Systematic Literature Review on Workplace Linguistic Diversity: Implications for Linguistic Profiling and Career Development

Abstract

This chapter examines the outcomes of linguistic diversity in the workplace through a review of existing literature and explores its implications for linguistic profiling and career development. Based on a review of 37 studies, the chapter summarizes the diverse effects of linguistic diversity at the individual, group, and organizational levels. At the individual level, linguistic diversity affects employees’ skills, competences, performance, well-being, psychological behaviors, and attitudes. At the team level, linguistic diversity influences communication, social trust, work processes, and participation. At the organizational and broader levels, linguistic diversity is associated with organizational change, national competitiveness, equity distribution, legal environments, and the development of new projects. The findings indicate that the benefits and challenges of workplace linguistic diversity are not universally applicable but are shaped by organizational contexts, dynamics, priorities, and environments. Drawing on these insights, the chapter discusses implications for workplace linguistic profiling and career development, as well as broader implications for research and practice.