Board Diversity Is Increasing Slowly The boardrooms of many top companies look a lot different than they did just a decade ago, according to the 23rd annual Spencer Stuart Board Index study of S&P 500 corporations. Read this article

Feature Articles The Cost of Being Exclusive Diversity experts have long touted the business benefits from diversity and inclusion efforts, such as greater innovation, access to a broader customer base and increased productivity. Less clear, however, are the business risks of practices perceived as exclusionary. Obama Transition Team EEO Policy Protects Gender Identity When the web site for President-elect Barack Obama's transition office went live on Nov. 6, 2008, its new equal employment opportunity (EEO) policy grabbed the attention of diversity and human rights activists around the world. Making Room for Generation Y Companies must do a better job of hiring, appreciating and motivating young workers or risk being at a competitive disadvantage, according to Robert McGovern, founder and CEO of the career site Jobfox. What’s In Your Diversity Toolbox? Companies use a variety of assessment tools to measure cultural competency and advance diversity and inclusion efforts. Obama Election Seen as Watershed for Diversity Soon after Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., was declared president-elect, the news media—and the candidates themselves—reflected on the historical significance of the 2008 election for the American people. Election Fosters Conversations on Race, Age, Gender Workplace conversations about race, age and gender have increased during the course of the U.S. presidential campaign. Diversity Efforts Go Beyond Awareness Training Diversity and inclusion programs are increasingly linked to leadership development and management effectiveness, recent studies suggest. HR Seeks Balance in Handling Religion in the Workplace The latest Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) survey on religion finds that a majority of organizational leaders foster a secular work environment even when employees practice a variety of religions. Corporate Diversity Practices Have Room for Improvement Few socially responsible companies demonstrate diversity excellence according to "Examining the Cracks in the Ceiling: A Survey of Corporate Diversity Practices in the Calvert Social Index," which examines diversity initiatives at the 636 large, U.S.-based sustainable and responsible companies that make up the index. Economic Woes Hit Working Women Hard The declining state of the U.S. economy is taking a physical and emotional toll on people nationwide, yet it is women who bear the brunt of financial stress, according to the 2008 Stress in America survey. Religious Accommodation Expected for Employees in Uniform The Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) is one of the latest employers being asked to defend the application of its policy on uniforms to employees requesting religious accommodation.

SHRM Diversity Conference Coverage Disability Inclusion Requires Common Sense Finding ways to include employees with disabilities and those with special needs children into all aspects of an organization’s work is not rocket science. It’s common sense. The Early Bird Gets the Diverse Candidates Hiring top performers is hard. But hiring so-called “diverse candidates” is even harder because demand often exceeds supply. Strickland: Focus on Educating Future Workers Author and executive Bill Strickland makes the case for motivating young people to want to learn. Frans Johansson: Diversity Drives Innovation Diversity drives innovation, author and businessman Frans Johansson tells attendees at SHRM's Diversity Conference in Atlanta. Taking Diversity Global? Keep an Open Mind A panel of chief diversity officers say employers need to be careful when expanding diversity efforts around the globe. Empower Workers, Terrence Howard Urges HR Academy Award nominee Terrence Howard tells SHRM Diversity Conference attendees that they must listen to and empower employees.

Diversity Webcast Archive The Talent Pipeline to Top Students with Disabilities (October 2007) EEO Rules and Your Diversity Initiative (August 2007) The New Hispanic Workforce (July 2007) Leveraging Diversity as a Competitive Advantage (February 2007) Managing an Intergenerational Workforce for Organizational Success (November 2006) Recruiting Older Workers (October 2006)

Available in SHRMSTORE Managing People Across Cultures Managing People Across Cultures maps out the value of people issues in the organizations of today. It challenges readers to ask key questions about the origin and purpose of HR. Authors Fons Trompenaars and Charles Hampden-Turner spell out their vision for what HRM must do to stay relevant. Their view is that people management must embrace the values of entrepreneurship i.e. agility, flexibility and innovation to ensure its continued effectiveness. More about this book More diversity titles