June 17, 2010
“Blatant and shocking racism” is still evident throughout the workplace and is stopping qualified ethnic minority employees from achieving the country’s top jobs, according to a new report.
"Some professions, especially those that offer the best pay, are still not perceived by a large minority of the country's BAME (Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic) population as genuine career options," said Sandra Kerr, National Director of the Race for Opportunity group which carried out the report for the Business in the Community group.
The group interviewed 1,500 people from all ethnic backgrounds, uncovering an institutionalised racism that many thought had been eradicated from Britain over recent decades.
Asked which professions were seen as racist, nearly half of all respondents saw the police as prejudiced, rising to 72% for Afro-Caribbeans. The armed forces were seen as prejudiced by 36% and politics by 30%.
"Overall it is clear that some of the best-paid professions in the UK are still seen as subtly hostile or openly racist towards ethnic minorities,” the report said. “It is disappointing that over so many decades of official initiatives ... that a significant minority should see institutional racism across the board."
More than one-fifth of ethnic minority people in employment say they have heard racially offensive comments in the workplace, with Chinese and Pakistani individuals particularly targeted.
"What is deeply concerning is that blatant racism still exists in parts of the world of work — so organisations need to do more to combat that and ensure employees know it is unacceptable."
According to official figures, ethnic minorities account for 10.3% of the population, but just 8.5% of the workforce, with only 6.3% of those in management jobs. Employers are being encouraged to welcome diversity in their offices and stamp out the widespread discrimination currently affecting ethnic minorities.
The law’s action against racial discrimination can be swift and punitive and organisations should do all they can to avoid legal issues whilst embracing Britain’s cultural diversity.
