Diversity: Coca and Walmart

I. Examples companies that show the negatives of a diverse workforce.

A. Coca-Cola

B. Wal-Mart

We will examine two companies that show the negatives of a diverse workforce: The Coca-Cola Company and Wal-mart. Both have been in the news for discrimination lawsuits that have encompassed racial discrimination, overtime pay and systemic gender discrimination in pay and promotion. The Coca Cola Company was in the news in 2000 due to a discrimination lawsuit that was the largest racial-discrimination suit in U.S. History. The lawsuit stated by the New York Times contends that several African-American employees were denied promotions, raises and other opportunities because of their skin color. The suit not only covered the four African-American employees who sued but an additional 2000 who worked at the company over the last decade. In 2001, Wal-mart was served with a lawsuit filed by six women who contend that women have been discriminated against in 184 stores in 30 states and they submitted evidence documenting 1.6million experiences.

The cons of workplace diversity include:

• A diverse workforce means there will be many different ideologies that can increase tension and conflicts in the workplace. 

• Language barriers can create inefficiencies in internal and external communication.

• Not being given a promotion based on age/race yet you have the experience and visa versa

• Could bring out more issues if not properly managed/addressed or training people in all the primary and secondary aspects-interpersonal conflicts, racism

• Not understanding the generational issues (social, political, economic, family structure, value, work ethic and education)

• Dissatisfied employees lead to higher turnover and absenteeism, lower performance and miscommunication

• Not being educated in cultures-different words, meanings, expressions

• Employee losing a sense of self-culture, values, beliefs related to their...