The government has commissioned research into the steps employers have taken to remove barriers to workplace progression for ethnic minorities.
The findings will be used to assess employers’ progress on recommendations from the independent McGregor-Smith Review into black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) participation and progression in the workplace.
The McGregor-Smith review found that there could be a significant economic benefit by giving BAME employees the same opportunities as their white colleagues. It recommended that organisations with more than 50 employees should publish a breakdown of their workforce by race and pay band.
Business Minister Andrew Griffiths said it was unacceptable that some people were being held back in the workplace because of their ethnic background.
‘This new research will establish what steps employers have taken to haul down workplace barriers and harness the talent of a diverse workforce, helping us to assess if further action is needed,’ he said.
The research should demonstrate what action employers are taking to prevent bullying and harassment for BAME employees, and whether organisations are reporting their ethnicity gap. This should help to establish whether further action is needed to ensure workplaces are inclusive.
Baroness McGregor-Smith, who conducted the review of race in the workplace, commented: ‘This one-year-on review of the government’s report on race in the workplace gives us the opportunity to take stock of progress and consider if stronger actions are needed for us to see change.’
The McGregor-Smith review outlined 26 recommendations on areas such as increasing transparency and celebrating success, to help increase BAME employees’ participation and progression in the workplace.
