Are there disparities in those that get to work from home?
We’re all adjusting to a new normal during the COVID-19 pandemic. For lots of us, that means working from home. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, about 29% of us can work from home, and that number is sure to grow. Well as it turns out, that’s not quite the whole story. In fact, that very same survey shows disparities based on race and ethnicity, with who actually gets to work from home.
Almost 30% of White workers can work remotely, but that number drops to just under 20% for Black workers, and about 16% for Hispanic or Latino workers. It just goes to show that the importance of D&I doesn’t stop even when our workplaces go empty.
There are many reasons for those numbers, not the least of which is occupational segmentation, which typically puts people of color into entry level, mid-level, and essential worker roles.
So here’s a question, “When you think about your own place of work, does that trend show up too?”.