A Comparative Analysis of Cultural Diversity at Work: Tesla and Amazon

This report provides a comparative analysis of cultural diversity practices at Tesla Automobiles and Amazon Service Delivery. It examines four key dimensions: gender issues, language, discrimination, and conflict resolution. The report highlights Tesla's shortcomings in addressing gender-related concerns, language barriers, conflict resolution, and discrimination, contrasting them with Amazon's more inclusive approach. Amazon is shown to offer equal pay, comprehensive benefits, flexible language policies, and effective conflict resolution mechanisms. The analysis concludes that Amazon demonstrates a more effective commitment to cultural diversity, setting a positive example for other companies. The report uses a framework that considers the impact of diversity on productivity, innovation, and overall business performance.

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Cultural Diversity at Work
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Abstract
In the age of globalization, it is necessary for all organizations and enterprises to address
cultural diversity at work, in order to become more adaptable. By addressing diversity, especially
cultural diversity, an organization can improve its efficiency, be more productive and innovative
and do better business in the lon- run. This report undertakes a comparative study of two
important companies, Tesla Automobiles and Amazon Service Delivery, to see how effective
both companies are in responding to cultural diversity matters. The report does so with special
reference to four dimensions, namely, gender issues, language, discrimination and conflict
resolution. The report concludes that when it comes to reacting and addressing cultural diversity,
it is Amazon Service Delivery, which does a far better job that Tesla Automobiles, setting an
example for other companies across the globe.

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Table of Contents
Introduction......................................................................................................................................2
1. Analysis of Tesla Automobile Company’s Approach to Cultural Diversity............................2
1.1. Gender Issues....................................................................................................................2
1.2. Language...........................................................................................................................3
1.3. Conflict Resolution...........................................................................................................4
1.4. Discrimination...................................................................................................................4
2. Analysis of Amazon Company’s Approach to Cultural Diversity...........................................5
2.1. Gender Issues....................................................................................................................5
2.2. Language...........................................................................................................................5
2.3. Discrimination...................................................................................................................6
2.4. Conflict Resolution...........................................................................................................7
3. Comparison between Tesla and Amazon.................................................................................7
Conclusion.......................................................................................................................................8
References and Bibliography...........................................................................................................9

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Introduction
Addressing cultural diversity at work is imperative, if an organization as to thrive and win the
respect it deserves in society. Workplace diversity is always essential, as it enables the business
organization to take advantage of the diverse skill sets and talents that are offered by people from
different ethnic and religious backgrounds and by people from different genders, that is male,
female and also the third gender (Hofhuis et al., 2015). This report looks at two well known
companies, namely, the Tesla Automobile Manufacturing Company and Amazon Service
Delivery, and analyzes the approach adopted by both companies towards cultural diversity. The
report does so by looking specifically at the actions undertaken by these companies in the areas
of conflict resolution, gender issues, language and discrimination.
1. Analysis of Tesla Automobile Company’s Approach to Cultural
Diversity
1.1. Gender Issues
Tesla Automobiles is one of the largest manufacturing companies in the world that is well
known for its production of electric cars. It is a UK based company and is known to employ
people in millions, catering to customers not only in the UK but all over the world. Yet, when it
comes to addressing matters such as cultural diversity, Tesla as a company is one that remains
quite backward ("Electric Cars, Solar Panels & Clean Energy Storage | Tesla", 2018). For
instance, as far as gender based policies are concerned, Tesla has no specific mechanism in place
that will look into the interests of female workers, or third gender employees who are recruited
by the company to work for it in either the short term or the long term. Several female employees

