The survey found there are still significant divisions among racial, gender, and political lines.
Brent Johnson | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com
In New Jersey — considered one of the nation’s most diverse states — 80% of employees say they interact with those of other races daily at work, compared to 68% nationwide. The poll also found 44% of New Jersey employees say they have been personally discriminated against either “often” or “occasionally” based on their race, gender, religion, or sexual preference.
This is the first time the annual State of Diversity poll includes nationwide data after five years of looking at trends in New Jersey.73% of New Jerseyans said all employees are treated the same at their work regardless of their race, ethnicity, gender, or sexual preference, compared to 75% nationally. Black workers are much more likely than Hispanic and white respondents to believe some employees are treated differently than others.
Michele Siekerka, president of the NJBIA, said it’s “encouraging to see New Jersey taking a lead over other states in interactions between races and ethnicity in the workplace — especially as we are one of the most diverse states in the nation.”