Cultural Awareness in the workplace

Question

I am a immigrant and I think we can be more tolerant in the workplace the more aware we are of others. As a foreigner I like to embrace new traditions but, as well, I love to show mines. How important is for you? Do you think that this opens an unnecessary door in the office/workplace? I understand it is a thin line here. Can we expand enough to show empathy for others religions, believes, traditions, cultures, etc?

Clydene H · Answer

I work for an international company, and I love hearing about their traditions, holidays, and festivals.

Sarah Mayberry · Answer

While you do have to be careful sharing/asking about some cultural things, many large companies have Business Resource Groups that can help you safely share and learn.  I'm a member of three groups (that I don't identify with) so that I can educate myself and be a better ally on workplace diversity.

Kimberly Ellsworth · Answer

Cultural awareness is necessary for inclusion in the workplace. It's so important to make sure everyone feels included and accepted at work so they can feel inspired to be and bring their best every day. Having worked on both diverse and also homogenous teams, it's important to have multiple paths for learning.

Workshops and big events highlighting important topics are great, however they also place individuals who are sharing their culture in the place of teacher for their colleagues over and over again. That can become exhausting - doing your job + the emotional labor of teaching about your culture repeatedly. To balance that, I have always encouraged my colleagues to take an active role in their own learning. Google is free! By kickstarting their own knowledge gathering, they can turn around and have more in depth, engaging conversations with their colleagues and take their cultural awareness beyond a surface level understanding of a holiday or food into the lived experience of the people of that culture.

LEANNE TOBIAS · Answer

Indira, I agree with you.  I suggest that you demonstrate your commitment to diversity positively by helping to launch events/programs that your employer would welcome.

Best to strengthen your company to the benefit of all!

Linda Grace Solis · Answer

Indira, I hope we can expand enough to show empathy for all religions, beliefs, traditions, cultures, etc. I work in DEI at a medical school and our students are, for the most part, more empathetic and interested in these things than the faculty and staff are. It gives me hope. I create programming for faculty and staff in cultural humility, unconscious bias, etc. and I think it's making a difference.

I personally find it very fulfilling to learn about the cultures and traditions of the people around me. I love building relationships and friendships across cultures. I hope upcoming generations will keep up their good work on making inclusion a part of the everyday.

Mindy Green · Answer

I agree with you. Not enough workplaces have a diversity and inclusion program.  Maybe you can start a group at your work celebrating different cultures. When the offices open again, maybe host a pot luck with food from a different culture each month. Or, maybe decorate the break room with items from different backgrounds of people in the office.  At the holiday, do a theme celebration of Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa to help everyone learn about other ways to celebrate.

Cultural Awareness in the workplace

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