Half of recent immigrants report to 'less qualified' Caucasian manager: survey

A recent survey by the charity ComIT.org with 500 recent immigrant currently employed in Canada suggests racism exists on the job.

The survey points to the promotion of less qualified Caucasian candidates and a lack of support from HR and management in reporting racist incidents.

Key findings of the survey:

1) Managing Mediocrity:

• 51.40 per cent of recent and employed immigrants say they report to a manager who is less qualified but Caucasian.
• 50.8 per cent say they report to a manager who is less qualified but second or third-generation Canadian.

2) Open aggression:

• A combined total of 60.8 per cent of immigrants have experienced microaggressions or subtle forms of discrimination in the workplace. 22.4 per cent say weekly, 21.0 per cent monthly and say 17.4 per cent daily.
• A shockingly high 70.4 per cent of immigrants have witnessed or experienced overt racist remarks from colleagues or superiors in their workplaces. 27.4 per cent ‘frequently’ and 43.0 per cent ‘occasionally.’

3) Uncomfortable confrontations:

• Over half of immigrants (50.8 per cent) say they have ‘looked the other way’ when a recent immigrant colleague experienced racism in the workplace.
• 35.0 per cent of immigrants feel ‘uncomfortable’ speaking up about instances of bias or discrimination in their workplaces. 12.2 per cent say they are 'very uncomfortable,' and 22.8 per cent say they are 'somewhat uncomfortable.'
• 31.4 per cent of immigrants say they have NOT received adequate support from HR or Management when addressing instances of bias or discrimination the workplace. 10.2 per cent say 'not at all,' and 21.2 per cent say 'not really.'

4) Promotion purgatory:

• Well over half (61.8 per cent ) of immigrants say they have been passed over for a promotion or job at least once in favour of a less-qualified Caucasian candidate.
• A combined 63.2% of working immigrants say they have been passed over for a promotion or job opportunity in favour of a less qualified candidate who is second or third-generation Canadian.  33.2 per cent say this has happened multiple times, and 30 per cent  say it has happened once.
• A combined 63 per cent  of working immigrants ‘agree’ (42.8 per cent ) or ‘strongly agree’ (24.0 per cent ) that there are systematic barriers within their workplaces that hinder the advancement of individuals from diverse backgrounds.

5) Culture Crisis:

• Over half of working immigrants (57.8 per cent ) say they consciously play down their ethnicity at work 'to fit in better.'
• 69.6 per cent  of working immigrants have had cultural traditions or practices misunderstood or ridiculed by colleagues or supervisors. 41 per cent  ‘occasionally’ and 28.6 per cent  ‘frequently.’
• 74 per cent  of working immigrants have felt pressured to conform to cultural norms in the workplace that do not align with their own values or beliefs. 30.4 per cent  say ‘strongly’ pressured and 43.60 per cent  say 'somewhat' pressured.

Managing Mediocrity:

• 51.40 per cent  of recent and employed immigrants say they report to a manager who is less qualified but Caucasian.
• 50.8 per cent  say they report to a manager who is less qualified but second or third-generation Canadian.

 Open aggression:

• A combined total of 60.8 per cent  of immigrants have experienced microaggressions or subtle forms of discrimination in the workplace. 22.4 per cent  say weekly, 21.0 per cent  monthly and say 17.4 per cent  daily.
• A shockingly high 70.4 per cent  of immigrants have witnessed or experienced overt racist remarks from colleagues or superiors in their workplaces. 27.4 per cent  ‘frequently’ and 43.0 per cent  ‘occasionally.’

“While we know anecdotally that new immigrants suffer bias and discrimination in the Canadian workplace, it’s both jarring and disappointing to see that it happens so openly and frequently,” said Pablo Listingart, Founder and Executive Director of ComIT.org. “Clearly there is a new culture crisis in Canadian workplaces, and we all have to work together making sure racism and bias don’t become even more prevalent.”

Uncomfortable confrontations:

• Over half of immigrants (50.8 per cent ) say they have ‘looked the other way’ when a recent immigrant colleague experienced racism in the workplace.
• 35.0 per cent  of immigrants feel ‘uncomfortable’ speaking up about instances of bias or discrimination in their workplaces. 12.2 per cent  say they are 'very uncomfortable,' and 22.8 per cent  say they are 'somewhat uncomfortable.'
• 31.4 per cent  of immigrants say they have NOT received adequate support from HR or Management when addressing instances of bias or discrimination the workplace. 10.2 per cent  say 'not at all,' and 21.2 per cent  say 'not really.'

“Challenging workplace discrimination and bias is essential to eliminate racism,” added Listingart. “It’s essential that management and HR create a trusted dialogue where new Canadians can speak freely and honestly when they experience any acts of racism … clearly Canadian workplaces are not making that happen.”

Promotion purgatory:

• Well over half (61.8 per cent) of immigrants say they have been passed over for a promotion or job at least once in favour of a less-qualified Caucasian candidate.
• A combined 63.2% of working immigrants say they have been passed over for a promotion or job opportunity in favour of a less qualified candidate who is second or third-generation Canadian.  33.2 per cent  say this has happened multiple times, and 30 per cent  say it has happened once.
• A combined 63% of working immigrants ‘agree’ (42.8 per cent ) or ‘strongly agree’ (24.0 per cent ) that there are systematic barriers within their workplaces that hinder the advancement of individuals from diverse backgrounds.

Culture Crisis:

• Over half of working immigrants (57.8 per cent ) say they consciously play down their ethnicity at work 'to fit in better.'
• 69.6 per cent  of working immigrants have had cultural traditions or practices misunderstood or ridiculed by colleagues or supervisors. 41 per cent  ‘occasionally’ and 28.6 per cent  ‘frequently.’
• 74 per cent  of working immigrants have felt pressured to conform to cultural norms in the workplace that do not align with their own values or beliefs. 30.4 per cent  say ‘strongly’ pressured and 43.60 per cent  say 'somewhat' pressured.