Reference no: EM132524980

BSBDIV501 Manage diversity in the workplace

Assessment Task 1: Research project

TASK SUMMARY
For this task you are required to review Marino Enterprises' diversity policy and make recommendations for improvement.

INSTRUCTIONS
Read the background information below and complete the activities.
Over the past three years Marino Enterprises has grown considerably and have expanded their community involvement to include a number of employment programs for disadvantaged groups. Working closely with a local employment provider, Marino employ a number of people with disabilities, mature-age people and Indigenous Australians.
Marino has also engaged two local schools with which they employ and train a small group of school-based trainees across all facets of their business.
Marino Enterprises also employ a large group of people from the LGBTIQ community, immigrants and international travelling backpackers. This has not been a deliberate policy or program of the company but rather a word of mouth as an employer of choice in the community.
With such a diverse and transient workplace, Marino Enterprises feel that their Diversity Policy isn't matching the work that they do now. There have also been a couple of situations that have not been handled or managed well.
1. Analyse and review Marino Enterprises Diversity policy and provide feedback in a report to management. The policy is located in the Marino Enterprises Handbook.
Along with explaining the importance and purpose of having a robust diversity policy you are required to make recommendations for improvement so the policy extends to meet the changing workplace environment and culture, and is current in relation to the legislation framework.
Your report should be clear and concise and be written in a language suitable for the audience. You should also follow the Marino Enterprises Style Guide when laying out, formatting and saving your report.
Note: use your research skills to review other diversity policies that are available through your business networks or the Internet. Current legislation can be found at the Fair Work Ombudsman website

2. Work with at least one other class member to discuss your feedback and recommendations before you submit your report. Your assessor will arrange a time for this group meeting to occur.
During the group meeting you are required to share your feedback and recommendations and consider the views and feedback from your class member/s.
Your assessor will observe and assess you on the way that you communicate, collaborate and interact, and how you demonstrate respect towards others in personal interactions.
At the conclusion of the meeting, make changes to your report and submit it to your assessor.

Assessment Task 2: Case studies

TASK SUMMARY
For this task you are required to answer the case study questions to demonstrate your knowledge of:
• How to foster respect for diversity in the workplace
• Federal and Victorian legal framework
• Workplace complaints procedure.

Case study 1: Michael
Michael has worked for Marino Enterprises as their Accounts Officer in the Melbourne head office for the three years of their operation, and worked for Luigi for 10 years before then. He has explained to Luigi and his manager that he will be commencing a gender transition and will be known as Michelle upon returning from a month of leave.
Michael's manager works with HR to set up information sessions for staff to discuss the matter before Michelle returns from leave.
At the first meeting, some of the other staff are hostile, asking, ‘When there's only one of her, it or whatever, and there's nearly twenty of us, why is it us who have to be accepting? Why do we have to change?' The manager and HR team work to educate theemployees about transgender issues and discrimination, terminology and the acceptable use of names and pronouns.
QUESTION 1
What Victorian Act do transgender people in the workplace have legal protection under?
QUESTION 2
In support of Michael's transition, Marino Enterprises have discussed developing a transition plan. What might this transition plan include?
QUESTION 3
As a manager what information would you need to know about in order to support Michael and to prevent discrimination? Make a list of at least three topics.
QUESTION 4
Marino Enterprises have not had this scenario arise to date and feel that they are not prepared, or covered legally to manage the situation or matters that may arise. What actions could they take to rectify their preparedness?
QUESTION 5
As the manager, how could you respond to the hostile staff member and encourage respect?
QUESTION 6
If the hostile staff member was to continue making derogatory comments in front of Michelle, what is the first step in the Marino Enterprises' Complaints procedure for her to follow?

