Date
1-9-2024
Department
School of Behavioral Sciences
Degree
Doctor of Philosophy in Psychology (PhD)
Chair
William McMillan
Keywords
Racial. Diversity, Workplace
Disciplines
Psychology
Recommended Citation
Kugmeh, Iris J., "Embracing Racial Diversity in the Workplace" (2024). Doctoral Dissertations and Projects. 5160.
https://digitalcommons.liberty.edu/doctoral/5160
Abstract
The United States’ equality law system policy has mandated ethnic equality in securing employment and job prospects. According to current national workplace racial equity guideline figures, substantially all companies in the United States have difficulty recruiting multiethnic candidates with comparable qualifications and credentials as their white counterparts. This is a problem because businesses that place a high priority on equal opportunity are considerably more likely to enjoy long-term prosperity since there are many more advantages than disadvantages associated with diverse workplaces. This study seeks to identify institutional or structural hurdles to employment and advancement for African Americans to better understand why people from racially diverse backgrounds are underrepresented in entry-level positions in various market sectors. I conducted semi-structured over the phone interviews with 13 African American middle and intermediate managers in different fields across the United States. I analyzed this qualitative data with thematic analysis. Alongside findings regarding the importance of having racial diversity in the workplace and obstacles to achieving greater diversity in the workplace, I examined the perceived impact of discrimination of African Americans in the workplace on African Americans.. The implications of these findings emphasize the importance of pursuing racial diversity in the workplace for the psychological well-being of African Americans and better outcomes for organizations.
