And Inclusion In Workplace

Running head: Diversity and Inclusion in Workplace
Diversity and Inclusion in Workplace
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Diversity and Inclusion in Workplace1
Introduction
In the contemporary business world, diversity and inclusion have become the most
important factor which has immense impact on the organization and its members. People from
different background come together and work under one floor, is challenging. People with
different culture, nationality, race, caste has been facing problems in the organization and being
discriminated by others. Apart from these factors there are other factors such as sexual
orientation, color, disability by which a person is discriminated. This practice in the organization
is highly demotivating and discourages the candidates to work with an organization (Atena &
Tiron-Tudor, 2020). Though, organizations are putting a lot effort to foster diversity practices
and inclusion within the organization, creating diversified workplace has been failed by the
management. According to recent, report of World Bank data only in 2019, only 38.964 percent
of women work in workplace (Data.worldbank.org, 2020). This percent differs from region to
region and workplace to workplace. However, companies are putting their whole potential to
eradicate discrimination from the root.
Self-Reflection
I am from New Zealand and completed my Master Degree in Business majoring in
Operation Management in New Zealand itself. I got my master degree and was placed in IBM. I
was excited working in IBM in India, since it is a reputed company and has global recognition. I
was placed in IBM as Assistant Project Manager. I was put with great responsibilities and the job
role was tough. However, I was ready for the challenge and was ready for a new journey of my
life. I got the offer later and I joined the company, the training was and good enough for me, I
learned a lot which would help me during my projects.
I had fine interaction with my senior Project Manager and I was comfortable with him.
There were two assistant project managers in the office. My team member Jessie joined with me
and we got the same training. At a fine day, I noticed my project manager gives a project to
Jessie, and tells her to develop an operational plan for new human resource systems for the
organization. I waited for my chance and for a new project. But gradually with time I was not
given a single project but my team mate was burdened with projects. I was demotivated and
devastated and went to my manager to raise the issue. After I met him and told what is
happening he replied “The women deserves this project and cannot handle this much of

Diversity and Inclusion in Workplace2
pressure”. This sentence of him shook me and moreover, the projects are important for my
promotions as well. This particular gender biasness continued for a longer period of time. Later I
came to know the Project Manager is focused and gives more priority to women than men in the
office.
The above situation highlighted had a very bad impact on my career, morale values and
belief. I had really good expectations from the job and I was honored to work in such a big
organization. I was highly demotivated by the behavior which was reflected by the project
manager. I was discriminated on the basis of my gender. It had put me into a situation where I
cannot take proper decision for myself. The project is highly important for my career and I felt
like they have been playing with my career. The practice of gender biasness has demotivated me
in all the possible ways and I felt like I am helpless. I had quiet good reputation towards the
company but the way the manager treated me, made me to think twice. Is not easy to get a job
like this and being discriminated like this was highly devastating at that particular period. I was
aware of the fact that India highly discriminates on gender basis and for women it is very
difficult to work in an organization. But however, the scenario changed and men also do face
gender biasness. For Example: When I first reached, the whole department was shocked that at a
young age I will be given the opportunity of a project manager and will be handling a project. It
felt like I don’t deserve where I belong. This led me to lack confidence within myself and I was
discouraged by the situation. There was no freedom to speak in those departments and other were
not active as well. Due to the current treatment I felt I am losing what I have earned. So, it can
be said that the above situation had a very bad and negative impact on me and my career.
The organization I was working that is IBM, International Business Machines, which is
the most reputed company which has global recognition. Since, childhood I had this
preconception that India is a conservative country, but gradually my perception towards India
changed (Sharma, & Pardasani, 2016). Since, globalization has fostered anti-discrimination and
diversity in the economy (Joshi, 2017). However, the incident has changed my perception.
Although it is ibserved that in India, only 21.8 percent of female work in organization and out of
them 10 percent of females face gender discrimination, but the number of promotions of man is
lesser than women. (Kundu, & Mor, 2017). In addition to this only 15% of board director seats
are occupied with women and rest is occupied by men, but however, the privileges for them is