Accessibility Statement Skip Navigation
  • Why PRWeb
  • How It Works
  • Who Uses It
  • Pricing
  • Login
  • GDPR
  • Create a Free Account
Return to PRWeb homepage
  • News
  • Resources
  • Contact
When typing in this field, a list of search results will appear and be automatically updated as you type.

Searching for your content...

No results found. Please change your search terms and try again.
  • News in Focus
      • Browse News Releases

      • All News Releases
      • Multimedia Gallery

      • All Multimedia
      • All Photos
      • All Videos
  • Business & Money
      • Auto & Transportation

      • Aerospace, Defense
      • Air Freight
      • Airlines & Aviation
      • Automotive
      • Maritime & Shipbuilding
      • Railroads and Intermodal Transportation
      • Supply Chain/Logistics
      • Transportation, Trucking & Railroad
      • Travel
      • Trucking and Road Transportation
      • View All Auto & Transportation

      • Business Technology

      • Blockchain
      • Broadcast Tech
      • Computer & Electronics
      • Computer Hardware
      • Computer Software
      • Data Analytics
      • Electronic Commerce
      • Electronic Components
      • Electronic Design Automation
      • Financial Technology
      • High Tech Security
      • Internet Technology
      • Nanotechnology
      • Networks
      • Peripherals
      • Semiconductors
      • View All Business Technology

      • Entertain­ment & Media

      • Advertising
      • Art
      • Books
      • Entertainment
      • Film and Motion Picture
      • Magazines
      • Music
      • Publishing & Information Services
      • Radio & Podcast
      • Television
      • View All Entertain­ment & Media

      • Financial Services & Investing

      • Accounting News & Issues
      • Acquisitions, Mergers and Takeovers
      • Banking & Financial Services
      • Bankruptcy
      • Bond & Stock Ratings
      • Conference Call Announcements
      • Contracts
      • Cryptocurrency
      • Dividends
      • Earnings
      • Earnings Forecasts & Projections
      • Financing Agreements
      • Insurance
      • Investments Opinions
      • Joint Ventures
      • Mutual Funds
      • Private Placement
      • Real Estate
      • Restructuring & Recapitalization
      • Sales Reports
      • Shareholder Activism
      • Shareholder Meetings
      • Stock Offering
      • Stock Split
      • Venture Capital
      • View All Financial Services & Investing

      • General Business

      • Awards
      • Commercial Real Estate
      • Corporate Expansion
      • Earnings
      • Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG)
      • Human Resource & Workforce Management
      • Licensing
      • New Products & Services
      • Obituaries
      • Outsourcing Businesses
      • Overseas Real Estate (non-US)
      • Personnel Announcements
      • Real Estate Transactions
      • Residential Real Estate
      • Small Business Services
      • Socially Responsible Investing
      • Surveys, Polls and Research
      • Trade Show News
      • View All General Business

  • Science & Tech
      • Consumer Technology

      • Artificial Intelligence
      • Blockchain
      • Cloud Computing/Internet of Things
      • Computer Electronics
      • Computer Hardware
      • Computer Software
      • Consumer Electronics
      • Cryptocurrency
      • Data Analytics
      • Electronic Commerce
      • Electronic Gaming
      • Financial Technology
      • Mobile Entertainment
      • Multimedia & Internet
      • Peripherals
      • Social Media
      • STEM (Science, Tech, Engineering, Math)
      • Supply Chain/Logistics
      • Wireless Communications
      • View All Consumer Technology

      • Energy & Natural Resources

      • Alternative Energies
      • Chemical
      • Electrical Utilities
      • Gas
      • General Manufacturing
      • Mining
      • Mining & Metals
      • Oil & Energy
      • Oil and Gas Discoveries
      • Utilities
      • Water Utilities
      • View All Energy & Natural Resources

      • Environ­ment

      • Conservation & Recycling
      • Environmental Issues
      • Environmental Policy
      • Environmental Products & Services
      • Green Technology
      • Natural Disasters
      • View All Environ­ment

