Women of Color Continue to Lose Ground in the Workplace, Despite Companies’ Efforts to Attract and Retain Them, According to New Study From the Billie Jean King Leadership Initiative and Nformation
Today’s workplace does not equitably support, endorse or promote Women of Color (WOC), according to an in-depth new report by the Billie Jean King Leadership Initiative (BJKLI) and nFormation of more than 1,500 women. This data emerges even when companies are working to prioritize diversity, equity and inclusion in their organizations. Notably, regarding WOC:
70% say they must prove themselves repeatedly
66% say they lack sponsors and mentors in the workplace (only 9% of the white women surveyed said they currently sponsor a Woman of Color in their company)
57% believe damaging stereotypes have hurt their career
25% feel their supervisors do not respect their opinions
19% are less likely to feel their skills are valued
HR Technology News: HR Tech RADAR 2021: Top 250 HR SaaS Technology Companies You Should Follow
“Women of Color are leaving the workforce in historic numbers,” said Billie Jean King, co-founder of the BJKLI which she founded in 2014 to foster workplaces that are free of discrimination and inequality. “We need to listen to women of color to uncover how to best support and champion them. This research is a step toward learning directly from women of color so that allies and changemakers can better understand how to lead from a place of change.”
“Organizations are losing vital talent and Women of Color are the solution,” said Deepa Purushothaman, co-founder of nFormation. “We have a unique opportunity to reimagine a new way forward that centers work on the needs and wants of Women of Color, which in turn, will drive success not only for business, but for everyone.”
“It is not often our voices and our experiences are centered in workplace discussions,” said Rha Goddess, co-founder of nFormation, “we know what needs to be fixed, and now is the moment for companies to listen to us because if you don’t, we will take our gifts elsewhere.”
HR Technology News: Commit Unveils New Data on the Career Needs of Software Developers in Canada
The study also put forward an array of solutions that allies and companies can take, one of which is providing equal pay to their employees. Women of color are 25% less likely to say they are fairly compensated to white women in the same position. Companies can – and should – conduct independent audits of their compensation practices to ensure an equitable workplace. Another first step could be establishing more flexible work solutions – 97% of WOC want a more flexible work environment. Organizations should also establish more formal processes – for example, 96% of respondents feel that companies must establish better processes to investigate racism and discrimination at work.
Corporations should also consider how to better support and develop their talent pipeline – 92% of WOC agree companies must establish specific goals for hiring and promoting WOC into influential positions and 72% of WOC want external coaching with experts who understand their unique challenges. For individuals in leadership positions, the survey clearly showed that they need to be true advocates and mentors.
Finally, when it comes to DE&I, 96% of WOC believe companies need to establish “true and honest” commitments. As one participant said, “This is a business problem; it’s a human resources issue. We innovate around sales and new product development. Let’s innovate around diversity and inclusion.”
HR Technology News: National Center of Excellence Launched to Expand, Align Apprenticeship With Nation’s Workforce and Education Systems
[To share your insights with us, please write to sghosh@martechseries.com]