Women of colour are holding back from reporting harassment and bullying in the workplace, according to a new research.
Conducted by Melbourne-based consultancy firm MindTribes, the report found that 76 percent of CALD women expressed it was “very difficult to report harassment and bullying in the workplace compared with 42 per cent of Anglo and European women.
Researchers examined how organisations ensure people of colour, LGBTQI+ employees and women feel safe and empowered in the workplace. This could be through diversity, equity and inclusion (DE&I) programs and recruitment processes.
Lead author of the study and DE&I expert, Div Pillay says that even organisations which are getting DE&I programs right can do more work to ensure it’s properly embedded within their organisation, rather than just implementing ‘diversity hires’ to tick a box.
The study’s findings show employees who’ve witnessed racism, discrimination or race-related bullying don’t feel safe.
When researchers asked participants who’ve experienced such abuse about their feelings in the workplace, the majority of people felt “disempowered” and “anxious”.
Specifically, 78 per cent reported feeling disempowerment, 66 per cent felt anxiety and 65 per cent had low self-esteem.
In regards to the reporting of harassment and workplace bullying, 65 per cent of participants cited that they “did not trust the system would manage it to a satisfactory conclusion.” Sixty-four per cent of participants also felt that “it would be ignored or dismissed.”
Other answers noted by participants who were hesitant to report harassment included concerns about job security, lack of trust in the system or concern of being targeted.