Impact of Modern-day Workforce Diversity at Workplace

(With Special reference to MNCs in Chennai city)

Dr. R. Rangarajan
R. M. Duraiarasan
Associate Professor
Ph.D Research Scholar (Full-Time)
Department of Commerce
Department of Commerce
University of Madras
University of Madras
Chepauk, Chennai -5
Chepauk, Chennai -5
E-Mail: rr-rajan97@yahoo.co.in
E-Mail: rm.mani08@gmail.com
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Abstract
Workforce diversity is a primary concern for most of the businesses. Todays
organizations need to recognize and manage workforce diversity effectively. The workplace has
seen phenomenal changes in recent times, due to a number of reasons. The utmost of the advent
of technology has facilitated several further transformations. In India becoming an integral part
of the global economy, the modern-day workforce is also becoming a part of the global
population. With this integration, the workforce today needs to align their working hours with
those of their global counterparts. Some of the factors like technology, organization culture are
playing a major role in employees looking for flexible jobs. The purpose of this paper is to
identify the factors influencing flexibility of modern-day work schedule in an organization. For
this study, a sample of 100 was taken from employees working in MNCs. Convenient sampling
technique was used for the research. The outcome of the study reveals that the factors are
influencing flexibility of Modern-day work schedule to enhance the productivity of the
employees.

Keywords: Workforce Diversity, Modern-day, Work Flexibly.

Introduction
As we enter the 21st century, workforce diversity has become an essential business
concern. The workplace has seen phenomenal changes in recent times, due to a number of
reasons from the modernization of technology. It is conveniently that the new-age employee
prefers flexible working hours that entitles him/her to work from anywhere, anytime, as opposed
to reporting to work at 9am in the morning and leaving at the onset of dusk (around 5pm).
According to (Evolving Workforce Research Program) by Dell and Intel.
In this information age, the greatest assets of most companies are their skilled human
resource. Undeniably, there is a talent war raging. No company can afford to unnecessarily
restrict its ability to attract and retain the very best employees available. A workforce that is more
heterogeneous in terms of gender, ethnicity, age, and other characteristics that reflect differences.
The term Workforce Diversity refers to policies and practices that seek to include people
within a workforce who are considered to be, in some way, different from those in the
predominant constituency. In todays global marketplace, diversity becomes a valuable asset.
Until recently many companies were not very much concerned about this point. Today it is
realized that a more diverse work force, will increase the organizational effectiveness. It became
clear that workforce diversity is the bridge, in other words greater diversity in workplace could
help organization to attract a more diverse customer set. It will lift morale, bring greater access to
new segments of the marketplace and enhance productivity.
Objectives
1. Identify the factors influencing flexibility of modern-day work schedule in an
organization.
2. To understand the factors that are contributing to high level of workforce diversity
through flexible work schedule in an organization.
3. To explore the ways by which modern-day workforce diversity can be managed
effectively through flexible work schedule.