Do you ever feel discriminated against whilst performing your job, owing to gender, sexual orientation or ethnic background? Across England and Wales 86% of the population is white – according to the 2011 consensus, yet in London alone that figure drops to 69.7%.
So, it’s fair to say then, that London is a melting pot of cultures and nationalities. Diversity and inclusion carry much weight in the workplace, but it isn’t all about race.
Let’s not pretend here. Human beings judge, we all do. Whether it’s on a subconscious level or intentional, our minds are programmed to make assumptions, and these assumptions can sometimes prove harmful to others. Monday the 24th of September will mark the beginning of National Inclusion Week. So, allow the quite diverse team at Get Licensed to bring you up to speed on all things diversity.
What is Diversity and Inclusion then? Simply put, it’s the range of human differences covering race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, age, social class, physical ability and a whole bunch more! So, why is it important to be aware of these differences in the workplace? Well, for one diversity fosters mutual respect among employees. Let’s say you work in a group or teams comprising of co-workers. You may find your colleagues will have varied work styles or that they may represent different cultures or generations. If there is to be harmony, it’s important to achieve a synergistic work environment.
Conflict is inevitable in any work environment. Consider the role of Door Supervisors. Often, they find themselves on the receiving end of verbal and physical abuse. On the other end of the spectrum, office jobs can also become pressure cooker environments when, for one reason or another, employees fail to see eye to eye.
However, employees who acknowledge other’s differences will find similarities among each other, particularly when it comes to common goals. In an office environment, for example, this could mean production and quality. Respect for co-workers either reduces the likelihood of conflict or forges an easier path to conflict resolution.
So, the key thing to remember here is that while we’re all different, be it gender, ethnicity, age or whatever, we can all learn something from each other. In the end, a diverse workplace will offer more exposure to employees from different cultures and backgrounds, and those existing co-workers could appreciate a work style potentially new to them and therefore beneficial. In short, the wider the diversity, the bigger the vision.
How to work in the security sector
If you are interested in working in the security sector, whether it be as a Door Supervisor, Security Guard or CCTV Operative, you will need to obtain a SIA Licence.
To obtain a SIA Licence, you will need to complete a course. Once you have completed the course, will you then be able to apply for an SIA Licence and work in the security sector.
