Celebrating International Day for Tolerance: How Remote Work Is Bringing Developers Together Worldwide.
What is the International Day for Tolerance ?
International day of tolerance aims to create public awareness about the dangers of intolerance. Different festivals, conferences and activities take place to educate people about tolerance and how to be more accepting of other cultures.
History of International day for Tolerance
“Tolerance is respect, acceptance, and appreciation of the rich diversity of our world’s cultures, our forms of expression, and ways of being human.”
- UNESCO
The history of International day for Tolerance dates back to 1995 when the United Nations declared Nov 16th as a day of international tolerance. The same year UNESCO formed the Declaration of Principles on Tolerance; it includes all guidelines followed by all the governing bodies responsible for promoting tolerance.
Since its inception in 1995, the International day of Tolerance has been recognized across the globe. Several eminent personalities from different areas have been awarded for promoting this great effort. The UNESCO-Madanjeet Singh Prize and the UNESCO International Day are two awards honored to individuals who foster tolerance.
How is remote work bringing developers together across the world?
What power does remote work have over office work?
Quality talent and diversity!
Unlike conventional work locations, where recruiters hire local talent or those willing to relocate, remote work offers a wide pool of global talent to pick the best candidates. This brings the inclusion of diverse members into the workforce belonging to different geographical locations, leading to a high tolerance.
Below are three simple yet powerful ways how remote work brings diversity and productivity into the development workplace.
1. Developers from diverse locations & cultural backgrounds
The power of remote work is that it connects people from all across the world. With tools such as Zoom, Trello, Github, and Dropbox, developers can easily communicate and work together.
Moreover, due to the absence of a physical work location, recruiters leverage this opportunity to hire talent globally that fosters respect & tolerance among employees as they get to work together.
Some of the best outsourcing locations to hire developers are India, Ukraine, Philippines, Brazil, Czech Republic, Argentina, Taiwan, Egypt, etc.
2. Easy entry for women developers with career gaps
Restarting your career is challenging, especially if you are a woman. Many women pause their careers because of health concerns, childcare, or family issues. And when they decide to rejoin the workforce, companies use the gap as an excuse and do not hire them.
However, remote work seems more welcoming towards women, and the numbers say so: “according to a Linkedin study, women are 26% more likely to begin with remote work.”
Because of this acceptance, many online communities/companies are taking initiatives to support women developers in restarting their careers.
3. Opportunity for developers belonging to disabilities and other marginalized groups
A recent study covered by Forbes revealed that “people with disabilities in their peak working years (aged 25 to 54) are 3.5 percent more likely to be hired in 2022 compared to pre-pandemic hiring.” Besides this, there is an increase in remote working opportunities for other marginalized groups. This has led to more creativity and innovation in the workspace.
Today, many remote companies have open doors for developers from marginalized groups and have a strict policy against discrimination based on caste, gender, sexual orientation, color, etc.
How are gender-diverse organizations better than organizations with less diversity?
As per McKinsey Global Institute, “gender-diverse organizations have a 15% higher chance of achieving above-average profitability than non-gender-diverse organizations.” This is the positive outcome of the global, quality talent that remote work brings with it, unlike a traditional workspace. Every year, the world acknowledges International Day of Tolerance on 16th November to celebrate diversity and promote tolerance & acceptance of diversity in society.
How to build Tolerance in your workspace
Joining a remote team comes with a lot of responsibility, not only in terms of work but also as a teammate/leader. Hence, you must exhibit the traits of a tolerant and respectful worker.
Here are some ways you can be respectful and tolerant towards others and encourage others to do the same.
Celebrate diversity
As a part of a remote team, you will work with people from different countries and cultures. Seize the opportunity to celebrate and discuss the culture of your co-workers.
It could be a discussion about a festival unknown to you. Or a traditional outfit you saw your teammate wearing during one of the zoom meetings. Be open, compliment & get to know them. This will make them feel welcomed and part of the team.
Be available for your employees
In terms of work, remote work is no less challenging than office work. And the queue of long zoom meetings can overwhelm you, and you might miss a text from a colleague who wants to discuss things– related to work or not, with you.
Don’t let this become a habit! If someone reaches out, make sure you are open to listening to what they have to say. Get back to them whenever you get time.
Give them a chance to keep their point
In remote work, it is hard to tell whether someone has to say something. Often, employees keep their cameras off in meetings due to connectivity issues. Or they are uncomfortable.
Despite the reason, always take action from your end. Before the closing session, ask if anyone would like to add anything and encourage everyone to speak freely.
Have one-on-one meetings
It is hard to open up in front of meetings with 10 members, even virtually. Hence, it is essential to do 1:1 meetings with your employees. You could schedule this call once a month or twice, depending on the needs.
Keep the objective of this call to discuss your employees’ work performance and any challenges or discrimination that they want to resolve.
Final Remarks
Remote work has opened many doors for us, and people belonging to all sections of society are reaping its fruits. Living up to the motto of International Day of Tolerance, companies are welcoming remote developers from different parts of the world to foster tolerance and acceptance.
Turing is one of those companies that not only assist recruiters in adding diversity to their workforce but also helps remote developers work together at some of the finest companies in the world.
So, whether you are a developer or a recruiter, try Turing!!
For remote jobs, apply here.
For hiring developers, apply here
FAQ’s
- Who created Tolerance Day?
The United Nations declared November 16th as International Tolerance Day in 1996. - Which day is celebrated as the annual International Day for Tolerance?Every year, 16th November is celebrated as the International Day for Tolerance.
- Why do we celebrate International Day for Tolerance?
This day is celebrated to educate the public about the perils of tolerance and how to accept and promote diversity in society and workplaces. - Why is cultural tolerance important?
Cultural tolerance brings harmony among people and brings them closer despite their differences in language, attire, culture, etc. It also enhances productivity in workplaces.
