Diversity, equity, and inclusion correlates of racial/ethnic harassment and discrimination in the U.S. military

Abstract

ABSTRACT As one of the most racially/ethnically diverse workplaces in the United States, the Department of Defense (DoD) has been on the forefront in driving diversity initiatives. Yet, racial/ethnic harassment and discrimination (REHD) in the military persist and threaten mission readiness. Despite this, limited research exists identifying factors that influence REHD in the U.S. military that could be leveraged for prevention and intervention. In this study, we sought to identify how diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) factors in the workplace are associated with REHD in order to identify potential targets for prevention and policy efforts to improve racial/ethnic relations in the U.S. military. Using the 2017 Workplace and Equal Opportunity Survey of Active Duty Members, we found military, leadership, and unit DEI climate factors were the top predictors of REHD, though the relative importance of each predictor varied by racial/ethnic minority status. In particular, we found military and leadership attention to REHD to be the top predictors for Racial/Ethnic Minority active duty members whereas workplace hostility was the top predictor for non-Hispanic White active duty members. Implications for programs and policies surrounding REHD in the U.S. military are discussed.