- Yes, I do blush, bruise, tan and sunburn. Everyone has these responses.
- I have natural rhythm. Doesn’t everyone?
- Don’t touch me without my consent. On the other hand, if you ask, I may feel uncomfortable about saying no, but want to say no.
Employment: Exclusion or Inclusion
Employers can act in ways that help workers feel like valued employees or alienated workers. When cultural stereotypes continue unquestioned in business, exclusive behavior towards people can result. Firms that make an effort to value all workers tend to incorporate inclusive behavior practices into daily routines. Below are contrasting lists of exclusive and inclusive behavior that alienate or support employees.
Exclusive or Inclusive?
| Exclusive Behavior | Inclusive Behavior |
|---|---|
| Harassment by workers and supervisors. | Respect for and among workers. Company and workers value differences. |
| Secrets: Withholding the knowledge needed to do the job; invisible rules. | No secrets: Invite to meetings, lunch, informal gatherings; coaching, mentoring, taking under one’s wing, showing the ropes, training. |
| Isolation: Occurs When a company hires only a token person or a few minority individuals who are then located in widely separated work places; When a member of a minority is always given assignments regarding other members of the same minority. | Facilitating networking: Within minority group and outside minority group. |
| Represents minority group: Failure is seen as group failure. Success is viewed as an exception. Increases likelihood of burnout, as token person is placed on many committees. | Represents self only: Enough employees belong to the minority group so the same person doesn’t have to represent the group on every committee. |
| Limited advancement by not being given challenging work or training. Person is under-valued and under-utilized. Not held to standards. | Given opportunities to grow. Given challenging tasks, support and training. Held to standards. |
| Results in high turnover. | Results in high productivity. |
A Guide to Polite Behavior
People offend one another without intending to. This may sometimes be due to:
- having a lack of knowledge and information,
- responding unthinkingly to stereotypes deeply embedded in us from childhood,
- not putting ourselves in the other person’s place to understand how he/she feels.
Click on the following topics to find out words, actions and assumptions that may offend people who are different from us.
Ideas from “Cultural Etiquette” by Amoja Three Rivers, 1991, Market Wimmin, Box 28, Indian Valley, VA 24105.