Black executives see progress since George Floyd, but much work still to be done: CNBC survey

The sidesplitting of George Floyd and the societal justness question that emerged was an eye-opening infinitesimal for galore successful the U.S., including the nation's apical companies. The calamity sparked much consciousness and affirmative alteration successful firm America, according to a caller survey of Black executives conducted by CNBC, but the results from the survey amusement that determination remains overmuch enactment to beryllium done.

The survey, conducted by CNBC successful concern with the Executive Leadership Council, recovered 74% of Black executives saying they saw a affirmative alteration successful hiring, retention and promotion of Black employees since Floyd was killed successful May 2020. Even much (80%) said their institution has provided much enactment and attraction to worker assets groups.

But the request for greater attraction to diverseness issues is besides evident successful the results. As galore Black executives accidental organizational attraction of Black employees has remained the aforesaid (43%) oregon worsened (9%) since 2020, arsenic those who accidental it has improved (48%). And precisely fractional accidental determination are inactive little opportunities for Black employees than different employees astatine their organizations.

"The findings of CNBC's survey suggest that successful the post-Floyd era, businesses are demonstrating an accrued consciousness of the important accidental spread faced by Black professionals," said Shundrawn Thomas, laminitis of concern steadfast The Copia Group. "While pockets of betterment are noted, the results bespeak the sobering world that translating pronouncements into advancement demands a greater and sustained effort going forward."

The immense bulk of respondents (88%) bespeak their companies did marque a committedness to DEI successful 2020 aft George Floyd's murder, and that committedness is starting to beryllium reflected astatine the enforcement level.

Many companies (41%) accrued practice of Black executives connected the elder enactment squad since 2020; 40% of respondents accidental show connected diversity, equity & inclusion (DEI) goals are portion of the compensation operation for members of the elder enactment team.

But adjacent astatine the highest levels of management, astir one-quarter (23%) of these leaders accidental they bash not consciousness that they are equitably compensated comparative to peers. And astir two-thirds of respondents said Black employees were underrepresented successful precocious absorption astatine their organization, with lone astir one-quarter describing adjacent representation, and astir 10% indicating Black practice is higher. More than 20% of respondents said determination was nary Black practice successful leadership.

"The survey results are an close reflection of the existent authorities of diverseness successful firm America and reinforces the information that determination is inactive truthful overmuch enactment to beryllium done," said Judy Smith, laminitis of situation absorption steadfast Smith & Company.

Smith and Thomas are among the panelists astatine CNBC's upcoming inaugural Equity & Opportunity: Exec Connect event connected June 28 successful New Orleans focused connected Black leadership, wherever they volition beryllium joined by Rashida Jones, president of MSNBC, and Priscilla Sims Brown, CEO of Amalgamated Bank.

Among Black leaders who said they near organizations since 2020 (almost one-third of survey respondents), the bulk said the level of committedness by their employers to DEI was a factor. More Black executives said that anterior to 2020 their firms were "checking the DEI box" alternatively than taking a broad approach.

The survey was conducted June 1-June 14 among 67 Black elder leaders, including members of the ELC, with the bulk from organizations of 10,000 employees oregon larger. Sixty percent of respondents are successful the C-suite oregon astatine the enforcement vice president level of their organization.