What is it like to be a minority within the majority
culture?  Here are some diversity-related
scenarios that you, as a manager, might tackle. Diversity is a very touchy
subject, so I hope our discussions will dig deep and “go there” so we
can truly learn from each other.

How would you respond to these challenges?  What might be the repercussions?

1. 
A number of employees from the former Soviet
Union speak Russian together when they’re in the workplace – they sit together
on break and at lunch and do not befriend “Americans.”  Sometimes, they ask each other for
work-related advice? Does it make you uncomfortable?  Should you try to make them change their
behavior?  Why or why not?  How?

2. 
A non-Christian employee doesn’t want to
participate in the festive daytime Christmas party, but goes reluctantly.  Everybody is there and having fun. She tries
to stay in the background, but is ushered over to a very merry Santa who
insists on giving her a present.  She
leaves immediately, upset. Is she being unreasonable? Explain. How much should
religion be accommodated in the workplace (this is a huge question, so just
touch on it).

3. 
What subcultures are you part of (race,
religion, gender, Northerner, Southerner, it could be anything….)?  Have you ever felt uncomfortable at work
because of your membership within a sub-culture? Were you accommodated
appropriately?