Microaggressions: advice for leaders

Help your people to accept and acknowledge that racial microaggressions may be taking place in the workplace.
It is true that microaggressions take place in every institution. It is important that we all accept and acknowledge that, as well as the fact that most of us perpetrate them at some point in our lives. If you can encourage your team to accept this, they are more likely to be open to learning about race and to playing a part in advancing race equity.

Encourage having open and safe conversations about microaggressions with your team so that you can build awareness as a group.
A lot of the time, microaggressions happen because of a lack of awareness. Create the space for people to speak openly about what microaggressions are and how to deal with them. For example, you could host a 'lunch and learn' session focusing on the topic of microaggressions, using the content in this resource.

Empower employees to speak to you if they feel they have experienced a microaggression.
Make it clear that, as a leader, you are committed to supporting your employees, that you will listen to their experiences and that you will take appropriate actions in accordance with NHS policies.