Differences in race, gender, geographic origin, culture, lifestyle, age, disability, economic status, marital status, and religion make employees an assorted workforce. This situation requires HR managers to create a business environment that recognizes and leverages the individual differences amongst employees and puts in place target-specific HR practices to attract, retain and motivate the dynamic and heterogeneous workforce.
The success of IBM"s HR policies meant for special categories such as women and the differently disabled is worth mentioning here. IBM recognized the variety in its workforce and made a commitment to provide an equal workplace to individuals who are differently able and need special care. In this regard, IBM organizes several diversity celebrations such as the International Women"s Day, Take Our Kids to Work Day, the Women"s Leadership Conference and the World Disability Day. In addition, it has launched two new child-care centres, a home-care project and Exploring Interests in Technology and Engineering (EXITE) camps for middle-school girls to make a difference in the world through mathematics, science and technology.