Work force diversity is a goal that often falls short

A lot of companies say the right thing when it comes to creating a diverse work force. But how many of them are actually doing the right thing?A recent survey by Adecco USA, a temporary staffing and recruitment company, found that 78 percent of workers who responded to the poll believed diversity was something companies publicized more than they actually achieved.Of the 47 percent who said they experienced some form of workplace discrimination, age was the most common type cited, at 52 percent, followed by gender (43 percent), race (32 percent), religion (9 percent) and disability (7 percent).Lois Cooper, vice president of employee relations and diversity at Adecco, said many corporate chief executives truly believe in the benefits of a diverse work force, but efforts to implement their ideas get bogged down in middle management.Cooper said it's important for chief executives to make sure that everyone in the company is on board with their diversity plans. "I have to say I was not surprised (at the survey)," she said. "There are some organizations that are still having problems."She said lingering prejudice, worries about cost and inertia can all contribute to keeping companies from achieving diversity goals. Cooper said diversity is more than just a feel-good issue; it matters to the bottom line. Business is increasingly global in reach, and customers and business partners are more varied. Companies with diverse work forces can gain a competitive advantage.That holds true even in a difficult economy, she said.Cooper said Adecco had some suggestions for employers and employees looking to strengthen work force diversity:-- Get the commitment of senior management. Companies are still ruled from the top. Without the active endorsement and support of company leadership, any diversity initiative is going to fail.-- Engage employees in the process. The best way to know how things are going is by asking the people who are affected. That requires open communication, in which employees can address concerns or problems without fear of adverse consequences.-- Provide diversity training. Yes, it was a hilarious disaster on the NBC sitcom "The Office." But in real life, training can provide an important education, helping answer questions about what diversity is and how it can benefit a company. On a very practical level, diversity training -- which should be consistent throughout all levels of the organization -- can explain what laws apply when it comes to preventing discrimination. That knowledge can prevent a lot of problems, not to mention expense, in the future.E-mail Andy Smith of the Providence Journal at asmith(at)projo.com(Distributed by Scripps Howard News Service, www.scrippsnews.com.)