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A psychologically safe workplace may be a basic need for employees, but not everyone has a safe space to work. A new study finds that many black women feel emotionally unsafe at work.
data. According to June’s “Black Women’s Self-Care Status,” more than one-third of black women “have quit their jobs because they feel unsafe.” Report by Exhale, a mental wellness platform for Black women. Additionally, only 50% of the 1,005 Black women surveyed said their work environment was safe enough for them to openly share their feelings.
Krystal Allen, CEO and founder of DE&I consulting firm K. Allen Consulting, told HR Brew that Black employees often feel unsafe when power relationships are imbalanced. “We need to look at the structure of formal power and decision-making within organizations,” she said, noting that Black women are often absent from executive leadership and boards of directors.
“If this is the table being set and certain voices, perspectives, lived experiences and backgrounds are missing, there will be a lack of attention to the specific nuances and needs of certain demographics,” she added. .
What HR can do. Allen told HR Brew that it is the responsibility of HR leaders to create a workplace that is conducive to mental health. She said this starts with knowing how Black women feel in her workplace. One-on-one conversations, focus groups, and exit interviews with Black women are critical to understanding which needs are not being met.
“I think there is something to be said about the art and science of listening,” she said. And ultimately, psychological and emotional safety in the workplace. ”
Allen also said that while it’s important to listen to Black women’s voices, it’s equally important to believe them because Black women often assume their experiences aren’t real. “Moments and incidents that are harmful, offensive, and psychologically and emotionally dangerous often occur, from microaggressions to very macro incidents,” she explained.
“When people don’t believe in us, we feel alone, we feel like strangers, we feel like there’s something wrong with us.”
Finally, Allen said Black women should be consulted about decisions in the workplace. “We can’t create an environment that accepts Black women unless Black women let us know that this is a safe space for Black women.”
