As NexMed's director of human resources, Linda Burns often sends flowers to hospitalized employees. But she has learned that what is a sincere, feel-good gesture in one culture, can be an affront in another. When Burns recently ordered a get-well bouquet, she didn't realize that the floral arrangement's white color was an insult in the employee's culture. It took several phone calls and some explaining, but Burns was finally able to smooth over the social blunder.
"There are many cultural differences," says Burns, who oversees 50 employees, including five scientists, at the pharmaceutical and medical device company's New Jersey headquarters. "Diversity training is something [that everyone] needs at every level, even managers."
As the global marketplace erases geographical boundaries, it becomes increasingly important to have diversity in the workplace. "If you don't have diversity in the lab, then you probably don't have enough perspective from the people who have a ...
