To raise awareness Robert Livingston recommends a model called PRESS
which is a series of effective stages these are: Awareness of the problem, root
cause analysis, empathy, strategies to address the situation, and the
willingness or sacrifice to invest in solving the problem. It is important to
understand that racism can occur without awareness or intention. Therefore, a
proper analysis can help establish the severity of the situation in an
organization. People who are well-educated, well-intentioned, open-minded, and
good-hearted, but who simply underestimate their behaviors and buy into racist
currents, are often the perpetrators of discrimination in the workplace.
This article applies to the workplace because we can put into practice the recommendations given by the author. Most of the possible strategies for change can focus on three different, but related categories: "personal attitudes, informal cultural norms, and formal institutional policies". It is recommended to act simultaneously to work on all three fronts to obtain more significant and better results. The hard part is getting people to adopt anti-discrimination policies. It is important to remember that the best strategies are useless if they are not implemented.
I think a point to be made in Livingston's article is that empathy is a
fundamental step toward racial equity. Empathy influences and can cause
individuals or organizations to take action. There are at least four ways to
respond to racism: increase the harm by adding to the problem, mind your own
business and ignore it, feel sympathy and help the victim, or experience
empathetic outrage and take action to promote equal justice. The personal values
of each employee and the core values of the organization are two factors that
affect the actions taken individually and collectively.
It is
interesting to be able to apply in our work activity a structured plan as
recommended by Livingston, seeking to concretize the ideas into actions that
reduce racism and racial or any other type of discrimination in the workplace.
This is a very well put together blog Laura. Racial diversity in the workplace is very important. I liked that you explained how it can be efficiently managed, steps to address the issues of racial discrimination, and how to raise awareness. Everyone should feel psychologically safe at work, free of hatred. Great job! - Daniella Di Santo
ReplyDeleteThis blog is amazing, Laura! As racism has been a controversial issue not only in the workplace but all around the world, the content of this blog is very useful for organizations on how racial equity can be managed efficiently. I like how this blog provides a model called PRESS that organizations can use to address the issue of racism. Organizations should encourage its employees to raise awareness and respect each other's differences. We are all different in our own unique way and this is what each of us need to understand! Thanks for sharing this kind of content!
ReplyDeleteGreat blog, very well done Laura. Racism in the workplace is a major issue, no one should be discriminated against by the colour of their skin or where they come from. Compared to the past, most of the world has evolved out of major discrimination and prejudice but that's not to say it still doesn't exist today. It is my belief that some prejudice is needed, some cultures and religions don't have the same values as we do here in Canada and therefore we need to take that into account. Some values that other cultures and religions have could be harmful to our own values. In some instances I think that as an employer for example it is best to clarify the prospects values to make sure they are in accordance with our own.
ReplyDeleteGreat blog, very well done Laura. Racism in the workplace is a major issue, no one should be discriminated against by the colour of their skin or where they come from. Compared to the past, most of the world has evolved out of major discrimination and prejudice but that's not to say it still doesn't exist today. It is my belief that some prejudice is needed, some cultures and religions don't have the same values as we do here in Canada and therefore we need to take that into account. Some values that other cultures and religions have could be harmful to our own values. In some instances I think that as an employer for example it is best to clarify the prospects values to make sure they are in accordance with our progressive values.
ReplyDelete