Page 15 - Anti-Racism Pocketbook for Schools and Academies
P. 15
The Need for Ethnically Diverse Leaders in the Workplace
While many organisations are working to build more inclusive
and tolerant workplaces, there is still more work to be done due
to the lack of ethnically diverse leaders in the workplace. With a
lack of opportunities, the absence of role models, and
discrimination, it can be difficult for ethnically diverse individuals
to gain management positions within organisations. In 2020,
only:
• 51 of the top 1,097 workplace roles in the UK are held by
ethnically diverse people.
• In the sectors of law, police and security and in the arts,
culture and sport groups, there was only 1 ethnically diverse
senior leader.
• In business and finance, ethnically diverse people
represented 5% (7 out of 155).
• In the media and advertising sector, there was 7% ethnically
diverse individuals (5 out of 76).
Although ethnically diverse employees have the same skill sets
and work experience as those from a white British background,
there is often a significant gap between the career progression of
both groups. According to CIPD, ethnically diverse employees feel
that discrimination in the workplace is a problem more
experienced by them rather than those from a white British
background.
Having a different identities/background outside of the majority
in the workplace can cause some employees to encounter
barriers on the opportunities available to them.
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