Workplace Discrimination and Unconscious Bias Persists, Despite Widespread Adoption of Diversity & Inclusion Policies Finds American Management Association Survey

Just Released Results of AMA's Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging Survey Indicate Significant Gap Between Organizational Policy and Day-to-Day Practices

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American Management Association

Jun 30, 2020, 12:08 ET

NEW YORK, June 30, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Does your company discriminate against workers based on age, race or gender? Is unconscious bias hurting your team? As the results of this year's American Management Association (AMA) Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging Survey affirm, simply having a diversity & inclusion (D&I) policy in place does not effectively solve the problem of discriminatory practices, whether deliberate or unwitting.

Conducted in June, this survey attracted responses from across the country—with New York, California, and Texas among the top states reporting—and a variety of industries. The results reflect the need to raise awareness of bias in the workplace and make a company-wide investment in changing attitudes and behaviors to overcome this issue and foster collaboration, respect, and trust.

Of the more than 700 participants, comprised of both AMA members and non-member customers, 66% work for an organization that has an official D&I policy. Yet, only 40% of respondents think that policy is being properly implemented.

45% of the respondents were managers. Nearly 56% self-identified as white, 12% as black or African American, and 70% as female. Among the survey's findings:

Nearly 40% have been discriminated against in their workplace.
55% have witnessed someone else being discriminated against.
Nearly 92% are familiar with the concept of unconscious bias.
Nearly 80% admit to having been guilty of unconscious bias.
Nearly 83% have witnessed unconscious bias by others in the workplace.

"At a time when the nation is wrestling with racial issues and tensions, organizations across the board have room to improve ," says AMA president and CEO Manny Avramidis. "As this survey strongly indicates, having a D&I policy is merely the first step. Managers must develop the skills to become a champion of diversity and a leader of inclusive teams, as well as an understanding of biases on a deeper level."

Learn more at www.amanet.org.

About AMA
American Management Association (AMA) is globally recognized as a leader in professional development and consistently cited by industry sources as among the world's top training organizations. For nearly 100 years, it has helped millions of people bring about positive change in their performance in order to improve results. AMA's learn-by-doing instructor-led methods, extensive content, and flexible learning formats are proven effective—and consistently evolve to meet individuals' and organizations' changing needs. The world's foremost organizations rely on AMA's years of experience, expert guidance, vast award-winning learning resources, and global capabilities. AMA supports the goals of individuals, organizations, and government agencies with a complete range of corporate talent solutions, with both live and digital learning capabilities.

SOURCE American Management Association