Race discrimination is illegal in the United States when it comes to any aspect of employment. Recent research suggests we have ways to go to build a better workplace for employees of every race and culture. A senior lecturer at Harvard Business School edited a book of essays exploring various perspectives of African American executives and their role in the American workplace. Race, Work, and Leadership: New Perspectives on the Black Experience paints a disheartening picture; race is still an obstacle keeping many African American executives from obtaining leadership roles.
Even though African Americans are obtaining advanced degrees in increasing numbers, there are few black people in senior management roles throughout the country. In fact, there are only three Fortune 500 companies that have African American CEOs, and all are men. If your workplace is dealing with issues of racial inequality, there are steps you and your colleagues can take to effect change for the better:
Embrace the Topic of Race
A 2017 study on the subject found that while 78 percent of African American executives have experienced or fear experiencing discrimination, nearly half said it was not acceptable to talk about these feelings at work. Workers of every race need to feel safe and empowered to have meaningful and productive discussions about how to enable racial equity in the office for progress to happen.
Encourage Employees to be Themselves
The wrong path to reducing race discrimination is to expect every employee to forego their own unique experiences. When workers are encouraged to bring their authentic selves to work and share their individual perspectives, they are more likely to feel truly engaged with their colleagues. It is about seeing the inherent value in a diverse workplace, not an expectation that everyone should tow the company line.
Tackle Systemic Inequality
While some programs aimed at preventing race discrimination are well-intended, many only focus on helping African American workers feel engaged; but there is a larger picture. Tackling injustice involves tapping into a wide variety of racial, ethnic, and gender groups to determine which employees are feeling included, heard, and valued. Surveying employees at every level can help bring attention to groups that may be overlooked. The good news is change is possible. With a determined effort to promote a vibrant and diverse workforce, every employee can feel validated for who they are and what they bring to the larger organization.
Delaware County Employment Discrimination Lawyers at Sidney L. Gold & Associates, P.C. Advocate for Workers Facing Racial Bias
Not every workplace is willing to embrace a diverse workforce, and that is problematic for the dedicated employees who deserves the same opportunities as their peers. If you are a victim of unfair treatment on the job because of your race, religion, ethnicity, or gender, the Delaware County employment discrimination lawyers at Sidney L. Gold & Associates, P.C. can help. To learn more about our services, call 215-569-1999 or use the online form to schedule a free consultation today. Located in Philadelphia, we work with clients throughout Wilkes-Barre, Scranton, northeast Philadelphia, Bucks County, Chester County, Delaware County, and Montgomery County.
