Employees from across Manchester are today being urged to take part in the UK’s largest ever survey of race at work. Commissioned by Business in the Community, the Prince’s Responsible Business Network, the race at work survey (www.raceatwork.org.uk) has already received over 10,000 responses, but only 1,117* were from the North West, making it particularly important that employees in Manchester take part.
In the UK today, ethnic minorities are under-represented at every level of work. Only 1 in 16 top management positions are held by an ethnic minority person. Ethnic minorities are also less likely to succeed in recruitment and less likely to be rated as top performers compared to white peers**.
The race at work survey aims to gain better understanding of the issues around this under-representation by asking both white and BAME (Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic) employees (aged 16 and over) to share their personal experiences across areas including recruitment, progression and engagement. This will inform guidance to employers committed to fair and equal workplaces that reflect the communities and customers they serve.
Sandra Kerr OBE, race equality director, Business in the Community, said: “As a city where 33.5% of the resident population*** and 36,737 of primary and secondary pupils**** are from an ethnic minority background, it is particularly important that the people of Manchester have their say about race at work.
“The reality is that future workforce of the area will reflect the diversity of its population. Evidence gathered to date shows that underlying cultures and processes may contribute to ethnic minorities not being treated equally in work. We want to hear the reality of race at work for today’s employees in Manchester. We need as many people currently in work in Manchester to go online to www.raceatwork.org.uk and be part of this change.”
The race at work survey is being undertaken in partnership with YouGov and is sponsored by BT, Enterprise Rent-A-Car, Nationwide and Sainsbury’s. It is open for responses until Sunday 13 September 2015 at www.raceatwork.org.uk and the findings will be shared in November 2015.
Photo: Sandra Kerr OBE race equality BITC
