Organizational Diversity. Another imposed cost?

There are those when speaking with business colleagues who see organizational diversity as but another bureaucratic imposition of our politically correct times. They see it yet as another burden towards their operational budgets. But is it? Studies in fact show that organizational diversity has a profoundly positive impact on businesses that adopt its practice. This includes a more positive moral, ethical and social corporate character with increased staff retention and productivity. In an increasingly globalized economy - Re: a demographically diverse world of customers - it can also provide opportunities. Organizations will be better equipped to address market changes and in turn increase their marketing & sales creativity accordingly (Ann C. Schauber, 2001). Further operational examples come from research that indicates that firms with higher percentages of women managers report relatively higher financial performance (Shrader et al., 1997) and greater effectiveness (Richard & Johnson, 2001. Numerous studies support the positive impact implementing organizational diversity will have on your organization. That being noted Canada's corridors of power both politically and corporately are woefully under represented by those of a non-white male demographic ( only 7.2% of the top corporate positions in the largest companies in Canada are filled by women, Rosenzweig & Company, 2009). This number is even lower when you factor in ethnic minorities of both genders. In the end implementing organizational diveristy is the moral and ethical thing to do and the business case for it backs it up. Should it be legislated? Where would you begin? What would the quota levels be based on - i.e. colour of one's skin, religion, gender, etc? It can not and should not be legislated other than to have laws in place regarding racism in society period. Perhaps it is more about education and if businesses see a possible advantage and return - which there is - they will adopt organizational diversity without government legislative coercion.