      • Heavy Industry & Manufacturing

      • Aerospace & Defense
      • Agriculture
      • Chemical
      • Construction & Building
      • General Manufacturing
      • HVAC (Heating, Ventilation and Air-Conditioning)
      • Machinery
      • Machine Tools, Metalworking and Metallurgy
      • Mining
      • Mining & Metals
      • Paper, Forest Products & Containers
      • Precious Metals
      • Textiles
      • Tobacco
      • View All Heavy Industry & Manufacturing

      • Telecomm­unications

      • Carriers and Services
      • Mobile Entertainment
      • Networks
      • Peripherals
      • Telecommunications Equipment
      • Telecommunications Industry
      • VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol)
      • Wireless Communications
      • View All Telecomm­unications

  • Lifestyle & Health
      • Consumer Products & Retail

      • Animals & Pets
      • Beers, Wines and Spirits
      • Beverages
      • Bridal Services
      • Cannabis
      • Cosmetics and Personal Care
      • Fashion
      • Food & Beverages
      • Furniture and Furnishings
      • Home Improvement
      • Household, Consumer & Cosmetics
      • Household Products
      • Jewelry
      • Non-Alcoholic Beverages
      • Office Products
      • Organic Food
      • Product Recalls
      • Restaurants
      • Retail
      • Supermarkets
      • Toys
      • View All Consumer Products & Retail

      • Entertain­ment & Media

      • Advertising
      • Art
      • Books
      • Entertainment
      • Film and Motion Picture
      • Magazines
      • Music
      • Publishing & Information Services
      • Radio & Podcast
      • Television
      • View All Entertain­ment & Media

      • Health

      • Biometrics
      • Biotechnology
      • Clinical Trials & Medical Discoveries
      • Dentistry
      • FDA Approval
      • Fitness/Wellness
      • Health Care & Hospitals
      • Health Insurance
      • Infection Control
      • International Medical Approval
      • Medical Equipment
      • Medical Pharmaceuticals
      • Mental Health
      • Pharmaceuticals
      • Supplementary Medicine
      • View All Health

      • Sports

      • General Sports
      • Outdoors, Camping & Hiking
      • Sporting Events
      • Sports Equipment & Accessories
      • View All Sports

      • Travel

      • Amusement Parks and Tourist Attractions
      • Gambling & Casinos
      • Hotels and Resorts
      • Leisure & Tourism
      • Outdoors, Camping & Hiking
      • Passenger Aviation
      • Travel Industry
      • View All Travel

  • Policy & Public Interest
      • Policy & Public Interest

      • Advocacy Group Opinion
      • Animal Welfare
      • Congressional & Presidential Campaigns
      • Corporate Social Responsibility
      • Domestic Policy
      • Economic News, Trends, Analysis
      • Education
      • Environmental
      • European Government
      • FDA Approval
      • Federal and State Legislation
      • Federal Executive Branch & Agency
      • Foreign Policy & International Affairs
      • Homeland Security
      • Labor & Union
      • Legal Issues
      • Natural Disasters
      • Not For Profit
      • Patent Law
      • Public Safety
      • Trade Policy
      • U.S. State Policy
      • View All Policy & Public Interest

  • People & Culture
      • People & Culture

      • Aboriginal, First Nations & Native American
      • African American
      • Asian American
      • Children
      • Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
      • Hispanic
      • Lesbian, Gay & Bisexual
      • Men's Interest
      • People with Disabilities
      • Religion
      • Senior Citizens
      • Veterans
      • Women
      • View All People & Culture

  • Hamburger menu
  • Cision PRWeb provides efficient communication tools to continuously engage with target audiences across multiple online channels
  • Create a Free Account
    • ALL CONTACT INFO
    • Contact Us


      11AM ET Sunday – 8PM ET Friday

  • Send a Release
  • Sign up
  • Log in
  • Resources
  • RSS
  • GDPR
  • News in Focus
    • Browse All News
    • Multimedia Gallery
  • Business & Money
    • Auto & Transportation
    • Business Technology
    • Entertain­ment & Media
    • Financial Services & Investing
    • General Business
  • Science & Tech
    • Consumer Technology
    • Energy & Natural Resources
    • Environ­ment
    • Heavy Industry & Manufacturing
    • Telecomm­unications
  • Lifestyle & Health
    • Consumer Products & Retail
    • Entertain­ment & Media
    • Health
    • Sports
    • Travel
  • Policy & Public Interest
  • People & Culture
    • People & Culture
  • Send a Release
  • Sign up
  • Log in
  • Resources
  • RSS
  • GDPR
  • Send a Release
  • Sign up
  • Log in
  • Resources
  • RSS
  • GDPR
  • Send a Release
  • Sign up
  • Log in
  • Resources
  • RSS
  • GDPR

