Tackling Racial Discrimination at Work

All employees have a right to work in an environment free form any racial harassment. We are taking part in The International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination to raise awareness and encourage others to #FightRacism!

The International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination is carried out annually on 21st March. On that day, in 1960, police opened fire and killed 69 innocent people at a peaceful demonstration in South Africa, against the apartheid ‘pass laws’. Following this tragic event, the General Assembly proclaimed the day in 1966 and called on the international community to make the efforts to eliminate all forms of racial discrimination.

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Tackling Racial Discrimination in the Workplace

What is Racial Harassment?

Racial harassment effects the lives of many, it is widespread and happens all over the world. It can take many forms, however it is always behaviour or abuse of a racial nature which is personally offensive to the recipient and always unwanted.

Within the workplace racial harassment can involve a manager, supervisor, work colleague, customer, contractor or supplier.

It can include:

• Physical attacks and threatened assaults

• Display of racially offensive written material or graffiti etc.

• Abusive language - including racist jokes

• Unfair allocation of work

• Exclusion from normal workplace events and conversation

Reporting an incident

Reporting or ‘speaking up’, is the process through which staff or students choose to inform their employer or training provider that they have witnessed or experienced behaviour that they consider unacceptable. This report may trigger a complaint, either formally or informally.

Making a complaint

A complaint is when staff or students bring an allegation of racial harassment to the attention of their employer or training provider when they are seeking some form of redress.

The forms of redress, or outcomes which may occur in harassment cases can include: recognition from the perpetrator, an apology from the perpetrator, action from the employer/training provider to prevent further incidents, disciplinary action against the perpetrator, criminal action by the police, legal remedy through the courts or an employment tribunal.

Tackling Racism within your Workplace

There a many things you can do to create a working environment where racism is not accepted:

Zero Tolerance

Most workplaces already have in place a zero tolerance approach to racism. You should familiarise yourself with your employers policies which will help you when challenging racist comments or behaviour.

By adopting a zero tolerance policy and acting on racism this will create a workplace culture in which racism is NOT acceptable and send a message that bullying or harassment of any kind is not tolerated.

Campaign Days

A good way to demonstrate your employers zero tolerance approach is to carry out anti-racism campaigns. This can be done by educating staff members, challenging racist behaviour and bringing sections of the workplace together to discuss the approach. This is also a great opportunity to show that racism is not acceptable in the workplace by working together with your employer.