The Code Noire 2018 Diversity Report is here! Check out the findings and share your thoughts on the effectiveness of diversity in the workplace. #CodeNoire #DiversityReport

1. Code Noire
2018 Diversity Report

2. The Premise
Diversity is the trending buzzword of 2018. Every sector from
marketing, to tech, to entertainment is promoting how they
are shifting their focus to diversity hiring and implementing
diversity programs within their companies.
However, how do these diversity initiatives affect Black
Employees? Furthermore, for those currently working in these
industries, how is the current diversity culture and are current
diversity programs really working?
Our report takes a look at how Black employees are
experiencing work, microaggressions and diversity in 2018.
We polled over 1,000 people and had over 100 responses
chronicling the experience of the Black employee in the
workplace.

3. The Industries Covered
4%

4. Demographics: Location & Gender
What State Do You Reside In?
What Gender Do You Identify With?

5. Demographics- Company Information
How Long Have You Been In Your Current Position?
How Many People Work At Your Company?

6. Demographics- Black Workers
How Many Black People Work At Your Company?

7. Introspect: Black Support
How Would You Compare The Percentage Of Black Workers At Your Job
Compared To Other Ethnicities?
Do You Feel Your Company Does An Adequate Job Of Supporting Black
Workers?

8. Access To Resources
Are There Any Black Workers Available To You In A Mentoring Capacity?
If Not, Do You Think It Would Be Helpful To Have Some?

9. Discussion: The Role Of HR Support
Do You Feel Your HR Department Is Equipped To Adequately Address Racial
Concerns or Microaggressions?
No, the small administration (6 people) are all older, conservative White Americans. Many hats are worn,
therefore everything is pretty much shared. I just keep to myself.
No, just based on the simple fact that not many people of color work here, or have worked here. It does not
make me feel as though they are equipped to address racial situations. I feel as though they would dismiss
them.
No, my HR is not objective, they have Stanford's back until the end. There are no black people in my HR that
would understand.
No, I don’t think anything will happen from it except maybe alienating people.
No, because most HR are “All Lives Matter” white women who are in no way equipped to handle racial issues
No, they are uncomfortable hearing about it.
No, I work with a bunch of white liberals who ignore race whenever possible. "We're all the same".
Yes, biased answer, I'm one of several women of color who sit in HR - we bring our interests and our unique
experiences to the table when we are executing our role so dealing with bias effectively is something we take
personally
No, because I would be the stereotype of an angry black woman who just wants to complain
No, the mention of race related concerns are taboo, and provide additional scrutiny on people who already
deal with microagressions in the work space.

10. Discussion: The Role Of HR Support
Are You Comfortable Discussing A Racially Biased Work Related Challenge
With HR?
No, mainly because we are a small organization and don’t have a HR department. Also, I work with white
liberals who assume that because they do “race equity” work that they are absolved of racism,
microaggressions, etc.
No, my entire HR team is white
No, HR is not there to help the employee. HR is there to protect the company.
No, I don’t even know who HR is
No, I have tried talking with them with things likes wages but they are more interested in tackling gender
inequality over race.
Yes, I work in a predominately black workplace
No, they grew up experiencing and seeing only one perspective... privilege.
No, I feel HR is too disconnected to understand the unfortunate racial realities of my race.
No, I have a fear of retaliation
No, I might come off as angry black women to the white HR people; have yet to meet a black person in HR
No, as a large 80,000 company, misrepresentation at the senior executive level has been poor. The last
several Diversity Heads in HR have all left after a few years in the job due to the lack of ability to make a
difference.

11. Microaggressions and Diversity
Have You Encountered Any Microaggressions In The Workplace?
Yes, it was earlier in my career - HR told me I needed to have thick skin. I left shortly after.
No, people mainly leave me alone.
Yes, nothing was resolved. I just went on with my day.
Yes, about my hair, using the word ghetto repeatedly then staring at me.
.
Yes, my boss was humming an older country song, which I happened to know. Then he randomly stated he
doesn't like rap music and looked at me. It wasn't resolved by anyone, I just asked why he assumed I would
care and what made him make that statement. He got uncomfortable and I just stared at him.
Yes, I did report it and I was eventually fired for demanding action.
Yes, I mentioned it to HR and they let it fester until it erupted into a major blow-out.
Yes, and I was told this is the mission we signed up for, deal with it or leave
Yes, there are comments made about my hair. For I am natural, and I wear my hair as it grows out of my head. I
have never addressed it to the company for I felt that it would not make a difference sadly.
Yes, however, I did not alert anyone. I did not want to bring attention to the issue and risk my job.
it was not resolved

