Working Lives Research Institute
The research on Ethnic Minority Representation at Work has recently completed interviews with 185 workers who have had problems at work. The interviews have been asking to whom do people turn when they face difficulties at work.
Our findings show that there is a dearth of employment advice available and the situation is getting worse for the most vulnerable of workers and that non-unionised workers, in particular, have little knowledge about how to access (professional) advice and support for the difficulties they face, but also that unionised workers too find it extremely difficult to achieve a satisfactory resolution to their problems.
Also, an employee’s identity has a profound impact upon the way he/she is treated. For example, black women report how they are frequently over-monitored by managers who appear threatened by their competence and therefore seek to undermine them, and Kurdish workers, many of whom work in ethnic business, are super-exploited because of their vulnerable status.
Further, the move away from the collectivisation of the employment relationship to one where individualisation is the norm has left workers with problems cast adrift, unable to deal with bullying, harassment, victimisation, discrimination and non-compliance with the contract of employment. Put simply, they have no place to turn.
The power relationship at work has leant so far in favour of the employer that most employees (particularly the low paid and non-unionised) fail to resolve workplace problems, even though survey evidence suggest that the vast majority make many efforts to do so.
To find out more visit the EMRAW website or download working papers.