Most people would argue that workplace diversity is both necessary and beneficial to any workplace, but a recent study has concluded that mandatory diversity training is ineffective and can be counterproductive.

A new University of Arizona study suggests that mandatory diversity training can be ineffective because employees sense a hidden agenda of protection from lawsuits in management diversity directives and inherently do not believe that diversity efforts are sincere.

The numbers support this sentiment, as the study found that the number of women and black men in management positions actually dropped following mandatory diversity training.

However, the survey found that voluntary diversity training produced positive results.

This supports the common sense conclusion that companies should be encouraging workers to buy into diversity initiatives that increase the number of women and minorities in managerial positions, rather than forcing workplace diversity polices. Voluntary initiatives appear much more likely to get employees on board with policies that will help increase the number of minorities and women in management.