Despite efforts by many employers in New Jersey and nationwide to advance diversity, equity and inclusion in the workplace, many workers say their experiences of racial and ethnic discrimination at work remain the same, according to a survey of full- and part-time workers.
“The forms varied — from the feeling of being disrespected and slighted, not feeling as a part of the main core of the workplace, not being supported by supervisors, being ignored by fellow workers,” Ronald Quincy, professor of professional practice at the Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy, Rutgers University and co-author of the study, said in an interview with NJ Spotlight News. “Even the reporting of fear for one’s safety in the workforce were very troubling results in this study,” Quincy said.
The nationally representative survey of 3,277 full- and part-time workers, which was conducted from July 2022 through April 2023, included 605 Asian American workers, 915 Black workers, 802 Latino workers and 955 white workers. Quincy said the percentage of people who identify as Asian American who reported incidences of workplace discrimination was higher than anticipated. One in 4 Black workers and 1 in 5 Asian American workers said they have thought about quitting a job because they experienced or witnessed what they consider to be discrimination because of race or ethnicity. “Workers felt that whether you were African American or Hispanic or Asian, they felt that their opportunity to advance was far too often associated with their race and national origin, and that’s got to stop,” said Quincy.