Final answer:
A lack of diversity can lead to legal and ethical issues, including an increased impact of discrimination and earnings gaps. U.S. public policies and organizational strategies can work together to reduce these disparities and promote equality in the workplace.
Step-by-step explanation:
When discussing potential legal and ethical issues encountered due to a lack of diversity, it's essential to consider the impact of discrimination in a competitive market. Not implementing strategies to address diversity can lead to earnings gaps based on race and gender. Furthermore, such inaction can propagate the long- and short-term consequences of not promoting equality, potentially exacerbating poverty and societal disparities.
U.S. public policies designed to reduce discrimination include the use of antidiscrimination laws. However, these can be more effective when combined with other interventions, such as professionalizing human resources to reduce bias, implementing blind auditions, and removing markers of protected categories from the hiring process. These strategies can collectively help in breaking down the barriers of the glass ceiling and promoting equity in the workplace.
Among the policies that might aid in reducing the earnings gap are robust anti-discrimination laws, wage transparency policies, and affirmative action, which, when used in conjunction with organizational strategies promoting diversity and inclusion, can foster more equitable work environments.