Do dominant groups respond negatively to diversity policies? The impact of modern racism beliefs on organizational citizenship behavior intentions

Abstract

PurposeDiversity policies have become widespread in modern organizations. Such policies often have the goal of improving the workplace experiences of marginalized groups, and understanding dominant group reactions to such policies is vital to their effectiveness. This paper investigated the dominant group (i.e. White individuals) response to diversity policies, specifically how White individuals’ modern racism beliefs influence their organizational citizenship behavior (OCB) intentions when exposed to a diversity policy.Design/methodology/approachUsing experimental methodology and a combination of social exchange theory and literature on modern racism, the two studies explore how exposure to a diversity (versus neutral) policy influences White individuals’ OCB intentions in two different settings (lab and field).FindingsThe results of these studies make clear that certain people respond negatively to diversity policies. In Study 1, White participants with relatively high modern racism beliefs showed lower OCB intentions directed at their organization when exposed to a diversity versus neutral policy. No differences emerged for White participants with relatively low modern racism beliefs. In Study 2, the results were replicated using a field sample of working adults in which they indicated their likelihood of OCB toward their employing organization.Originality/valueThe findings suggest that diversity policies can have unintended, adverse consequences for organizations, but are dependent upon employees’ modern racism beliefs. The results of the two studies provide a richer understanding of dominant group reactions to diversity policies by examining a downstream consequence of great organizational importance, i.e. OCB.