GERALDEZ, LORENZ F.

INSIGHT PAPER
2019-62103 MBA-620-2BC ORGANIZATIONAL BEHAVIOR

CULTURAL DIVERSITY

Diversity as defined by the presenters earlier, refers to the way in which people
are similar or different from each other. Examples are age, gender, race, religion, functional background.
While there are benefits that we get with having a diverse environment, there are also downsides that
come with it and one of those is discrimination. I am well-aware that discrimination is present in almost
everywhere; workplace included. Culture which refers to values, beliefs, and customs is sometimes the
reason why an individual gets discriminated. Just because he has a different religious belief, behaves
differently than others and expresses views that may be unfamiliar with some, does not mean that he
deserves not to get privileges that other people receive especially in the workplace. I find it unjustifiable
every time I hear stories of prejudices that is rooted from an individual’s culture.

I once experienced being rejected by a company that I applied in because of their assumption of
me. I dreamt of working abroad and tried my luck by giving myself a chance to apply for a position of
factory worker in Taiwan. I was with my college classmate who then was also eager to leave the country.
We were informed of the tight procedures that we had to go through to be able to qualify. Aside from the
endless photocopying of my requirements and papers, I also had to undergo several physical
examinations, written examinations and interviews. I can still remember how ecstatic I was when I passed
the physical examinations, written examinations and Initial interviews. I was asked to prepare for the final
interview with a local citizen of Taiwan, and so I did. I practiced answering questions and even memorized
some words in mandarin. I thought of impressing the interviewer. When the much-awaited day of
interview happened, I came face to face with a Taiwanese woman who was around early 40s then. The
interview lasted for 30 seconds or lesser because I was only asked of 2 questions: my religion and my
hometown. Imagine practicing and gets anxious for several days only to be told that my application was
no longer being considered. I went home feeling down and depressed. I made follow-ups and found out
the reason of my rejection was because they don’t want born-again Christians to become their employees
added to the fact that I was originally born in metro manila. Wow. They allegedly don’t consider applicants
who are born again Christian and was raised and born in metro manila because those people are “entitled”
and don’t normally stay in the company for too long. That was supposedly addressed from the start of
application and not in the final interview stage. I was judged. I have never felt so discriminated. It took
me weeks to move on and it left much impact on me. But because of the grace of the Lord, I was able to
find a job that I now love and enjoy doing. I cannot help but feel sad though every time I realize that there
are still companies which are not very open to accepting employees because of their religious beliefs and
culture that they grew up with. Instead of focusing on their skills, attitude and the potential contributions
to the company, they are willing to overlook it and are so unfairly measuring someone’s worth by his
biblical views.