Racism in the workplace

A shocking report has revealed that ethnic minority workers have been subjected to racist violence in the workplace.

The study by The Trade Union Congress (TUC) identified incidents at work that can be considered as race hate crimes.

Over one in 10 ethnic minority respondents and six per cent of non-British white participants reported that they had experienced racist violence at work.

The Racism at Work survey quizzed over 5000 people on various aspects of their everyday working lives.

The study found that racism in the workplace still plays a major role in the life experience of black and minority ethnicity (BME) workers

The findings revealed that over 70 per cent of ethnic minority workers reported that they had experienced racial harassment at work in the last five years.

Around 60 per cent said unfair treatment by their employer was as a result of their race. While almost half reported that racism had negatively impacted on their ability to do their job, and almost half have been subject to ‘verbal abuse and racist jokes’.

While all employers should take a zero-tolerance approach to any type of racist behaviour, the experience and treatment of those who made complaints were alarming.

Over 40 per cent of the workers who reported a racist incident said they were either ignored or that they had subsequently been identified as a ‘trouble maker’.

Additionally, more than one-in-ten respondents raising a complaint said that they were subsequently disciplined or forced out of their job as a result of doing so.

The start of the report documented the experience of one black female worker, and she said:

“I’ve had three workplaces where I’ve had to bring grievances that were race-related (racist in nature)…You can never absolutely prove it…It’s insidious.

The ignoring you is as bad as the shouting at you…I ended up on anti-depressants and suicidal. It makes you forget who you are, your strengths, your abilities.

I’m a skilled intelligent woman who’s worked for 35 years and I ended up barely able to send an email. It’s like the perpetrators don’t realise. Leaves you powerless.

 I’m having to leave my job and take a £10k wage reduction for a short-term post instead of my permanent one. It’s either that or my life. My children/family have insisted. They want me alive (Black/ Black British Female, Children’s Services)”

The report addresses specific BME workers experience of racism and xenophobia in the workplace. It included anti-Muslim racism, antisemitism, the experiences of discrimination experienced by the Roma, Gypsy and Traveller communities, Irish and Eastern European workers.

Headline findings from the report included:

– A third reported that they had been bullied and/or subjected to insensitive questioning
– Almost 15per cent of women and 8per cent of men stated that racial discrimination had caused them to leave their job
– 28per cent of participants who reported experiencing racism at work reported having to take a period of sick leave
– Part-time or non-permanent employees were more likely to report racial harassment and discrimination

Among a number of recommendations, the authors of the report have called on the Government to commission a wide-ranging review into whether employers are fulfilling their equality duties, as well as legislating to make employers responsible for protecting their workers against racism by third parties.

Read the full report here