Racial harassment

In November 2014, the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy (CSP) Black and Minority Ethnic (BME) Network heard that staff working in the NHS who have BME backgrounds are more likely than their white counterparts to be bullied (see also bullying in the NHS above).

Shopworkers’ union USDAW told the Labour Research Department (LRD) that anecdotal evidence suggests that racism and racial harassment appear to be a growing problem. In the six months to September 2015, the union’s Equalities Team were contacted by a number of reps and officers asking for help to organise tackling racism days in workplaces.

In a recent study by Dr Nasar Meer of Strathclyde University, which found that one-third of ethnic minority Scots suffered prejudice in education, the workplace and when using public transport, 40% had reported harassment or discrimination. The results of the study were reported in September 2015.