Ethnic workers (including those on visas) describe their EY experience

afr.com:

EY Oceania personnel from non-Western ethnic backgrounds, along with those of Hindu, Islamic or Buddhist faith, are most likely to say they have experienced racism and discrimination at the big four consulting firm.

The landmark external review of the firm’s workplace by former sex discrimination commissioner Elizabeth Broderick was also told that visa holders with South-East Asian backgrounds felt they were more likely to be asked to work longer hours than visa holders from other regions or local staff.

The Broderick review of EY’s culture has uncovered issues. Getty

The report found that employees with a Maori background (21 per cent of respondents), Indian (16 per cent) and Chinese (15 per cent) were most likely to report experiencing racism at the firm. This was higher than the overall rate of reported racism – 8 per cent of respondents – indicating workers from certain backgrounds face particular issues within the firm.

“When asked for the ethnicity of those involved in the most recent racist incident, almost two-thirds (63 per cent) indicated that those involved were from a different ethnic or cultural background to themselves,” the review found.

“People were more likely to experience racism from staff or partners in more senior positions than themselves or in a position of authority (70 per cent) and one in five experienced racism from someone at the same level of seniority as themselves (19 per cent).”

The firm’s leadership has said there is a zero tolerance for racism and discrimination at the firm. Many respondents to the review said they had never seen or experienced racism and that it was dealt with quickly when it was witnessed or reported.

In addition, the firm’s chief executive, David Larocca, said last