The issue of systemic racism (particularly against Black and
Indigenous persons) has been at the forefront of public discourse
in Canada in recent weeks. As the conversation has taken hold, many
employers have started to interrogate their own structures in order
to both recognize and address racism in their workplace.
The Dialogue Surrounding Racism is Changing
Employers can expect that this renewed national conversation
about systemic racism will update the workplace lexicon in respect
of discrimination. The concept of "microaggression"-a
comment or action that subtly and often unconsciously or
unintentionally expresses a prejudiced attitude toward a member of
a marginalized group (such as a racial minority)1-is
becoming a common term to refer to workplace conduct that is an
expression of systemic racism.
