Developing and Implementing a Diversity Policy: A Workplace Project

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Develop and Implement Diversity Policy
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Contents
Assessment Task 1: Research and policy development project......................................................4
1. Develop a range of diversity documents and action plan and tool to measure the impact...4
2. Research diversity to assist the development of the policy and action plan.........................4
Assessment Task 2: Implement the diversity policy project...........................................................9
1. Present the policy..................................................................................................................9
Assessment Task 3: Review the diversity policy project..............................................................12
1. Recommend changes to the policy.....................................................................................12
Assessment Task 4: Case studies...................................................................................................13
Case study 1: Valarie.................................................................................................................13
Question 1..................................................................................................................................13
Question 2..................................................................................................................................14
Question 3..................................................................................................................................15
Case study 2: Muhamad.............................................................................................................16
Question 1..................................................................................................................................16
Question 2..................................................................................................................................17
Question 3..................................................................................................................................18
Case study 3: Delores................................................................................................................19
Question 1..................................................................................................................................19
Question 2..................................................................................................................................20
Question 3..................................................................................................................................21
Case study 4: Jackie...................................................................................................................22
Question 1..................................................................................................................................22
Question 2..................................................................................................................................23
Question 3..................................................................................................................................24
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References......................................................................................................................................25
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Assessment Task 1: Research and policy development project
1. Develop a range of diversity documents and action plan and tool to measure the
impact
2. Research diversity to assist the development of the policy and action plan
a) Locate and review a number of diversity policies, strategies and action plans
developed by other organisations. These organisations should have some similarities to
Water West (for example, size, location, industry, diversity issues) and be able to give you
some ideas on what to consider for your policy and action plan. Note your sources of
information.
Diversity means the equal opportunity at the workplace to all types of people irrespective of
gender, age sex and cultural background. It is a commitment to build a fair and inclusive
workplace and women in senior roles. To better understand the concept of diversity the inclusion
and diversity strategies of Coca-Cola has been evaluated. Diversity is considered as the heart and
important ingredient of Coca-Cola it creates an equal opportunity which helps in building an
inclusive workplace environment and provides access to information, development and
opportunity. It provides surveys and resources programmes for their employees in order to work
towards achieving diversity. Another company America water aims at making different policies
and strategies to promote diversity and inclusion in the company.
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b) Review existing diversity practices and issues in Australia including how diversity is
affecting Australian workplaces. This must include how workplaces integrate diversity
practices, cultures and traditions.
There is a number of diversity practices involved in the organisations running in Australia. First
of which understands the cultural background of the employees and also evaluating what
motivates and satisfies them. All the strategies involved in diversity management should be
linked to the performance of the organisation and the individual. Firstly, it needs full knowledge
of the culture of organisation secondly, it requires concepts and framework that helps to analyse
and manage cultural diversity. The organisation involves many different people working under
the same roof, it requires the examination and discussion of their difference and ways of working
(Australia post, 2016).
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c) A review of diversity facts and figures in Australia, including skilled and unskilled
migrants, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders, people with disabilities, Australia’s
ageing population and gender balance.
Australia is a vibrant country which includes a variety of cultures. The number of people
migrated to Australia are almost seven million from the year 1945. Among the diverse
population of Australia, 46 per cent have at least one overseas-born parent; and there is nearly 20
per cent of Australians who speak a language other than English at home. The people who have
migrated to Australia have provided a benefit of 10 billion dollars to the fiscal policy over the ten
years for the purpose of training, awareness programs and support for managers and staff which
includes programs like Disability Awareness and Confidence training and Indigenous Cultural
Awareness.
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d) An overview of the diversity-related legal framework for Australian workplaces.
You may base this review on the State that you live or work in and must include reporting
for an organisation the size of Water West.
Making an effective workplace diversity involves -
 Information on the Corporate and business plans
 External factors that affect the business and functioning of the company
 Existing human resource policies which includes recruitment, anti-harassment strategies,
selection practices and performance management schemes.
