A new training course that enables businesses to effectively and productively manage a culturally diverse workforce has been launched.

’While many employers are aware of the changing demographic of the Irish workforce, they are not aware of the practical implications,’ says Stephen Milford of Griffin Training in Swords, Co Dublin. ‘The current legal situation in Ireland dictates that employers need to make special provisions for their non-national staff and companies who treat their non-Irish employees in the same manner as their Irish employees can, in some cases, be found to be discriminatory.’

Apart from the legal aspects of the multicultural workforce, Griffin’s programme also provides management and supervisors with an understanding of cultural value systems and concepts such as respect, success, time management, hierarchy and communication.

Employees on the other hand are introduced to the complexities of working within a multi-cultural team. Non-Irish employees are introduced to Irish culture and expectations, while both Irish and non-Irish employees gain practical intercultural communication techniques and strategies.

Visit www.griffin.ie for more information on this training programme.

Currently ten per cent of the Irish workforce consists of non-nationals, the majority originating from Eastern Europe and Africa, and it is estimated that non-national employees fill nearly fifty per cent of all new jobs.