One of the best things about living and working in Manitoba is that it celebrates diversity. You can trace more than 200 ethnic origins from among its residents, with around 100 languages spoken (aside from English and French) here. In Winnipeg alone, it is estimated that 22 per cent of the population are foreign-born.

It is exciting to be exposed to this wealth of cultures, views, and beliefs, but it can also be difficult. The same differences that can make your workplace exciting can be the same reason for conflicts. This is why keeping an open mind and respecting differences must be encouraged. Everyone must work to develop cultural sensitivity. We need to keep these in mind to maintain a harmonious and productive workplace.

You can start by avoiding these three things:

1. Stereotyping people by race

   Stereotyping by race is when you assume that a group of people share certain traits based on race or nationality. There are positive, negative, and neutral racial stereotypes. For example, “All Asians excel at math” (positive), “Mexicans are illegal immigrants” (negative), or “Canadians love hockey” (neutral). These stereotypes are often popularized by what we see on TV, movies, or on other forms of media.

   But whether positive, negative, or neutral, stereotyping is harmful because it limits individuals. It prevents us from getting to know one another at a genuine level. Moreover, stereotyping is often the root of racism. Preconceived notions can lead to prejudice or discrimination against certain groups. This is not right or helpful, especially in the workplace.

 
Example situation: Preferring to work only with a certain racial group for certain tasks because of perceived strengths and weaknesses.
Why this is counterproductive: Doing this prevents the organization from fully benefiting from the wealth of skills that each member has. It can also harbor resentment from other workers who can contribute but are limited by preferential treatment.

“Be curious, not judgmental”
Walt Whitman

2. Making ethnic jokes

   You are always bound to offend someone when you make jokes based on race. Even when you think that a joke is harmless, it is never a good idea to risk it. All of us have a strongly rooted attachment to our ethnicity. Just think about how you would feel if a co-worker made fun of your people.

 
Example situation: Copying the accents of certain nationalities when you talk to get a laugh.
Why this is counterproductive: Mocking people is always wrong. It is degrading and rude.

3. Criticizing another person’s country or culture

   We all have the tendency to compare and contrast. People are just built this way. However, remember that there is no superior culture or country. There is no better or best, just different. The proper mindset would be to respect this difference.

   If you think about it, there are reasons why certain cultural values and traits exist in a certain society. They evolve due to many factors. If you do not belong to a particular society or did not grow up in it, you will not understand the logic behind their values and traits. If you are confused about a practice or certain behaviour common to a specific race, it will be better to ask respectfully rather than to criticize. As poet Walt Whitman said “Be curious, not judgmental”. This is how we grow. Understanding others leads to acceptance and even appreciation.

 
Example situation: Three members of your team come from the same country. They work well but they talk loudly in their own language during breaks. You complain to the head of your team about the three, saying that “those (nationality) are just so loud. These people have no respect for others.”
Why this is counterproductive: This is called a sweeping generalization. Three people are not representative of an entire country. Another thing is you assumed right away that they do not respect others. Lastly, complaining to the head of the team makes the issue bigger than it is. This may create ill-will between you and the group that can last a long time. The situation could have been solved by simply asking your co-workers, nicely, to keep the noise down during breaks.

 
Article updated September 2, 2024.