Survey shows young NJ workers far more concerned about racial issues in workplace than older colleagues
  • USA - English

Fifth annual New Jersey State of Diversity Survey, commissioned by Taft Communications and the New Jersey Business & Industry (NJBIA), reveals offensive comments in workplaces at 5-year high


News provided by

Taft Communications

Jul 30, 2020, 10:00 ET

Share this article

Share toX

Share this article

Share toX

LAWRENCEVILLE, N.J., July 30, 2020 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- Marked generational differences in attitudes and experiences around race, religion, and ethnicity in New Jersey's workplaces are key findings in the fifth annual New Jersey State of Diversity SurveySM, commissioned by Taft Communications and the New Jersey Business & Industry Association (NJBIA).

In addition, significant differences based on political party identification and race showed up in the responses to many survey questions.

A pronounced — if disturbing — trend in the poll results involves the extent to which people report hearing comments in the workplace that could be seen as offensive to racial and ethnic minorities; women; Muslims; Jews; and those who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer or questioning.

Those polled are asked each year: "Over the past year, have you overheard things at work that might be considered offensive to certain groups?" Then they are asked how often they "hear things that could be considered offensive to" people in the five categories. The share of those polled who said they hear such comments "very often" or "occasionally" for each group was at the highest levels in 2020 since the Taft poll started in 2016.

  • 28% said they "very often" or "occasionally" hear things that could be considered offensive to racial and ethnic minorities, compared to 16% last year and 19% in 2016.
  • 24% said they "very often" or "occasionally" hear things that could be considered offensive to women, compared to 14% last year and 13% in 2016.
  • 23% said they "very often" or "occasionally" hear things that could be considered offensive to LGBTQ people, compared to 12% last year and 16% in 2016.
  • 23% said they "very often" or "occasionally" hear things that could be considered offensive to Muslims, compared to 10% last year and 19% in 2016.
  • 20% said they "very often" or "occasionally" hear things that could be considered offensive to Jews, compared to 10% last year and 9% in 2016.

Sharp differences surfaced on all of these questions by age and political affiliation. For example, 43% of people age 18-34 said they "very often" or "occasionally" hear things that could be considered offensive to racial and ethnic minorities, compared to 17% of those age 55 and older; 36% of Democrats said they "very often" or "occasionally" hear things that could be considered offensive to racial and ethnic minorities, compared to 21% of Republicans;

And, 35% of non-whites said they "very often" or "occasionally" hear things that could be considered offensive to racial and ethnic minorities, compared to 22% of whites.

Since 2016, Taft has polled New Jerseyans to gain insights into the day-to-day reality of and public attitudes toward diversity in the state. This year's poll was developed in conjunction with the NJBIA and conducted by the Fairleigh Dickinson University Poll. The survey, fielded from June 18 to 29, is based on the responses of 506 randomly selected working adults in New Jersey.

Full 2020 poll results are available here. You can also view the results of the Taft New Jersey State of Diversity surveys from 2019, 2018, 2017 and 2016.

"Taft's fifth annual diversity poll took place against a background of renewed and overdue focus on issues of race and racial justice facing New Jersey, the nation, and the world," said Taft President Ted Deutsch. "The findings offer some hope, especially in the responses of the youngest New Jerseyans. Their sensitivity to their surroundings and the feelings of others is encouraging. Yet the increased reports of offensive remarks and a sense among nearly half of non-whites that they have felt discrimination at least occasionally is a sobering reality check."

"This continues to be a very profound moment in our nation's history as it relates to racial and gender inequities," said Michele Siekerka, president and CEO of the New Jersey Business & Industry Association. "The timely results of this year's survey further justify the need to take full stock of our words and actions if we truly want to effectuate meaningful change in the workplace.

