Why diversity?
Companies are becoming interested in diversity because there is an increasingly strong case for promoting it. According to Peggy Hazard, managing director of the US diversity consultants Simmons Associates, the main business arguments for promoting and understanding are the following:

Recruiting and retaining the best employees. As traditional sources of labour are declining, new sources have to be found. Having hired staff, employers have to be inclusive in order to encourage their employees to stay.

Making diverse teams work. Managers and team leaders need to be aware of differences in order to make sure that their teams function effectively. Ineffective management will lead to delays, higher costs and loss of customers.

Providing a source of new ideas. Innovation is product of well-functioning, diverse teams.

Making mergers and acquisitions work. Diversity is a natural result of organizations merging. This is especially the case when mergers are across borders, but is also significant within a national culture.

Responding to customer needs. For example, a large German furniture seller is looking to recruit people over 50. This is because older employees are better at advising the increasing number of customers who are also that age.