Many small business owners are not ready to handle the problems associated with cultural diversity in the workplace. If not prepared, a business may find themselves facing discrimination suits, litigation expenses, legal fees and settlements, high employee turnover, and negative community image.

If you are a business owner, you must recognize, respect, and capitalize on the different backgrounds in our society. Different cultural groups have different values, styles, and personalities. This reflects in how businesses interact. Having a diverse workplace will improve your company’s competitive edge in the marketplace.

Diversity, or sensitivity training, is very common among large corporations now. While many small business owners cannot afford this training, it is still important to put this into practice when dealing with your employees. Many companies use different techniques for sensitivity training. Videos, case studies, surveys, training manuals, or online training are all tools used. You can find companies that will provide these services for your business or you can obtain the training information to use yourself. You can obtain information from the library, bookstores, or online.

Use this training to create a balance of respect and understanding in the workplace and to have happy and optimally productive workers. It is also important for your employees to respect cultural diversity, as they will reflect this when dealing with your clients.