Many workers are unhappy that companies are not speaking out against racism frequently enough.

Many Americans Believe Companies Should Speak Out Against Racism

Two surveys released on Wednesday reveal that many Americans believe companies should take a more vocal stance on the issue of racism. The Edelman Trust Barometer found that 62% of respondents believe companies are not doing enough to address racism within their organizations and the wider population. The survey also found that 74% of black respondents, 71% of Asians, 66% of Hispanics, and 60% of whites agreed with this statement. While a slight majority of Republicans agreed, two-thirds of Democrats also supported the idea.

Correcting Misconceptions About Diversity and Affirmative Action

Respondents also believe that companies should correct misconceptions about diversity and affirmative action in the workplace. They also want companies to provide training on how to identify misinformation about racism and systemic injustice.

Another survey from the Pew Research Center found that 56% of American workers believe that increasing diversity, equity, and inclusion at work is a good thing. However, only 32% of workers consider working somewhere with a mix of employees of different races and ethnicities as extremely or very important to them.

The Impact of Diversity Initiatives

While diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) have gained a larger foothold in the private sector, critics argue that proponents advocate for mingling racial or sexual identity with critical hiring decisions. They claim that this leads to a decline in overall profitability and efficiency as efforts to hire the most qualified candidates are deprioritized. Other skeptics note that moves claiming to ensure equal opportunity can also serve as a means to advance left-wing ideology with respect to racial identity and oppression within workplaces.

Despite these criticisms, many companies have adopted explicit goals to increase the number of racial minorities or females in their workforce or senior management. However, some conservative attorneys argue that these objectives violate the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

The largest firms in the United States donated more than $37 billion to social justice organizations and efforts in the year after the death of George Floyd. A more recent analysis from earlier this year concluded that the number has since reached $83 billion.

Government officials have also attempted to hire employees based on their race or sex. President Joe Biden endorsed an executive order to achieve diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility in the federal workforce, as well as a plan which includes an equity roadmap calling for policies that do not rely solely on prior salary history to create payment schedules.