New research from think tank Coqual shows that nearly half of Black professionals in the UK have intentions of leaving their jobs soon.
The responses from 1,035 people showed that this rate was even higher among Black women at 52%, and disproportionately less than white counterparts at 34%.
“Just from a human perspective it’s a sign that you’re not supporting all employees equally,” said Julia Taylor Kennedy, Executive Vice President for Coqual.
“From a business perspective it shows that you’re not actually retaining and promoting the most talented employees — because you’re disproportionately excluding employees of certain backgrounds.”
Diversity and inclusion efforts have been thrusted to the forefront in recent years, with both consumers and staff members demanding a more equitable workplace.
However, the work environment has yet to catch up according to the research, which shows that 68% of Black workers and 58% of mixed-race workers have experienced racial prejudice at work.
Microaggressions from other workers have been among the big purveyors of creating a hostile work environment. These microaggressions include making assumptions about Black UK workers’ place of birth, their backgrounds, and the expectation that they must represent their entire race or ethnicity.
Even more staggering, Black respondents were 81% more likely than White workers to report inequitable or unfair hiring processes and promotions, further driving them to exit their jobs.
“I’m not interested in being ‘the first,’” said one Black female professional who took part in the report. “If I can’t see it in your organization, I’m not willing to make that fight because there are other companies I can go to.”