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in the company, have in the past complained about instances of sexual harassment, something
that is entirely unacceptable at a work place no matter how large or small the company is. Tesla
Automobiles is a company that has not until date been well equipped to look into the interests of
women workers and has not introduced the adequate policies and mechanisms that ought to be in
place, such as a zero tolerance policy towards inappropriate behavior, that could sufficiently
safeguard the physical and mental wellbeing of women while they are at work (Hakim, 2016).
1.2. Language
Language is another area where Tesla appears to be lagging behind as far as cultural
diversity is concerned. In spite of catering to customers from different parts of the globe, even
from East Asian countries such as China, and in spite of hiring people from diverse ethnic
backgrounds, Tesla does not allow its workers to communicate with one another in any language
apart from English, given that this is a UK based company ("Electric Cars, Solar Panels & Clean
Energy Storage | Tesla", 2018). Workers are compelled to learn English and to be entirely fluent
in it if they want to work for the Tesla company over the long term. Apart from the engineers
working at Tesla, the customer care executives who look into the needs and requirements of
clients around the world are always expected to be fully adept at English speaking skills, even if
such customer care authorities communicate with clients or customers from different cultural and
lingual backgrounds. By insisting on only English being the chosen language of communication
and by not allowing workers to communicate in languages other than English at the work place,
diversity in terms of language and communication is not something that is well addressed at all
by the Tesla Automobile Company. Only those fluent in English or those for who English is a
native language can do a good job at Tesla (Lambert, 2016).

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1.3. Conflict Resolution
As far as conflict resolution is concerned, Tesla as a company is one that is lagging
behind as well. The company founded by Elon Musk has got into repeated trouble and has been
mentioned in the news due to the fact that it has not been able to resolve conflicts among its
employees properly ("Electric Cars, Solar Panels & Clean Energy Storage | Tesla", 2018).
Conflicts at the work place are quite common if the organization is one that hires people from
diverse cultural backgrounds. It is often difficult for people from different cultural backgrounds
to gel or to get along with one another, and this is something that is quite evident at the Tesla
manufacturing centers, where people of varied ethnicities and religions come to work. There is
no scope for conflict reddressal and those who suffer from conflict related issues have to be
content with not being able to communicate about their problems to a higher authority. There is
no significant administration in place that will deal specifically with the issue of conflict
resolution amongst workers as and when this arises. In the event of a conflict, there is no
efficient man or woman in place who can do a good job of fanning the flames, should a dispute
or quarrel break out among workers from varied cultural backgrounds or ethnicities (Martin,
2014).
1.4. Discrimination
Discrimination is something that is quite prominent at Tesla automobiles as well. This is
largely due to the fact that there are no adequate policies and practices in place that will protect
the employees working at this company sufficiently from issues of discrimination ("Electric
Cars, Solar Panels & Clean Energy Storage | Tesla", 2018). There is every possibility of people
not being employed by Tesla Automobiles on grounds of disability or gender, especially if the
person looking to get employed belongs to the third gender. There are no suitable safeguards

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against discrimination as far as Tesla Automobiles is concerned, that can protect employees in
the event of any rampant discriminatory behavior being carried out against them (Phillips, 2014).
2. Analysis of Amazon Company’s Approach to Cultural Diversity
2.1. Gender Issues
When it comes to analyzing Amazon Service Delivery Company’s approach to cultural
diversity, one cannot help but be heartened. Amazon is a US based company and it has 500,000
employees working for it all over the world. Hence it is able to adequately address a wide range
of diversity related concerns for its business, first and foremost being gender parity. Amazon
gives both men and women employees equal pay, in addition to a wide range of other financial
and medical benefits. ("Build your business with Amazon Services - Amazon.com", 2018).
Paternity leave is provided to women, which can be taken either over a continuous period of
time, or for two times over a period of twelve months. Pregnant women therefore do not have to
worry about losing their jobs when working for a company like Amazon. A wide array of
medical expenses that are gender specific in nature, such as the cost of gender re-assignment for
instance, is something that is also borne by Amazon. Members of the third gender will definitely
get the dignity and the protection that they deserve when working for a company like Amazon.
Amazon ensures that gender related issues and concerns do not serve as obstacles for employees
in their path to professional success (Sheade & Chandler, 2014).
2.2. Language
Where language is concerned, Amazon allows its employees to communicate is a
language that is comfortable for them though it is English that is the desired or preferred
language of communication. Amazon believes in being flexible in this respect, and while