 Evaluation of prevailing culture and business requirement of the company
After the policy have been formed, it is forwarded to the each and every employee of the
company at different levels, after the policy of diversification has implemented the performance
of the employees will be measured (Paul, et. al. 2016).
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e) Identify the benefits of having a diverse workplace. Provide this analysis based on
the strategic goals listed in the scenario information above.
Advantages of Diversity Management
High level of productivity- Water West Company has different kinds of employees and
varieties of cultural background from due to which cultural and diversity management is the key
essential factor for increasing production.
Exchange of Ideas and teamwork- Water West aims at exchanging of ideas between different
departments and employees in order to achieve unity among the employees. A single employee
cannot achieve the efficiency of the task by working alone, hence working in team results in
better production.
Learning and growth- Diversity management helps in overall training and growth of all the
employees of the company as they are equally involved in every task and treated with equal
opportunities.
Effective Communication- Workplace diversity is very effective in strengthening the
relationship of an organisation with customers with effective communication. Presence of
effective communication is most important in the customer service department. Pairing the
customers with the customer service representative from the same field background or location
may help in providing the customers with a home like an experience improving their relationship
with the organisation (Loeb, 2014).
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Assessment Task 2: Implement the diversity policy project
1. Present the policy
Review of the diversity policy of Water West.
The diversity policy project of Water West is approved by the board of directors along with the
diversity council of Australia. The diversity policy of Water West includes policies and
procedures including talent management, recruitment and selection, development programs and
is associated with their culture and values.
Water west created the strategies which have been approved by the board of directors and
diversity council focusing on key areas which are leadership, recruitment process, work/life
balance and education.
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2. Prepare an intranet article
Diversity Policy
Introduction
For the purpose of successfully implementing the diversity project, the organisation and all the
members need to have proper information about the diversity policy project to be implemented in
the organisation. This article focuses on the same purpose that is providing the employee's details
about the diversity policy project along with the importance and objectives. For the purpose of
understanding the diversity and its effects, the policies need to be analysed and understood
properly by all the employees.
Diversity Policy
For the purpose of implementing the policy in the organisation, the employees will carry out the
primary responsibilities. Before implementing the policy, the organisation needs to decide which
part of diversity is needed. Water west has decided to include four diversity key areas which are
 Leadership
 Recruitment, selection and retention
 Work/life balance
 Education
The following policy will help the employees in developing their skills and increase productivity
(Bond and Haynes, 2014).
The objectives of the following diversity policy are:
a) To have a workforce which supports sustainability and understands the needs of clients
and customers?
b) To have an inclusive workplace with all the individuals having the opportunity to achieve
their objectives.
c) To provide equity for everyone regardless of their culture, age, marital status, social
background, sexual orientation, religion and race.
d) To make the leadership position practice diversity among all the members and setting up
agenda in the sector.
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The actions that need to be taken for the purpose of successfully implementing the diversity pan
needs to be provided to the staff. This would make every staff member promote and support the
implementation of the policy hence creating a diverse workplace.
Conclusion
The following article provides the details about the diversity plan prepared and its
implementation in Water West. The following diversity plan is the first diversity plan of Water
West. 60% of the staff are involved in labour intense roles. The workforce consists of young
people as well as women in roles which were traditionally meant for men. This removes gender
discrimination in the organisation. The key result areas included in the strategic plans are
leadership, recruitment, selection, retention, work/life balance and education which are
respectively assigned to Chief Financial Officer, Human Resource Manager, Operations
Manager and Learning and Development Manager for achieving the desired key results.
Educating the staff about the diversity plan, clarifying the process for implementation helps the
implementation process of diversity pan successful.
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Assessment Task 3: Review the diversity policy project
1. Recommend changes to the policy
As per the analysis made from the past 12 months results achieved by implementing the
diversity, the following changes need to be made in the diversity policy of Water West.
2. Update the policy
The updated diversity policy of Water West after making the above-recommended changes is as
follows:
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