Tackling Workplace Racism and Bias: Insights from Recent Studies
Despite efforts to promote diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in workplaces, incidents of racism and bias in the workplace remain a prevalent issue in the United States, as reported by the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) in 2021. The report found that 29% of employees reported experiencing racial or ethnic discrimination at work, with Black and Hispanic employees reporting the highest rates of discrimination.
Moreover, a study conducted by the National Bureau of Economic Research in 2020 found that job applicants with Black-sounding names were 50% less likely to receive a callback for a job interview compared to those with white-sounding names, reinforcing the prevalence of implicit bias in hiring practices. These findings are consistent with a report published by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) in 2020, which revealed that the number of workplace discrimination charges filed with the agency had increased for the fifth consecutive year, with racial discrimination being the most commonly reported type of discrimination.
These reports provide evidence of the discrimination that exists in the workplace and underscores the need for greater awareness and education around unconscious bias and the importance of diversity in hiring practices. To address and prevent such behavior, organizations must prioritize DEI initiatives and ensure that they are fully committed to creating a culture of anti-racism.
References:
Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. (2020). 2019 Charges filed with EEOC [Data set]. https://www.eeoc.gov/statistics/charges-filed-eeoc-fy-1997-through-fy-2019
National Bureau of Economic Research. (2020). Hiring discrimination against black Americans hasn’t declined in 25 years. https://www.nber.org/digest/sep20/hiring-discrimination-against-black-americans-hasnt-declined-25-years
Society for Human Resource Management. (2021). Employers taking steps to address racism in the workplace [Report]. https://www.shrm.org/hr-today/trends-and-forecasting/research-and-surveys/Documents/Employers-Taking-Steps-to-Address-Racism-in-the-Workplace.pdf
