Today, we announced the findings from our survey on Race & Workplace Trauma During the Age of #BlackLivesMatter. The goal of this survey was to explore if, and how employees have been impacted by the disproportionate number of killings of black men and women by police, and the implications for the workplace.
During the summer of 2016, following the murders of Alton Sterling and Philando Castile, The Winters Group hosted a series of Virtual Learning Labs that examined race-based trauma, and provided leaders, allies, and coping employees with strategies for creating spaces for authentic dialogue and engaging in self-care. As part of the Race & Trauma series, attendees were also invited to participate in a survey that gauged their reactions to, and perspectives towards race relations, the recent police shootings, and the impact these tragedies have in their work environments. Four hundred (400) respondents completed the survey.
Findings from the survey suggest some commonalities and distinct differences across races. For example, Whites and Blacks who participated in the survey shared similar perceptions towards the state of race relations. Nearly ½ of all Black and White respondents believe race relations are getting worse. Alternatively, survey responses indicate disparities in how Blacks and Whites experience race and feel understood in the workplace. Fifty-three percent (53%) of Blacks believe their co-workers have little to no understanding of their feelings around recent events. Whereas, 75% of Whites believe they somewhat or fully understand their coworkers’ feelings.
In addition to quantitative data, the findings also include compelling narratives and comments shared by respondents. A free summary of the survey findings can be downloaded, here.
