Race Discrimination at Work in Europe: A Civil Society Perspective

Abstract

In this chapter, adopting a civil society perspective, the author is reflecting on the development of equality legislation in the European Union and its (lack of) impact on racial equality at the workplace. Presenting the development of the European Network against Racism and its organization, he highlights the thought process that led anti-racist activists to depart from a purely legal approach to discrimination and inequality to engage in a constructive conversation with public and private employers about diversity management. Since 2009, this organization has been through a long cycle of learning and exploration of the challenges of racially and ethnically diversifying a workforce and articulating business cases to that effect, while seeking to remain faithful to its founding principles of inclusion and equality. The author touches upon a variety of issues emerging from the practice of its organization: the difficulties, sometimes reluctance of HR managers to confront racism, their quest for tools, the blockings around equality data collection, the ambivalent role of trade unions as well as post-modern tensions between standardization and individualization which lie at the heart of diversity management.

Citation

Privot, M. (2019), "Race Discrimination at Work in Europe: A Civil Society Perspective", Race Discrimination and Management of Ethnic Diversity and Migration at Work (International Perspectives on Equality, Diversity and Inclusion, Vol. 6), Emerald Publishing Limited, Leeds, pp. 251-270. https://doi.org/10.1108/S2051-233320190000006012