5 minutes | Friday, 6 April 2018
A new book reveals the worrying fact that racism and stereotyping of BAME workers is still rife throughout Britain’s workplaces.
Author, Binna Kandola’s new book ‘Racism at Work – The Danger of Indifference’, highlights that, contrary to the efforts of the UK government and employees to introduce legislation and diversity initiatives to tackle racial prejudice and bias within industry, those from ethnic minority backgrounds still feel persecuted in some cases.
Research carried out by leading business psychologist, Pearn Kandola, to coincide with the release of the book, revealed that 60% of black people, 42% of Asians and 14% of white people had experienced prejudice while at work.
Furthermore, over half (52%) of all respondents reported to witnessing direct racism in their workplace.
The data suggests an atmosphere of ‘racial hierarchy’ within large sections of both private and public‐sector workplaces, with just short of six in ten people (59%) saying a colleague has made an assumption about their ability, character or behaviour based solely on their race.
A fifth (20%) have been verbally or physically abused because of race, and a similar number (19%) have been falsely accused or criticised by colleagues for reasons related to race and ethnicity.
Discrimination doesn't occur solely within the walls of the office though – 29% feel they have been intentionally excluded from work or social events.
In the studio is Professor Binna Kandola OBE, author of ‘Racism at Work – The Danger of Indifference’, to discuss both the research and his new book, which provides insights into workplace racism and stereotyping.