IMPACT OF WORKFORCE DIVERSITY ON EMPLOYEES’ PERFORMANCE

Abstract

Organizations today are facing a myriad of human resource management challenges arising from workforce diversity. Employees differ in terms of gender, age, religion, cultural background, race and ethnicity and also in terms of lifestyle, choices available, perspectives, attitudes, value system, beliefs, behaviour. expectations, skills and experiences. How well or how prepared managers are able to invest in the concept of diversity will impact not only on work issues but also on sensitivity to customer’s needs, legal compliance, business’ ethical issues, profitability and even social cohesion. This paper attempts to analyse the effect of workforce diversity on employees’ performance from a sample of 75 employees in a pharmaceutical company in Chennai. The study indicates that the company has been able to adjust with various diverse cultures and has also made the work climate more convenient for their workers.