A diverse work environment may determine a company's success rate. Most workers (61 percent), according to Adecco USA's Workplace Insights survey that questioned 1,282 employees, feel that having a diverse workplace helps a business thrive. However, 47 percent of employees have experienced discrimination in the office.

Only 34 percent of respondents say that corporate America has attained complete work force diversity. Age seems to the most common form of discrimination, according to 52 percent of employees. Gender discrimination comes in second with 43 percent of respondents, followed by race (32 percent), religion (9 percent) and disability (7 percent).

"As the idea of a truly diverse work force continues to evolve, what's become more and more clear to employers is that achieving this is not only about adhering to regulations or being seen as politically correct, but directly ties to their organization's success and their ability to be innovative and profitable," says Lois Cooper, leader of Diversity and Inclusion at Adecco USA.

More than half of respondents (53 percent) also feel that a diverse workplace leads to more productivity from employees. Even with the supposed advantages, it seems that most companies publicize diversity rather than applying it. Seventy-eight percent of workers are doubtful when it comes to their company's diversity proposals.

Adecco provides tips in order to expand workplace diversity:

— Develop management commitment. Senior management support is needed in order to implement a new idea or change.

— Include employees. Ask workers for feedback in order to determine the success of diversity plans. Employees should be engaged during the process.

— Support local diversity groups. Contacting community diversity programs can help put plans into play. Donate time or resources to organizations such as AARP.

— Offer diversity training. Answer questions like: What is diversity? What are the laws connected with making sure discrimination isn't occurring in the office? Start a training program for employees. Possible teaching tools include online tutorials or in-person coaches.

— Encourage open communication. Promote honest communication to build a comprehensive working environment. Workers need to be able to ask questions and voice diversity concerns without penalties.

"Building an inclusive culture continues to be a top priority on most company's strategic agendas," says Cooper. "And [it] is certainly attainable with the right amount of commitment, communication and follow-through at all levels of an organization."

For more information, visit www.adeccousa.com.

TRADITIONAL DEGREES PREFERRED

Job-seekers with an online degree may have a harder time finding a position. Although more workers are furthering their educations over the Internet, it doesn't mean they are guaranteed a job.

Forty-nine percent of hiring managers, according to Vault.com's 2008 Online Degrees Survey that questioned 172 employers and hiring managers, say they have come across candidates with online degrees. But only 19 percent have hired a job-seeker with an online education.

"A candidate with an online degree would have to be truly extraordinary otherwise to merit serious consideration," says one hiring manager. "I don't think online degrees reflect a serious commitment to education on the part of the degree-holder."

Sixty-three percent of respondents say they prefer job candidates with traditional degrees when compared to job applicants with online degrees, while 35 percent of managers would give both types of degrees an equal consideration.

It seems that online degrees are still in the process of becoming fully accepted by employers, even though 83 percent of hiring managers agree that online education is currently more tolerable than five years ago.

"Everything has moved online, including education," says Erik Sorenson, Vault's CEO. "Though more and more Americans are getting educated online, there is still a bias toward traditional classroom education, especially for high-end careers and top-ranked companies."

For more information, visit www.vault.com.

To find out more about Amy Winter and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate website at www.creators.com.

COPYRIGHT 2008 CREATORS SYNDICATE INC.