Sandra Kerr CBE
Race Director, Business in the Community
The future of work needs to include everyone. The only way to do that is to have a care for everyone’s mental health. But women, especially from ethnically diverse backgrounds, are often overlooked.
It is a sad fact that women of Black, Asian, Mixed Race and ethnically diverse backgrounds face more bullying, harassment and unwanted aggressive behaviour than White colleagues.
When it comes to mental health concerns, there’s the two-sided situation of female employees facing issues but not knowing how to handle them, and managers and employers not having the training on how to care for their employees. This is exacerbated for workers who are Black, Asian, Mixed Race and come from ethnically diverse backgrounds.
Psychological connections
Sometimes what a person needs is for someone to listen. In establishing a psychological connection, managers should listen, engage and try to educate themselves about an employee’s lived experience, and listen to how they are feeling. By actively listening to how women are feeling and encouraging them to speak up and express themselves, this is one step toward mental health support.
Managers should actively listen to their colleague’s concerns and be open and transparent about the situation, even if they don’t have all the answers.
Relational connections
By approaching with a relational connection, managers need to show inclusive behaviours that demonstrate respect, awareness and empathy. Managers should actively listen to their colleague’s concerns and be open and transparent about the situation, even if they don’t have all the answers. Being honest about their understanding or lack thereof will go a long way.
Visual connections
A visual connection is where managers, employers and senior executive sponsors for race can play a part. Take care to become aware of cultural holidays and allow colleagues time off to celebrate with their loved ones. Try to learn about the barriers some people face that may prevent them from being their true selves at work. Internally, make sure that all colleagues who are Black, Asian, Mixed Race and come from ethnically diverse backgrounds have a safe space to talk, with access to an internal support network.
The best thing you can do is educate yourselves, don’t be afraid to admit it if you don’t have the answers and listen. Sometimes a person who is hurting wants to speak, but they don’t know how. That’s why the best thing employers can do is one thing: listen.
