People react differently to different life situations based on their knowledge and life experiences.

People react differently for a number of reasons, their cultures and upbringing being two of the most important. Different cultures, whether different parts of a country or different countries or ethnic groups, have different customs, beliefs, and behavioral expectations of their members. Where in one culture it is normal for men to greet each other with hugs and kisses on the cheek, in another that behavior is seen as unacceptable and unmanly. Where white is the traditional color for brides in many countries, red is the expected color in others. The list of examples is mindboggling. Add to cultural, societal differences the unique flavors of each individual's upbringing and the possible combination of different behaviors may seem infinite.

Although human resource managers can't be expected to know all the nuances of behavioral differences resulting from an employee's home environment, they should be knowledgeable about cultural differences that impact the work place. This is especially important in diverse work environments because of the potential for conflicts between individuals of different cultural backgrounds. There may also be legal implications associated with equal treatment if human resource managers are unaware of cultural differences or ignore them.

While I agree with the other responses that cultural differences are important, I find that few people are attempting to see the world through the prism known as individual talent. Someone who is driven by competition will quickly see the world as a win/loss situation. Knowing this will allow managers to key into what to do and what not to do. Furthermore, if someone has more relator themes, they will seek to relate with others, emphasize with them, and try to help everyone get along, regardless of the situation. Understanding the individual innate talents of people can help you acquire some foresight into how they will respond to different situations.

We are all different people. No two people are the same. We live different lives and we have different life styles, and beliefs. It is very important that human resource managers and their employess have a diverse social background so that they are able to relate and adapt to individuals personal situations quickly. As a human resource manager, you should never be impartial. All employees should be treated the same regardless of their background. This is a tuff job. Would you treat the janitor and the Vice President the same way if they had the same problem? Most human resources managers would not because they are dealing with the Vice President of the company and a low level employee.