The vast majority of respondents to Deloitte’s 2019 State of Inclusion Survey said they felt comfortable being themselves at work all or most of the time, and that their company “fostered an inclusive workplace.” However, 64% reported experiencing or witnessing workplace bias in the past year, and over 50% of LGBT respondents, respondents with disabilities, and those with military status experienced bias at least once a month. The survey also found that members of groups that experience workplace bias are more likely to recognize bias than those who are not members of those groups.
For example, 40% of LGBT respondents reported witnessing bias based on sexuality, compared to only 23% of heterosexual respondents, and 63% of African American respondents reported witnessing bias based on race or ethnicity, as opposed to only 34% of white, non-Hispanic respondents. Confronting workplace bias is important for promoting a healthy and productive work environment, Deloitte noted. In fact, 68% of respondents said that bias undermined their productivity, and 70% said witnessing or experiencing bias has reduced their engagement with their work.