Case study 2: Recruitment
Champions Sports Bar is owned and operated by Marino Enterprises and it has been subject to a discrimination complaint as a result of their recent recruitment campaign. They told the recruitment agency that they were looking for ‘young women with flair' to fill the positions of bar staff. The recruitment company followed instructions and advertised the job as such and didn't consider anyone other than females under 30.
QUESTION 1
Who is liable for discrimination?
QUESTION 2
Discuss the four discrimination matters related to recruitment that an employer must consider.
QUESTION 3
If a highly qualified male internal staff member had applied for this position and was told by his manager ‘bad luck mate, we're employing girls' on a number of occasions, what action can he take under the Complaints procedure?
QUESTION 4
If a 52 year old female applied for the position, who was also more than qualified, and was told that she didn't get the job because they were looking for young women, what federal Act has been breached?
QUESTION 5
If the 52 year old female was told that she didn't get the job because kegs of beer would be too heavy for her to lift and she hadn't used their cash register system, would this still be considered discrimination? Explain your response.
QUESTION 6
During the interview process for this position, a young woman fits the description and is qualified and is asked if she has children. She lets the interviewer know that she has two, one of which she is still breastfeeding. Prior to disclosing this information she was asked if she could start next week but the interviewer has gone cold and cuts the interview short. On what basis could the woman make a complaint?
 
Case study 3: Muhamad
Louise, a female staff member reports to her manager that Muhamad, a Muslim staff member, never shakes hands with female clients. Louise considers this to be rude and disrespectful to females, and show a total lack of equality. She requests her manager to tell Muhamad that he must shake female client's hands.
QUESTION 1
As Muhamad‘s manager, how should you deal with this situation?
QUESTION 2
What are the legal requirements?
QUESTION 3
Three weeks have passed and Muhamad comes to you to report that Louise has cornered him in the photocopy room and told him that he is rude for not shaking hands with female clients. Louise has told you that she cannot work with Muhamad as his behaviour makes her sick!
What can you do to manage the situation and encourage them to work together?
QUESTION 4
Outline what part of this situation you would document. Why is it important to be objective in documenting these situations?

Case study 4: Delores
A staff member, Delores, has approached you with a request not to have to deal with a particular customer because they feel that the customer is acting with racial hatred toward her.
QUESTION 1
Can Delores refuse to deal with a customer on these grounds?
QUESTION 2
What are the employer's legal requirements?
QUESTION 3
As Delores‘s manager, how should you deal with this issue?

Case study 5: Jackie
At lunch your colleague, Jackie, expresses a concern to you. She has recently disclosed information about her mental illness to your team leader, Kelly, who she has always gotten along well with. Kelly was shocked and said ‘well that explains everything, you should consider taking some leave' Jackie feels as though Kelly has excluded her from general office conversations and work discussions since and has overheard Kelly telling other staff in the lunch room that ‘you're crazy' and ‘unstable'. Jackie doesn't know what to do.
QUESTION 1
What should Jackie do?
QUESTION 2
What federal and Victorian legislation applies in this situation?
QUESTION 3
It is some months down the track and Jackie has not been able to resolve the conflict through informal channels. She has made a formal complaint against Kelly. In dot point, outline the formal process to be followed by the HR Manager under the Complaints procedure.

Case study 6: Will
Will is multi-lingual and very popular with customers of Ellia Hotel because of his language and customer skills but he has been homeless for six months and his manager at Marino Enterprises has just been given this information through another employee.
Will hasn't missed one shift nor has he looked unclean or untidy. He has been caught taking food from the kitchen bins by the employee who has reported it. The manager has fired Will on the spot.
QUESTION 1
Has Will done anything wrong?
QUESTION 2
Can Will make a claim of unfair treatment or discrimination? Explain your response.
QUESTION 3
Make two suggestions of how Will's situation could benefit Marino Enterprises.

Case study 6: Reflection
Think about a time that you felt as though your own prejudices have impacted a personal interaction, either with someone that you have worked with or someone you have come across in your day-to-day life.
QUESTION 1
Outline the situation and describe how you would demonstrate respect, understanding and acceptance to that person in the same situation now.

Assessment Task 3: Promote diversity

TASK SUMMARY
For this task you are required to identify a training need and present the topic to the class for the purpose of education, fostering respect and promoting the benefits of diversity.

INSTRUCTIONS
This assessment task requires you to identify a diversity related training need and present the topic to your class. The topic should be related to one of the topics presented in the case studies in Assessment Task 2.
PART A

1. Firstly, in a brief memo to your assessor, identify the training need to address the particular issue of difference and discuss at least three ways that a company could promote their diversity policy to staff. Submit your word processed memo to your assessor.