12. Microaggressions and Diversity
Do You Feel Your Company Truly Has The Goal Of Diversity & Inclusiveness
In Mind?
Yes, the company definitely is diverse and has several inclusion programs.
No, black people are probably less than 1% of my company - I am the only black male in the entire company
Increase in diverse hires
No, they have LGBTQ and Asians fulfill their diversity goals
No, my job does a good job at ensuring our vendors, etc are black and/or reflect baltimore’s demographics.
We are a small staff of 5 and my position is part-time. They didn’t actively try to recruit a person of color, its
happenstance that I am here.
Yes, We have 5 employees and 4 are black and 1 Latino.
No, they use their existing channels where the pool of black applicants isn’t good in the first place
No, they need to broaden pipeline and mitigate unconscious bias
Kind of, there is a weird new hiring practice where they have to have one person of color considered for each
position
No, they just want to look good on their website..
No, according to them, black talent doesn't exist... I guess I'm my people's saving grace in the
advertising/design field....

13. Hiring For Diversity and Employment
Do You Feel As Though Your Place Of Employment Does A Good Job Of
Securing Diverse Talent?
No, there is not enough recruiting in diverse spaces
Yes, as a member of the HR team and someone who lead's diversity and inclusion initiatives, I'm responsible
for creating and managing such initiatives.
No, they’re not concerned in developing diverse talent in my opinion.
Yes, I have seen black staff members increase by 65% since I’ve been working there.
No, it’s not part of their mission and objective. Difficult due to be an European company where they are
dealing with overall sentiment that currently exists in Europe.
No, they don't really hire anyone, and are short-sighted for seeing how the company will be able to sustain in
the next 5-10 years since most are looking to retire by then.
No, they overlook diverse talent by making an excuse that they do not exist.
No, they don't make it a comfortable place to work for POC. That’s why there are none. And they don't try to
reach out and be inclusive either. But there are TONS of white women.
Yes, but at the Jr. Level. We still struggle with mid-sr. level talent

14. Hiring For Diversity and Employment
Have You Seen Any Initiatives At Your Place Of Employment That Are Geared
Towards Diversity and Inclusion?
DO You Know What The Diversity Policy Is For Your Company?

15. Corporate Diversity Policies
Do The Promotional Campaigns For Your Company Reflect The Hiring
Reality Of The Company Workforce?
Yes, we are 100% black owned and operated.
No, the majority of my coworkers come from a specific background which doesn’t speak to diversity.
Yes, our leadership and employees are pretty diverse. My department is one of the most racially/culturally
diverse in the office. We look at skills, experience and core values more than anything else.
No it’s majority Caucasian workers

16. Corporate Diversity Policies
Does Your Company Have A Racial Glass Ceiling?
Focused On Diversity Culture, How Likely Are You To Suggest Your Company
To A Friend For Hiring?

17. The Testimonials: Is there anything
you’d like to share about the diversity
culture of your company?
Diversity is fulfilled by Asians.
We need to create more opportunities instead of demanding they give us a bigger piece of their pie.
Advertising is a white male thing.
It needs work.
It seems to be a topic of conversation as a marketing vehicle. Also it is only centered around gender diversity.
There is none. I don't plan on staying long, but it's good to experience because it makes me aware of what I
will/will not tolerate in terms of diversity (or lack thereof) in the workplace.
My company does a very good job but my previous employers in the Bay Area were terrible. You would have
thought we were in Utah instead of San Francisco.
Stanford Health Care needs some help.
Public institutions have the option to not intentional recruit diverse talent thanks to Prop 209.
I’d like to think my company is pretty progressive when it comes to diversity (we were a top company ranked
on Forbes top companies for Diversity + a handful of active and supported employee belonging councils) so I
think we have to keep pushing to get our faces seen and heard in the workplace.
There should be a way to report companies like this one without fear of retaliation and instead with ability to
launch a full investigation whereby they are fined.
Diversity and inclusion is a term that makes people feel good about themselves, it does not really speak to the
hard work that needs to be done by the white managers who create toxic work environments.
At the end of the day, I work in network television so it’s great to have on your resume. It’s one of the oldest
networks and least diverse networks. I doubt this will change, but I wouldn’t tell another black person not to
work here because MOST networks are just like this.
Black ownership matters.
I think we are still in the theory stage but need to ramp up more in the action stage when it comes to diversity
hires for Black, Hispanic, and Native American people.
They have to DO BETTER.

18. The Solution
What next? Where do we go from here?
While there is no clear answer, we at Code Noire are trying to
take steps to have these voices and the voices of all Black
Employees heard in the workplace.
Help us address and navigate these challenges by
1) Following us online and helping us increase our presence
to have this conversation
2) Joining the conversation as we talk about solutions that can
help everyone be comfortable in the workplace.
3) Suggesting ways in which we can implement programs that
address issues at the corporate level that can inspire real
change.
To join the conversation, join us at linkedin.com/company/code-noire