MGMT1201: Business Communication - Diversity in the Workplace

This report analyzes the diversity and inclusion policies of SaskPower, a Canadian electric utility company. It examines corporate governance practices, diverse representation initiatives, and the benefits of diversity within the workplace. The report highlights SaskPower's commitment to creating an inclusive environment, including policies related to ethics, transparency, stakeholder protection, and employee diversity. It also explores the company's efforts to improve diversity through employee affinity groups, recruitment, and celebrations of key cultural dates. The report concludes by emphasizing SaskPower's dedication to fostering an inclusive and diverse workplace, showcasing its role as a leading employer in Canada. The report uses diagrams to illustrate the concepts of corporate governance and the benefits of diversity, and it includes a comprehensive list of references.

Running head: MANAGEMENT
Business Communication
Name of the Student:
Name of the University:
Author Note:

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Introduction
The essay provides an insight into the policies of diversity and inclusion in context of a Canadian
firm, SaskPower. It is an electric utility firm established by the provincial government in the year
1920(saskpower.com, 2019). SaksPower has been recognized as a key employer in Saskatchewan
province employing close to 3150 employees across 70 communities. This particular essay acknowledges
the ways in which the company addresses the aspects of diversity and inclusion with regard to corporate
governance, diverse representation and the benefits of diversity.
Discussion:
A. Corporate Governance
Definition of Diversity Issue
In Canada, the practices of corporate governance is usually shaped by the best practices and legal
rules and promoted by the media, institutional shareholders and the associations of professional directors
known as the corporate directors (Bottomley, 2016). However, to ensure effective operation within
environment, board should remain award about the legal and the regulatory framework that existed in
Canada with regard to the corporate governance.

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Ethics and Transparency
Stakeholders
Protection
Corporate Governance Pillars
Board Insight
Control EnvironmentPerformance Management & Accountability
Figure 1: Diagrammatic Representation of Corporate Governance
Source: (Bottomley, 2016).
Company’s Policy on Diversity Issue
As far as the company’s policy on this issue is concerned it is to be noted that the corporate
secretary of Crown Investments Corporation of Saskatchewan (CIC) serves as the communication and
information link between shareholders, board and the management of company (www.saskpower.com,
2019). He holds the responsibility of providing governance and secretarial advices to the committee,
directors and the board. The corporate secretary also holds the responsibility of ensuring expertise in
regard to the practices of the corporate governance while providing necessary guidance to the Saskpower
management and directors regarding the directives, process and the CIC policies.

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Reasons for Prioritizing the Issue
The company considers the issue to be a priority as corporate governance allows organizations in
not only achieving the goals but also control the risk and assure compliance. A better corporate
governance ensure setting rules that helps in defining relationship between management, stakeholders and
the directors of the company while influencing the ways in which the company operates.
Steps to Improve Diversity Issue in Workplace
In Sask Power, the Governance and Human Resource Committee holds the responsibility of the
developing and reviewing the practices of the corporate governance (saskpower.com, (2019). The duties
include evaluating and monitoring the performance of the individual directors and the board. It also
ensures effectiveness of the committee structure of board. As a part of the corporate governance, the
board also oversees the programs, practices and the human resource strategies of the company.
Diverse Representation
Definition of Diversity Issue
It is to be noted that employees determine the success of an organization. The quality of the
products and the services also remains determined by quality of hires and the inclusion of diversity within
the workplace. The diverse hiring practices of an organization leads to a higher degree of representation
within organization (Abu-Laban, 2016).
Company’s Policy on Diversity Issue
SaskPower works towards creation of diverse workforce and communities they serve
(saskpower.com , 2019). The company does this by adopting policies where each member is respectfully
treated through encouraging innovation and creativity.
Reasons for Prioritizing the Issue

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Diverse representation in business promotes equality amongst people belonging to all ethnicities,
ages, abilities and social backgrounds and generates opportunities for determining success across border.
Diverse representation also improves the strategy, operations and revenue through development of
broader knowledge base. This might lead to the emergence of newer business and cultural insights.
Steps to Improve Diversity Issue in Workplace
In SaskPower, the Employee Affinity Groups and Diversity and Inclusion Committee look
forward to the development of further diversity and inclusion by building networks, development of
opportunities, recruitment and providing feedback.
Benefits of Diversity
There are various benefits of diversity within the workplace. This includes enhanced level of
productivity, improved creativity, enhanced profits, improved engagement of employees, and reduced
level of employee turnover (Hunt, Layton & Prince, 2015). Diversity also enhances the reputation of the
company and helps in improving the cultural insights.

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Increased Adaptability Business Image Increased Employee Morale
Client Satisfaction Competitive Advantage Increased Creativity
Loyalty Marketing Recruitment
Figure 2: Diagrammatic Representation of the Benefits of Diversity
Source: (Hunt, Layton & Prince, 2015).
Company’s Policy on Diversity Issue
In this regard, SaskPower adopted a procurement policy for Aboriginal, promoted engineering
and trade as the career choice for women, created mentor ship program for connecting with the
individuals and empowered measures for disability employment.
Reasons for Prioritizing the Issue
Diverse representation puts across perspectives of diverse culture that inspired creativity and
geared innovation. A talent pool driven from diverse culture allows the organization in retaining and
attracting best talents. Besides, a diverse base enables a firm in putting across a more adaptable and
broader range of output.

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Steps to Improve Diversity Issue in Workplace
SaskPower went into partnership with Aboriginal organizations for not only sourcing candidates
for its student program but also undertake celebrations for recognizing the crucial dates like Women's
History Month, International Day for People with Disabilities, National Indigenous Peoples Day and
International Day of Visibility for Transgender (top-employer-saskpower , 2019).
Conclusion
The essay can be concluded on the note that Saskpower is considered one of the renowned
employers of Canada in term of its commitment towards the creation of inclusive and diverse
environment that also included the people with disabilities.

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References:
Abu-Laban, Y. (2016). representing a diverse canada in political science: power, ideas and the emergent
challenge of reconciliation. European Political Science, 15(4), 493-507.
Bottomley, S. (2016). The constitutional corporation: Rethinking corporate governance. Routledge.
Hunt, V., Layton, D., & Prince, S. (2015). Diversity matters. McKinsey & Company, 1, 15-29.
saskpower.com , (2019). Retrieved from https://www.saskpower.com/about-us/Senior-Leadership/Board-
Responsibility
saskpower.com , (2019). Retrieved from https://www.saskpower.com/about-us
top-employer-saskpower , (2019). Retrieved from https://content.eluta.ca/top-employer-saskpower
www.saskpower.com , (2019). Retrieved from https://www.saskpower.com/Careers/Why-Work-for-
SaskPower/Commitment-to-Diversity-and-Inclusion