Diversity in the workplace - collaboration regardless of language barriers or age.

Introduction

Diversity and inclusiveness in the workplace are not just slogans promoted as part of corporate policy - they are key elements that define a modern and effective work environment. The importance of these aspects is particularly important in Poland, where the labor market is characterized by the presence of elderly people and workers from eastern countries. The introduction of a policy of diversity and inclusiveness translates not only into better relations within the team, but also into an increase in the competitiveness of the company.

The role of diversity in a modern organization

1. Innovation and creativity: Diverse teams offer a wealth of perspectives, fostering an environment where innovative ideas flourish. Each unique experience contributes something greater than the sum of its parts to the collective intelligence.

2. Lower market understanding: Organizations that reflect the diversity of society in their workforce are better equipped to understand the needs and preferences of their broad customer base.

3. Company image: A commitment to diversity and inclusion improves a company's reputation, making it an employer of choice for top talent. It signals progressive, forward-thinking thinking that is attractive to both employees and customers.

Age diversity

Poland's elderly employment rate in 2022 was only 8.9%, which is below the EU average of 10%. In comparison, Estonia achieved a rate of 28%, Sweden 19.2% and the Czech Republic 10.5%. It can therefore be assumed that this percentage will increase in the coming years.

Including seniors in the work team is not only to take advantage of their valuable experience and knowledge, but also to create a diverse environment that benefits all employees. To successfully integrate seniors into the team, organizations should focus on:

• Adapting the work environment: Adapting the workplace to the needs of seniors, such as through ergonomic solutions, can increase their comfort and efficiency.
• Training and development: Providing access to training that allows people to update their skills and participate in the life of the company. E-learning platforms can also be successfully applied here, can facilitate adaptation to the requirements of the modern workplace.
• Internal communication systems: Applications that allow easy contact with the team, exchange of information and knowledge, as well as remote training, allow better integration and use of the experience of seniors. When implementing IT solutions, it is worth paying attention to how to create applications with seniors in mind.

Integration of foreign workers

According to Polish Social Insurance Institution – ZUS data, foreigners working legally in Poland most often rescues labor shortages in industry and transportation and logistics (TSL). At the end of September, nearly one-third of foreigners registered with ZUS were employed in these two industries. This is followed by construction (one in eight) and retail, where 9 percent of foreign newcomers work, including a lot of Ukrainian women.

As of the end of September 2023, the total number of foreigners covered by pension and disability insurance in Poland had reached 1.112 million. Such a large number of workers must not be overlooked by employers. To this end, organizations should:

• Implement adaptation programs: Enable new foreign employees to more easily introduce themselves into the organization's culture and understand the company's procedures and values especially at the onboarding stage.
• Provide language support: Offer language courses or appropriate language versions of documents to facilitate communication and integration.
• Digital communication: Language support can go a step further with software for internal communication, for example. Tools such as Crispal offer not only a variety of language versions of applications, but also the ability to translate user-generated content e.g. HR or Operations.

Summary

Diversity and inclusivity in the workplace are key to innovation, market understanding and corporate image. In Poland, integrating senior citizens and foreign workers requires a conscious approach and technological support. The use of modern tools and platforms can help break down cultural and language barriers, facilitating communication and integration. Putting these values and tools into practice benefits the entire organization, building a team ready for future challenges.

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