Workplace discrimination against women of colour reaches crisis levels
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A comprehensive new study has exposed an alarming surge in workplace discrimination against Women of Colour in Australia, with incidents rising by nearly 10% since 2021.
The “Women of Colour in the Workplace Report 2024,” conducted by Women of Colour Australia (WoCA) in partnership with the Australian National University, surveyed over 1,000 respondents and found that 68.4% had experienced workplace discrimination. More troublingly, racism accounts for 93.8% of these incidents.
The crisis extends beyond discrimination itself to systematic failures in addressing these issues. Nearly half of all respondents reported having no formal mechanism to report discrimination, while only one in six believed their complaints would result in serious action.
“The lack of accessible reporting mechanisms is alarming,” said WoCA Executive and lead author Dr Varina Michaels. “This report substantiates that low reporting numbers are not a good indicator of the prevalence of discrimination in organisations. Discrimination is well and truly present but they are simply not reported.”
The impact of these systemic failures is causing a significant talent drain, with 45% of Women of Colour planning to leave their employers within the next year. Key factors driving this exodus include lack of career progression (10.5%), discrimination (10%), and job insecurity (9.4%).
The study also revealed disturbing workplace dynamics:
- Two-thirds of Women of Colour (64.8%) navigate multiple identities at work, with one-third (33.2%) feeling exhausted by the mental strain
- Nearly 3 in 4 Women of Colour (72%) feel underpaid, with most asked to do unpaid work (80%) and expected to do more than peers (88%), while their contributions remain undervalued
- 85% of Women of Colour feel excluded from decision-making, with 81% reporting their opinions are dismissed and 70% lacking equal career advancement opportunities
- The top 3 factors related to the discrimination Women of Colour face in the workplace are race, gender and age
- Only 1 in 6 Women of Colour believe reporting discrimination would lead to serious action, while most expect no action (1 in 5), superficial responses (1 in 6), or fear retaliation (1 in 6)
- For most Women of Colour (83.7%), their cultural identity is easily identifiable, with 69.4% seeing it as a workplace barrier due to discrimination.
WoCA Founder and Executive Director Brenda Gaddi said, “The data shows that despite growing awareness of anti-discrimination laws and psychosocial safety requirements, the discrimination Women of Colour face is escalating.”
The financial implications for businesses are significant, according to WoCA Ambassador Tasneem Chopra OAM: “Lost revenue for organisations from poor employee retention to diminished productivity is linked to how people are treated at work. This research illustrates how performative inclusion measures at work, in which Women of Colour are (barely) seen and not heard, continues to wreak havoc on their wellbeing and industry reputation.”
The report calls for comprehensive reforms, including improved leadership training, culturally sensitive reporting processes, and targeted professional development programs. Over 63% of respondents specifically requested leadership programs and mentoring tailored for Women of Colour, while 58.4% sought increased networking opportunities with peers.
Related: AMES Australia on CALD Women and the workplace equity gap
