Racial and ethnic slurs and other inappropriate comments made in the workplace failed to decline last year, according to an annual telephone survey by Novations Group, a global consulting organization based in Boston.  

As in the prior three years, the most frequent offensive remarks were sexually related and were reported by one-third of employees, said Novations Group executive consultant Tom McKinnon.  "In fact, incidence of improper sexual remarks rose by four points, from 31% in 2004 to 35% last year.  Ridicule based on sexual orientation also went up four points, from 20% in 2004 to 24%. 

Men were more likely than women to hear and report any type of workplace ridicule, but especially comments based on sexual orientation where the gap was 31% to 16%.  Similarly, sexually inappropriate comments were more likely to be reported by men, by 41% to 29%. 

Among the survey´s findings: 

• Incidence of ethnic and racial slurs follows sexual remarks and remains consistent over the past four years.  Ethnic remarks were overheard by 29% of employees in 2005, 28% in 2004, 28% in 2003 and 29% in 2002.  
• Likewise, racial slurs were overheard by 29% in 2005, 30% in 2004, 27% in 2003 and 29% in 2002.  Blacks were half as likely as whites to overhear racial comments, by 17% to 30%.  Westerners were more likely, by 36% to 24%, to overhear such remarks than northeasterners.  
• Ethnic slurs were more likely to be overheard by southerners than by northeasterners, by 32% to 27%. 
• Age-related ridicule was noted by 22% of employees.  By 27% to 14% those under 34 were more likely to overhear such remarks as were employees over 55.
• Ridicule based on sexual orientation, overheard by 24% of employees, matched the finding for 2002 whereas it had declined in both 2003 and 2004 to 20%.
• Ridicule based on sexual orientation was more likely to be overheard by westerners.  Such comments were reported by 45% of employees in the west compared with 34% in the northeast, 33% in the north central region and 32% in the south.
• Incidence of ridicule related to disability rose to 9% in 2005, up from 5% in 2004, 3% in 2003 and 7% in 2002.

"We have a disturbing consistency," said McKinnon.  "Although many of our year-to-year changes may not be statistically significant, we also see no indication that the workplace is becoming more tolerant or sensitive to differences." 

The national telephone phone survey of 612 employed Americans was conducted for Novations Group March 9-13, 2006 by International Communications Research, Media, PA. 

Founded in 1977 and headquartered in Boston, Novations Group is a leading employee performance improvement organization that serves clients on four continents.  For information visit www.Novations.com. 

Contact:  Pat FitzGerald, Novations, 617-787-2163, pfitzgerald@novations.com, or Phil Ryan, Ryan Public Relations, 845-339-7858.