3 things employers must do to address racism at work

When a person is describing an experience of racism, listeners tend to be defensive or attempt to find parallels in their own lives, the report says. This tendency, known as conflation, is a common mistake. Instead, it is better to simply listen to the person’s story without attempting to insert oneself into it. Company leaders, HR professionals and workers throughout an organization must prioritize listening, the report asserts.

Employers should emphasize that conversations about racial issues are discussions, not forums for argument, the report says. To that end, companies should establish rules to ensure that conversations don’t devolve into debate or disagreement. Listening to different perspectives should be prioritized.