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customers always have to be spoken to in English, employees can communicate in languages
apart from English if they so desire, especially if their native language is not English or if they
do not hail from an English speaking background. There are also no rigid standards of speaking
fluently in English that employees have to adhere to when working for a company like Amazon
("Build your business with Amazon Services - Amazon.com", 2018). Those who are recruited to
work for the company are expected to have a working knowledge of English and nothing more
than that. One of the biggest benefits of working for a company like Amazon is that there is
flexibility in terms of language and communication especially for employees working for the
different branches or outlets of this company overseas, such as in the countries of Asia and
Africa (Roberson et al., 2014).
2.3. Discrimination
Discrimination as it is understood in the workplace is something that is entirely absent
where Amazon is concerned. There is no discrimination at all against workers, and every effort is
made on the part of the company administration to hire people from diverse ethnic and cultural
backgrounds ("Build your business with Amazon Services - Amazon.com", 2018). The problem
of racism in particular is one that does not exist for Amazon as black people are recruited in large
numbers by the company. Attempts are always made by the human resource professionals
working at Amazon to recruit as many black men and women as possible so that they are at par
with the number of white people that are recruited by the company both for its operations in
America as well as overseas. In addition to racial discrimination, discrimination that is carried
out on grounds of disability is also something that is strictly avoided by a company like Amazon.
It is the belief of the company and its administrators that disabled people have a lot to contribute
to the work place if they are given the right platform to do so, which is why handicapped

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individuals are hired in large numbers by the company. Disabled people can find a carefree
environment in which to work at, at Amazon without the fear of being insulted or humiliated for
being differently abled (Dobbin & Kalev, 2018).
2.4. Conflict Resolution
Getting conflicts resolved for its employees is something that Amazon believes in doing
in a smooth and hassle free manner. Conflicts as and when they arise, are addressed by the
human resource professionals working at Amazon, who make sure that employees have the safe
and secure environment in which to do their work without being bogged down by conflict and
distress ("Build your business with Amazon Services - Amazon.com", 2018). Efforts are made on
the part of the HR professionals to ensure that conflicts do not arise in the work place at all,
especially among people working at the company who belong to diverse ethnic, cultural and
religious backgrounds. Employees are to communicate with each other as professionally as
possible and not harp on sensitive topics and issues that can result in a conflict breaking out
between them at a later stage. In the event that such a conflict does arise, initiatives are taken on
the part of the Amazon administration to get these conflicts resolved in an amicable manner so
that employees do not feel de-motivated or compelled to leave their jobs as a result of the
conflict that has taken place (Sue et al., 2015).
3. Comparison between Tesla and Amazon
When it comes to comparing the approach to cultural diversity as adopted by Tesla
Automobiles with the approach that is adopted by Amazon service, it becomes very clear that
Amazon follows a far better policy as far as respecting and appreciating diversity is concerned.
Amazon has excellent policies in place for looking into gender based issues and concerns, hires

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large number of racial and religious minorities and gives its employees a safe haven in which to
do their work ("Build your business with Amazon Services - Amazon.com", 2018). While Tesla
in one of the largest car companies in the world, its regressive and inadequate policies or
approaches to cultural diversity makes it not as desirable a place to work in as at Amazon.
Conclusion
Thus, workplace diversity is an important area of professional life in today’s day and age
and it is something that must be addressed or handled well enough if a business organization is to
grow and thrive in the best way possible. It is only by recruiting people from different ethnic
backgrounds, communities and religions, that a company can bring innovation, creativity and
efficiency to the range of its products and services, and discrimination on religious and ethnic
grounds that global companies can really ill afford. The approach that is taken by Tesla
Automobiles to the matter of cultural diversity, shows that the company has a long way to go in
this respect. There is a lot that the company can do in order to improve upon its diversity
policies, especially as far as gender based issues are concerned. Amazon on the other hand is a
company that is doing a stellar job in its attitude and outlook to cultural diversity by making
employees from all communities and all religions feel safe and protected at the work place and
offering medical and financial benefits for women and sexual minorities.

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References and Bibliography
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