A Look into the Help or Hindrance of a Multicultural Workforce

A Look Into the Help or Hindrance of a Multicultural Workforce

Multicultural workforces are becoming more popular in the United States, as well as other

countries. "Technology, market pressures and improved transportation links are thrusting

professionals together across distance and culture." (Trickey, 2000) A multicultural workforce can

consist of employees that may physically be in the same country, but are originally from different

countries and cultures. It can also be employees that are in totally different parts of the world, but

still working for the same company. There are many ways that different cultures can come

together in the work environment. Outsourcing and globalization are two possible reasons for

people of different cultures to come together in the workforce. The bringing together of different

cultures in the workplace has many people wondering, "Are multicultural workforces more of a

help or more of a hindrance to companies and their customers?"

Famous companies are laying off American workers to employee workers from India

and other countries, at a greatly reduced pay rate. This is known as outsourcing. When a

company chooses to outsource, the employees remaining in the United States are expected to

communicate with the employees from other countries or even continents. Most companies

push employees to work together as a team; this may be difficult if the communication between

employees can not be productive due to language barriers, and other barriers, as well.

Companies are also shifting jobs to other countries in order to expand their

corporations. This is known as globalization. "Globalization refers primarily to the ways in which

economic and industrial institutions (such as industries or corporations) interact in various

locations throughout the world, with primacy given to no specific geographic location."

(Kluver, n.d.) McDonald's and Coca-Cola are two of the largest companies to expand into other

countries. With so many people in the United States unemployed, or receiving low incomes, it

leaves Americans feeling left behind