"Businesses can also facilitate solutions by enabling an open discourse among their workforce that lends itself to a better understanding of sensitivities, a broadening of perspectives and evolving education."

"The partisan differences that we observed, particularly in relation to reported instances of offensive comments in the workplace, are worth noting," said Krista Jenkins, director of the poll and a professor of politics and government at FDU. "By and large, Republicans were less likely than Democrats to report hearing things that some would find offensive to women and minority groups. This could be a reflection of the parties operating as a prism through which people evaluate workplace banter. Regardless, these differences mark yet another way that political party differences are increasingly seen in regard to seemingly apolitical issues and behaviors."

Beyond the core questions the poll has asked for five years, Taft and NJBIA added a number of new questions to look more directly at issues of discrimination and employer response.

Significant differences showed up by gender and race when those polled were asked, "Have you personally felt or experienced discrimination based on race, gender, religion, or sexual preference?" Those who answered "yes" were asked, "Would you say 'often' or 'occasionally?' "

Nearly half of non-white respondents (47%) said they have personally felt discrimination "often" or "occasionally," compared to 31% of whites. Such feelings were more pronounced among women than men: 42% of women said they felt discrimination "often" or "occasionally," compared to 35% of men. Here, too, the youngest people surveyed reported experiencing more discrimination based on race, gender, religion, or sexual preference: 43% of those age 18-34 said they experienced discrimination "often" or "occasionally," compared to 27% of those 55 and older.

Though 55% of those surveyed said some of the most senior leaders where they work are people of color and 54% said they "strongly agree" that "the opportunities in your workplace are similar for employees regardless of race, gender, or sexual preference," the same splits that appeared elsewhere were pronounced on the issue of opportunity. Republicans were more likely than Democrats to "strongly agree" that opportunities are similar, 63% versus 50%; whites more likely than non-whites, 62% versus 46%; and men more likely than women, 59% versus 50%.

Nearly a quarter of respondents said they personally worry about race relations in the workplace "a lot" or "sometimes" (23%), again with sharp divergence among various categories, including 35% of those 18-34 compared to 12% of those 55 and older; and 27% of Democrats compared to 15% of Republicans.

People were much more likely to personally worry about race relations in their local community (44%) "a lot" or "sometimes," including 51% of those age 18-34 compared to 36% of those 55 and older; and 53% of Democrats, compared to 33% of Republicans.

Click to Tweet: Marked generational differences on race, religion and ethnicity highlight of new @FDUPoll survey from @NJBIA & @TaftComms. Read the full survey results here: http://www.taftcommunications.com/diversity #diversity

Methodology
This survey was conducted by the Fairleigh Dickinson University Poll. Respondents were randomly contacted via cellular and landline telephones June 18-29, 2020, and those who indicated full-time or part-time employment were asked the questions highlighted in this release. Results have a margin of sampling error of +/- 5.2 points, including the design effect, for the 506 respondents included in this study.

About Taft

About NJBIA

About the Fairleigh Dickinson University Poll

Contacts:
Jon Shure (Taft)
[email protected]
240-426-4282

Bob Considine (NJBIA)
[email protected]
609-858-9502

Krista Jenkins (FDU)
[email protected]
973-443-8390

SOURCE Taft Communications

Related Links

https://www.taftcommunications.com/

Modal title

Contact PRWeb

  • 11AM ET Sunday – 8PM ET Friday
  • Contact Us

About PRWeb

  • About PRWeb
  • Partners
  • Partnership Programs
  • Editorial Guidelines
  • Resources

Why PRWeb

  • Why PRWeb
  • How It Works
  • Who Uses It
  • Pricing

Accounts

  • Create a Free Account
  • Log in
  • Contact Us

Do not sell or share my personal information:

  • Submit via [email protected] 
  • Call Privacy toll-free: 877-297-8921

Contact Cision

Products

About

My Services
  • All News Releases
  • Online Member Center
  • ProfNet
Cision Distribution Helpline
888-776-0942
  • Legal
  • Site Map
  • RSS
  • Cookie Settings
Copyright © 2025 Cision US Inc.