KPMG in Canada’s fourth annual survey of Black Canadians in the workplace – which evaluates the efforts that employers have made to address systemic racism – revealed that 88 percent considered it important for business leaders to speak up against racism.
“As employers, we need to maintain trust by continuing to take action to remove barriers and ensure inclusion and equity efforts are both meaningful, real and sustainable,” said Rob Davis – KPMG in Canada’s chief inclusion, diversity, and equity officer – in a press release.
Among those surveyed, 86 percent believe that their employer has fulfilled promises to provide a more equitable and inclusive workplace workplace for Black employees in the past five years, KPMG’s press release said.
“It’s heartening that Black Canadians feel corporate Canada has made progress on its goals to be more inclusive and equitable,” Davis said in the press release.
“But while organizations have done much to ensure that all employees are treated fairly, our survey reveals that many Black Canadians continue to experience racism in the workplace and within society which creates concerns about how their employer plans to keep improving in the future,” Davis added in the press release.
Poll results
According to KPMG’s press release, among 1,000 Black Canadians polled:
- 83 percent say that companies in Canada will carve out their own path from the US and will keep striving to eliminate systemic racism or biases in recruitment, hiring, and promotion processes
- When asked if they witnessed microaggressions, 81 percent did so in society and 75 percent did in the workplace
- When asked if they experienced microaggressions, discrimination, or racist acts, 79 percent did so in society and 77 percent did in the workplace
- 78 percent believe that online hate from social media platforms is spilling over into the workforce and leading to racism, division, tension, and discomfort
- 78 percent are confident that their company can reduce systemic barriers in the workplace over the next five years
- 75 percent feel as valued and respected as their non-Black coworkers
“As we navigate the ongoing conversations around breaking down barriers, it's important to recognize the lived experiences of Black Canadians,” Davis said in KPMG’s press release. “It’s simply good business to create an environment that enables everyone in our workforce to fully participate, be productive, and bring their best to work.”
KPMG held this survey of Black Canadians in the workplace from last Dec. 17 to Jan. 6, the press release said. The poll’s respondents were between the ages of 25 and 65. According to KPMG, among those surveyed:
- half were women
- 48 percent were men
- 92 percent were employed
- four percent were self-employed
- three percent were unemployed