Overview
This policy brief shares findings from the 2024 Empire State Poll on racial discrimination, sexual harassment and intimate partner violence in the workplace, as well as how people respond to such issues. Although New York state has strong protections and services available to individuals experiencing these issues, discrimination, harassment and intimate partner violence have the potential to impact workers’ economic security, well-being and workplace safety.
Labor unions can play a unique role in addressing these issues by offering their members union-specific means of filing grievances, accessing resources and receiving training and education on recognizing and reporting these issues. However, numerous workplace initiatives and research endeavors aimed at supporting workers experiencing these issues have faced funding cuts or been shut down altogether. Continuing to support these efforts is essential to ensure that workers can work with dignity, workplaces can attract new employees and researchers can collect data relevant to the study of these issues.
Reported among all Empire State Poll respondents
23.6%
22.3%
18.3%
9.3%
Recommendations
- Support women’s committees and similar employee resource groups.
- Increase state, local and philanthropic investment in research.
Research Impact
These results demonstrate that racial discrimination, sexual harassment and intimate partner violence continue to impact workers throughout New York state.
AUTHORS:
Michael Lenmark, Worker Institute survey statistician; Patricia Campos-Medina, Worker Institute executive director; Zoë West, Worker Institute senior researcher; KC Wagner, Worker Institute senior extension associate emerita, equity at work
CONTACTS:
Patricia Campos-Medina
Executive Director
pec1@cornell.edu
Risa Lieberwitz
Academic Director
rll5@cornell.edu
The Worker Institute engages in research and education on contemporary labor issues to generate innovative thinking and solutions to problems related to work, economy and society. The institute brings together researchers, educators and students with practitioners in labor, business and policymaking to confront growing economic and social inequalities, in the interests of working people and their families. A core value of the Worker Institute is that collective representation and workers’ rights are vital to a fair economy, robust democracy and just society.
ws283@cornell.edu