Reference: Kafka, A. M. (2023). Seeing through woke-washing: Effects of projected diversity values and leader racial diversity on equity in workplace outcomes. Consulting Psychology Journal, 75(1), 94– 118. https://doi.org/10.1037/cpb0000237 Companies increasingly show they are committed to diversity and inclusion—to provide employees equal access to opportunities. Psychologists studied how diversity messaging and representation affects job seekers making decisions to apply or not to job offerings. The researchers recruited over 400 participants via Amazon MTurk and presented them with hypothetical scenarios and varied messaging about Black/Hispanic/Latinx leaders and employees to assess how strongly they felt about applying for a job there. Results? When business leadership presented their leadership as racially diverse, Black and Hispanic applicants, especially, more likely applied. Because of their social group or race, applicants feared devaluation, thus chose applying to safer jobs where they did not feel uncomfortable or discriminated. Whites and Black/Hispanics responded favorably to diversity initiatives. This highlights the importance of the company’s image, supporting equal treatment, and accepting diversity and multicultural policies. Employers! Authentic diversity messaging and actual multicultural leadership representation are essential for promoting forward thinking cultures and dynamic outcomes in your business. By understanding the connection between diversity messaging and organizational climate, companies can develop more effective strategies for attracting top applicants and promoting equality of race, gender, and belief. Leaders! Helping employees feel safe and accepted will attract diverse talent.

Written by Jarret Bain B.S.