Pre-employment drug testing and on the job impairment.

2010-03-09T01:05:06.281Z

I read an article on the pre-employment policies most large Corporations and Manuracturers, adopted over the past 20 years on pre-employment and on the job drug testing. Drug testing advocates contend substance-abuse screening is a cost effective way to reduce on-the-job accidents, improve productitivity and cut absenteeism. Lewis Maltby, President of National Workrights Institute says the unine test have many flaws. The job candidates' ability to clean themselves out before hand and the test's inability to detect intoxication on the job. The test reveals that the employee ingested, some amount of a particular drug at some undetermine point in time. The prospective candidate who smokes marijuana on Saturday was smart enough to drink beer for two weeks before the drug test, if the Employer opts for the more common urine test. More Companies/Corporations are looking to hair test as a cheat-proof option. Hair test are effective at detecting repetitive use in employees over a longer time frame, as far back as 90 days.

Diversity is more than "paint by numbers"

2010-02-23T22:19:39.835Z

I'm surprised at how many times organizations focus primarily on the numbers. It's like there is the approach to have one of everything and magically, you're an inclusive organization. "Just look at the numbers". Diversity and Inclusion is more than just the numbers. It's the enviroment, approach/interface with customers, etc. In my mind, metrics reflect the outcome of the work to create a more diverse and inclusive organization. Are you experiencing conversations that still focus primarily on the numbers? More importantly, how do you balance the quantitative with the qualitative?

Can You Forget Someone's Black?

2010-01-29T17:52:15.569Z

Of course I'm referring to MSNBC host Chris Matthews' statement "I forgot he was black" after President Barack Obama's State of the Union speech Wednesday. Matthews likely intended the statement as a compliment, but it brings up some interesting questions. First, if you had really forgotten he was black, would you have mentioned race at all? And second, is there an implied deficit to being Black - or any other minority group with historical resonance - that it needs to be forgotten? What do you think that statement means, good or bad?

Tip-toeing around prejudices.

2010-03-08T19:01:24.507Z

Until we stop tip-toeing around certain prejudices will we be able to heal. Honesty is the best policy, so they say. *What are you really afraid of? *What makes you so defensive of others? *Where did you get that theory that every ........? (Fill in the blank) Growing up with an "Archie Bunker" grandfather I fought years of discriminating comments made towards those of different color or ethnicity. To me prejudice is deadly. It does nobody good. We need to learn what a prejudice felt like from our past experiences. At one time or another you might have been left out of an event or felt like an outsider in amongst your peers, family members, or colleagues. What's stopping you from learning and behaving in a more diverse and inclusive manner?

What's a name got to do with it?

2009-10-26T20:16:13.947Z

Diversity training for executives?

2009-02-23T11:40:46.160Z

I am doing consulting work with a 100+year-old company and their Board decided that all the higher level managers and executives needed "Diversity Training". It's not that I'm against it, but I have concerns that this is a "sheep-dip" approach rather than a meaningful change effort. Anyway, they have made it a "bonus goal" so it WILL occur; at least I can assist them in their selection. They may want an "off-the-shelf" program that their in-house trainers can deliver. Any suggestions?

IS DIVERSITY TRAINING AND MULTICULTURAL COMPETENCE, LACKING IN PASSAIC COUNTY NEW JERSEY WESTSIDE FIRE DEPARTMENT?

2010-03-06T18:18:59.792Z

An 18 year veteran black fire fighter, filed a federal discrimination lawsuit against the Passaic Fire Department and Fire Chief. He alleges he was the target of systematic harassment by his superiors. Who assigned him to less desirable duties than his white coworkers. The black fire fighter alleges, he was in another room when he was singled out to throw out, a bottle of wine from the kitchen's refrigerator. There were 4 white fire fighters in the kitchen at the time. He alleges he was continually forced to work with white fire fighters coworkers, who regularly engaged in racially charged conduct. He alleges his Lieutenant yelled at him to raise the American flag up the flag pole in the rain. What techniques do you use to resolve harassment, discrimation and other workplace landmines in your Organization, before it leads to a lawsuit?

Cultural and Ethnic Miscommunication

2009-01-13T16:00:45.631Z

Hi, Everyone Can you direct me to articles or books that list or recount examples of cultural or ethnic misinformation that led to misunderstanding and/or conflict? For example, there is the story of Gerber Foods in Africa using the picture of a baby on the front of their product. Unknown to Gerber, outside labels of products sold in Africa typically depict what is inside of the package. Needless to say, baby food bottles with these pictures did not sell very well. Can anyone direct me to books or articles that recount situations such as these? Also, I would appreciate your suggestions of books or articles that talk about cultural differences (e.g., eye contact, amount of touching, personal space expectations, etc.) that have led to conflict at the workplace. Thanks. crs

Commemorating Women's History Month

2010-03-04T16:19:57.002Z

The New Focus for Diversity

2010-02-25T22:09:36.301Z

I attended NAAAHR's Diversity Symposium yesterday at McDonald's Hamburger U and enjoyed keynotes from Mellody Hobson, president of Ariel Investments and Hewitt Chief Diversity Officer Andres Tapia, among others. Andres Tapia spoke about the importance of cultural competence as a new direction for diversity and inclusion. He suggested the old focus for diversity - intolerance and sensitivity - likely has gone as far as it can, though there are areas therein that should be honored and pulled forward, as we have not yet mastered them. He pointed out tendencies for various races, because different world views can inhibit relationships and lead to conflicts visible and invisible. What do you think? Is it time for a new focus for diversity? One peer I spoke with thought that breaking things down by race - these people tend to do this, and these people tend to do that - is actually divisive. Please share your thoughts on the Diversity Executive network.