As DEI programs face rollback, study highlights Black women are still facing barriers

As diversity, equity, and inclusion (DE&I) programs face increasing dismantling across corporate America, the challenges Black women face in predominantly White workplaces are more critical than ever. Dr. Elizabeth Linos, Emma Bloomberg Associate Professor of Public Policy and Management at Harvard University, appeared on the Black Press’ Let It Be Known to discuss her groundbreaking study, “Intersectional Peer Effects at Work: The Effects of White Co-Workers on Black Women’s Careers.” The research explores how the racial composition of teams affects the career trajectories of Black women.Dr. Linos’ findings are seen as especially relevant considering ongoing debates about the effectiveness and future of DE&I initiatives. Her study, which tracked 9,037 new hires in a professional services firm, revealed that Black women are disproportionately impacted by being placed on Whiter teams. Black women were 51 percent more likely to leave the firm within two years and faced a significant decrease in their chances of promotion when working with predominantly White colleagues.“One of the main metrics used to define employee success is billable hours, and so, regardless of your race and gender, employees who report lower billable hours are also likely to receive lower performance scores,” Dr. Linos told Let It Be Known...