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An issue that turns America on its head
As noted in the March 20, 2006, edition of NPR's "Talk of the Nation," America is turned on its head over the issue of diversity fatigue - what it is, what to do about it, and when. The term "diversity fatigue" was first coined in the news media in discussions about the lack of diversity in the newsroom. It was ultimately defined as a form of mental exhaustion brought on by the constant attention required to ensure a workforce or other group is racially or ethnically diverse.
For decades, workplaces in America have struggled to catch up with the country's diversity of races, genders, and more recently, sexual orientation. religion and differing abilities. Companies have been investing big bucks for workshops, seminars and other training sessions lasting a couple of hours, sometimes all day, where workers discuss differences, commonalities play roles, and individuals analyze their behavior. Many employers have beefed up recruiting efforts to attract a more representative cross-section of American talent.
But when it is all said and done, it's all said and done, and most believe little has changed. Minorities and women are not moving up the ladder quickly. They are proving difficult to retain, and many will...