Diversity, Equality & Dignity at Work: A Case of “Respect for the Individual” in Karma Consultancy

Abstract

This case is based on the real life experience of the writer as an in house business skills trainer for fresh recruits in the organization. The organization is a leading player in the Information Technology sector in India. The case study focuses on how language became a barrier to communication and adversely affected productivity at the workplace. Team members lacked the empathy to realize that one among them belonged to a different state and did not understand the native language. The team had been assigned the task of working on a complex technical project. The team member facing discrimination on the basis of language preferred to express his grievance to his mentor rather than communicating it to his team members. Open discussion with team members revealed that lack of awareness of diversity at the workplace was a problem that needed to be addressed. Awareness, acceptance and appreciation of diversity could create equality and dignity at the workplace.