Racist performance reviews uncovered at government agency

Racially biased performance reviews are forcing a federal agency to backpedal on its employee evaluation process. HRM investigates

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau has announced it will overhaul its employee performance management system after it was revealed that minority employees were more likely to be ranked lower than Caucasian employees.

Last week the American Banker revealed the agency’s own data for 2013 showed white employees were twice as likely to receive a top rating than African-American or Hispanic employees. The CFPB has around 1300 employees, but its labor organization submitted 115 grievances since August 2013.

A CFPB report to Congress last year showed 47% of staff were women, and 34% self-identified as minorities – slightly more than the average federal agency. Fewer than half of the bureau’s employees reported satisfaction with senior leaders or agreed that promotions and pay raises were based on merit. Unlike 98% of executive agencies, the CFPB does not participate in the Office of Personnel Management’s standard employee viewpoint survey for federal workers.

HRM recommends these measures to identify and address unconscious bias in your performance reviews: 

Record a selection of performance review meetings By observing interactions between managers and minority staff, and comparing those interactions with those between managers and staff members of the same race, you will be able to identify any changes in behavior or language. Be mindful of privacy considerations if you’re recording employees.

Don’t avoid talking about race A recent Tufts University study showed whites who avoided talking about race in a game to match a photograph to an individual were perceived as prejudiced. “The findings suggest that when race is clearly relevant, whites who think that it is a wise social strategy to avoid talking about race should think again,” explains lead researcher Evan Apfelbaum. “Bending over backward to avoid even mentioning race sometimes creates more interpersonal problems than it solves.”

You might also like:
In Silicon Valley, this is normal
Why your next hire should be someone with autism
The diversity effort that will leave your jaw on the floor

Recent articles & video

Which countries hired the most expats in 2023?

4 in 5 employers redesigning workspace with return to office: survey

Over 4 in 10 managers hope AI can replace their teams

Increasing work stress cited as top challenge to human sustainability: report

Most Read Articles

U.S. proposes legislation pushing 4-day workweek

Over 4 in 10 managers hope AI can replace their teams

Expert calls for quarterly cybersecurity training given threat of human error