New York Power Authority: there's power in diversity.

• Author: Raps-Beckerman, Helene
• Position: Management & Careers

Differences, by definition, can sometimes impede the harmony that keeps an organization running smoothly Paradoxically, businesses and government leaders now know that diversity--recognizing and respecting the differences among team members--can produce positive effects in the workplace on a variety of levels. Diversity makes organizations successful.

This "new normal" that chief executives and human resources professionals must now navigate poses some challenges but promises significant rewards if handled appropriately. In a recent study of Fortune 1000 companies by the Society of Human Resource Management, survey respondents reported an overwhelming belief that diversity initiatives have a direct, positive impact on several areas, including being able to maintain a competitive edge, improving recruitment efforts, and increasing employee morale.

This means that if diversity isn't at the top of your jurisdiction's agenda, you're missing out. If an organization doesn't hire and retain the right mix of people, it will reach an impasse in growth and progress. These types of organizational strategies and policies affect every department and working relationship, and the future success of operations.

DIVERSE WORKFORCE

The New York Power Authority (NYPA), the nation's largest state-sanctioned power organization, fosters diversity and inclusion with a new emphasis on both the bottom-line benefits and the personal satisfaction these policies can create. Because the Power Authority is a government entity that operates like a business, providing low-cost electricity and energy services to public and private customers throughout the State of New York, the benefits of workplace diversity serve NYPA's strategic mission and its financial objectives.

The NYPA has staff at multiple sites throughout the state, and employees range in age and level of work experience. Some employees commute to work from neighboring states, while those living in-state vary from city dwellers to rural populations. The diversity among employees within this single-state organization is tremendous, reflecting the diversity of the communities it serves.

Almost 30 percent of NYPA's workforce will be eligible to retire by 2015, and nearly 50 percent can leave by 2020, making succession planning and recruitment critical areas of concern. Diversity will be a big part of NYPA's upcoming retirement wave and play a significant factor in any future hiring. As the organization widens the...