A report by the TUC entitled ‘Still Rigged’ shows that two in five BME (Black and Ethnic Minority) workers reported experiencing racism at work in the last five years and this rises to 52% of those aged 25 to 34 years old and to 58% of those aged between 18 and 24.
The research was carried out online on a weighted sample of 1,750 BME workers in the UK between 1st February and 1st May 2022. This is thought to be the largest representative poll ever carried out to look at the experiences of BME people at work.
The respondents were asked about their experiences at work, whether they had been racially harassed, attacked or bullied or if they had been treated differently by their employer because of their race.
The most common responses were having experienced racist jokes or ‘banter’ which had happened to over a quarter (27%) of those surveyed, while having been made to feel uncomfortable at work because of people using stereotypes or commenting on their appearance had happened to 26%. Being bullied or harassed had been experienced by 21% and 21% had also had racist remarks directed at them or made in their presence.
The most common perpetrator of harassment towards respondents was a colleague, which accounted for 38% and 17% said it had been a direct manager or someone else with direct authority.
Despite the prevalence of these issues, the vast majority of those subjected to harassment do not tell their employer, with only 19% reporting any racist incidents. Of those reported, only 38% were satisfied with the outcome and 48% were unsatisfied with how it had been dealt with.
Sandra Kerr CBE, Race Director at Business in the Community, said:
“Businesses need to take serious action when instances like this are reported…..Otherwise, their inaction just adds to the problem.”
The report states:
“Given that BME workers make up just 14% of the workforce, 'These findings demonstrate the prevalence of racism at work - and how that determines who is deemed to belong, and on what terms.”
Additionally, the unemployment rate for BME workers is persistently higher than the unemployment rate for White workers. Since current records began in 2001, the lowest the percentage gap between the two unemployment rates has been 69% and on average, across the twenty-year period, the BME unemployment rate has been 110% higher than the White unemployment rate.
BME workers, especially BME women, are more likely to be employed on zero-hours contracts (ZHC) and BME employees are also more likely than White employees to be employed on temporary contracts.
Frances O’Grady, General Secretary of the TUC, said the report showed how ‘hidden’ institutional racism can affect training and promotion opportunities, shift patterns and holidays.
She stated:
“It’s disgraceful that in 2022 racism still determines who gets hired, trained, promoted – and who gets demoted and dismissed.”
