June Blog: Workforce Connector

How a diverse workforce can benefit a company

Having a diverse workforce can help a company achieve many goals. By having a large perspective in their workforce, a company will become familiar with different populations, different cultures, and be able to identify with more members of their community. When a company is attempting to expand its customer base and revenue base, a diverse work force will help the company understand the needs of different customers which will help them become more appealing and attract more business. A diverse work place will help communities overcome cultural barriers such as language barriers, common practice barriers, and mindset barriers.

The problem in Wisconsin is that the diversity of Wisconsin needs to improve. The overall population of Wisconsin is only 15.6% non-white and the majority of the non-white population is skewed in the Milwaukee area. The first step to a more diverse workforce is for the company to educate itself on the cultures within the company’s community. That way, the company will start to become more aware of the different cultures within the community and learn how to make their company a more appealing place of employment.  

Rochelle Hoffman, M.Ed. the Assistant Director of the Multicultural Student Services Department at the University of Wisconsin Eau Claire stated,

“Investing in, supporting, and engaging this work force is a smart economic decision for business owners and Chamber Members in the Chippewa Valley. The management of diversity and inclusion has evolved from a focus on compliance to a strategic-level effort with a demonstrated positive impact on an organization’s performance. In the current business climate, companies that strive for both diversity and inclusion are achieving intended business results. They provide the proof that diversity and inclusion are much more than a legal or moral requirement; they’re also a competitive advantage. Investing in cultural relevant professional development for business staff is an important way for staff to understand the population of customers they will work [for] and specific needs or challenges they face.”