PART B

1. Prepare and present the topic to your class. The purpose of the presentation is to:
• Promote the benefits of diversity in the workplace, including how diversity could enhance products/services and contribute to a competitive advantage.
• Educate staff on your diversity policy and the Marino Enterprises complaints procedure (this should be referenced rather than step-by-step introduction).
• Educate staff on the issue of difference that you have chosen.
You will have 20 minutes for your presentation. You are required to use a presentation package and audio visual equipment but you have creative freedom to present the information in the most engaging and interesting way as long as it is appropriate. You may make the use of images, videos, role plays, facts and figures, tables, etc if you chose.
Your assessor will be looking to see that you:
• Demonstrate respect for the differences you are presenting.
For example, this might include being an advocate during the discussion, being well informed on the topic and discussing the benefits of diversity and why this is important.
• Encourage diversity and sell the benefits of working effectively in a diverse workplace such as Marino Enterprises.
For example, diversity gives the opportunity for people to learn skills and knowledge from people with different skills/knowledge to themselves; it gives a chance to learn about different cultures, religions, food, the way people live, a different language, history of a country or place, it may open job opportunities, workplaces may offer flexible working arrangements for everyone not just those that need it.
• Help your class members acknowledge issues relating to workplace diversity.
For example, this might include asking questions of the audience to gauge their understanding and acceptance and responding with information that aligns with the legal framework, polices and the company's commitment to diversity and giving staff the opportunity to view their opinions and views.
• Identify diversity factors and give examples of diversity in the workplace.
This might involve being well informed of your topic and providing sound facts and figures and examples of diversity that are discussed in the case studies (or other case studies).

Section 1 - Introduction to Marino Enterprises

Your tasks for this course will focus on a fictional company, Marino Enterprises, and the people who work there.
This document includes the information you will need to know about each workplace within Marino Enterprises, policies and procedures of the enterprise, and all necessary templates and documentation you will need to assist you with your assessments.
Many of your assessments will put you in the shoes of either an employee who:
• works for Marino Enterprises itself
• works in one of the departments of the business that makes up Marino Enterprises, or businesses who rent from Marino Enterprisesin the complex
• does business with Marino Enterprises as a supplier or customer.
Your assessor will hand you out parts of this document as they refer to the units you are studying. You should keep these in a folder as you will need to refer to the document as information about Marino Enterprises unfolds throughout this course.
Make sure you read the information in this document carefully - this information will help you become more familiar with Marino Enterprises.
About Marino Enterprises
Marino Enterprises(or ‘Marino' as it is commonly referred to) is the concept of three people who have recently opened the business which is in its first 3 years of operation. They are:
• John Marino
• Luigi Marino
• Betsy Smith.
John and Luigi are brothers. Betsy is a family friend who has known John and Luigi for many years.
They have openedtheir new business in Robinsvale, a (fictional) vibrant and fashionable suburb in Melbourne, Victoria. Address is 243-249 Park Street, Robinsvale 3999.
They have a venue in an historical building which suits their needs perfectly.
Marino Enterprises consists of the following:
• Ellia Hotel - a five star hotel with 200 rooms for accommodation.
• Marino Conference Centre - a conference centre available for venue hire.
• Champions Sports Bar - a bar that serves pub meals.
• The Burger Bar - take away food shop.
• Crave catering - handles the catering for the Marino Conference Centre.
• Evolutions Restaurant - provides food in the gaming area.
• Marino Bottle-O - a drive through bottle shop in the complex.
• Tranquillity Day Spa - a day spa and wellness centre situated in the complex.
John, Luigi and Betsy are all equal shareholders in the business and are all company directors.
Marino Enterprises Mission Statement
Marino Enterprises' mission is to provide a comfortable, enjoyable and friendly environment where customers want to visit for all of their accommodation and entertainment needs.

 Section 2 - Policies and procedures
This section includes all of the policies and procedures you will require for your assessments. Some of these policies and procedures may be referred to in multiple units and topics; and some will only be necessary for one unit/topic only.

You will find that some of your Student Assessment Booklets will contain additional policies/procedures and information. These will only refer to that specific unit/topic that you are being assessed on. Your Student Assessment Booklet for each unit/topic provides you with all of the necessary information for each assessment and will always tell you if the policy/procedure has been provided in your Student Assessment Booklet; or if you need to refer to this document: the Marino Enterprises Handbook.

Attachment:- Manage diversity in the workplace.zip