In the '90s “DIVERSITY” usually referred to “black and white” or “male and female” workplace issues. But in the new millennium, DIVERSITY is about age, gender, race, religion, disability, nationality, sexual orientation, and more. Learning to understand and accept all these differences is a profound challenge that can only be achieved through better and more authentic communication. It is time that we relearn how to talk to each other and become more sensitive to cultural and personal barriers so we can be more productive in the workforce. 

 If you don’t think your group needs to be concerned about diversity issues and cross-cultural communications, consider:

 Let’s talk about GENDER:  By 2005, women will represent 48% of the U.S. workforce.  Women have historically earned less than males and have been underrepresented in management.   

Let’s talk about MINORITIES:  By 2050, close to 50% of the US population will be comprised of people of color: Asians, Hispanics, African-Americans, and other nonwhite groups.

Let’s talk about AGE:  By the year 2050, 15% of the workforce will be 55 years of age or older.

Let’s talk about DISABILITIES:  Of the 43 million Americans who have disabilities, 20 million are of working age (16-64), and in 1992 14 million of this group were unemployed.

Let's talk about SEXUAL ORIENTATION: At , 62 U.S. employers have nondiscrimination policies covering sexual orientation, and 4,463 offer health insurance benefits to employees' domestic partners. And the higher a company is on the Fortune 500 list, the more likely it is to have both domestic partner benefits and a written nondiscrimination policy covering sexual orientation.

Let’s talk about HATE:  44.9% of hate crime incidents were because of racial prejudice; 21.6% because of ethnicity/national origin; 18.8% due to religious intolerance; and 14.3% because of sexual-orientation bias.

The point is it is time to TALK – and we encourage you to consider
Phillip Milano’s ability to get people talking!