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Diverse Ethics - Atul Shah - Wisdom Blog

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SUSTAINABLE EQUALITY

There is much talk about sustainability, and about equality, but what happens when the two are combined together? Here are my suggestions:

1. Dont wait for a problem before you address equality issues - research shows that on average a discrimination case costs £90,000 on average, and that is before any compensation is paid. This is a huge cost - not to mention the management time and pain of going through the whole process. Equality demands prevention and a sustainable approach.

2. Fairness is not just about the law, but about the fundamental ethics of an organisation. Ignore it and you create an organisation which is unequal and where employee morale is low and turnover, very high.

3. People and policies need to reflect the true meaning of equality, and this is not just about being fair to others, but also about one's own growth and development. So when equality is handled creatively, it is fun, stimulating and has huge personal development ramifications. And when attitudes change, fairness becomes embedded in the system. Then instinctive actions become just.

4. Young people are increasingly looking for fair employers - look at the huge Occupy movement which went global in 2010. Most of these young people were educated, talented and smart, and wanted a real change to their futures. Fair employers can attract outstanding talent if they are seen to be practicing equality and respect.

5. It becomes easier to trade globally if you have staff from different countries and cultures. You cultivate cultural intelligence which resides inside the organisation. This also creates a sustainable company as you are able to adapt to global shifts and global market movements much more swiftly and spread your risks.

Here is a starter for five - so dont wait for the problem to arise, start preventative action today.

Article added on 23rd January 2012 at 4:17pm