Perhaps more than any other nation, the United States is—at its core—a land of diversity.
And this diversity is found in all aspects of our existence. For example, climatically—the American flag is flown over virtually every climate known to Man; from the arctic lands of Alaska, through the rainforests of the Northwest, the sub-tropical climes of Hawaii and Florida, to the vast deserts of the Southwest or the wide open prairies of the Midwest, the American climate truly runs the gamut.
The same is true economically–the U.S. also boasts one of the most diverse economic foundations in the world. Despite some fundamental changes to the economic structure of the country over the last three decades—the decline of manufacturing and the rise of the service sector being the most notable—few, if any nations can lay claim to the range of employment opportunities that exist in America.
From the world’s leading high tech and financial services companies, through what is still one of the globe’s largest manufacturing bases, to the thriving energy sector, and our undisputed leadership in arts and entertainment, America’s diverse GNP continues to be a dominant economic force well into the 21st century.
Economic diversity also plays a large role in the continuing success of our company, Sackett National Holdings (SNH). Through our subsidiaries, SNH is a leading national player in a variety of critical business sectors, including the aforementioned financial services industry (via SettlementOne Credit & SettlementOne Valuation); the automotive industry (via National Credit Center); the nation’s energy sector (via Sperian Energy); and the hiring process of new employees in virtually all industries nationwide (via PeopleFacts).
Not surprising, then, that workplace diversity is also one of the core principals of the modern American workplace, including all the subsidiaries of SNH.
And although there are (very legitimate) legal reasons for this, I would proffer that a diverse workplace is also good business practice. For many of the same reasons that financial advisors will tell their clients to invest in a diverse portfolio, it is also a wise business decision for a company to have a diverse workforce comprised of the best and brightest employees.
As I discussed in a recent posting, recruiting the highest quality employees is often a daunting task, and one that can help determine the future success—or failure—of any organization. No matter what role an employee plays within a business, their skills and acumen either add to–or diminish–that company’s chances for success.
Simply put, we want to hire the best available candidates for every opening, regardless of their sex, race, color or age. And in all candor, while there are many reasons for doing so, having a workplace as diverse as the nation just makes good business sense.
Workplace diversity is more than just a question of ‘political correctness’, or adhering to legal requirements. With the economy rebounding, as companies scramble to hire the best employees from a shrinking pool of available candidates, smart executives understand that it’s just a wise business decision to select the very best candidates from the widest possible range of applicants.
The old adage that ‘variety is the spice of life’ is, in fact, a truism in modern America. And nowhere is it truer–or wiser–to welcome that variety and diversity than in the workplace.
At the end of the day, it’s the right, smart and, indeed, the American thing to do.
