The Integration of Ethnic Minorities in Organizations: First Steps

The acceptance and integration of ethnic minorities in organizations is a serious problem in most Western countries. With the increase in the numbers of immigrants and refugees in these countries, while at the same time general unemployment is also tending to increase, unemployment among immigrants is becoming a serious problem. In most Western countries this has led to special regulations. In the Netherlands it has led to legislation which puts pressure on the employer to develop policies aiming at integration. As yet, this law has not been very successful.The municipality of the Hague (500,000 inhabitants, about 10,000 civil servants) approached the department of Social and Organizational Psychology of Leiden University for help. Diagnostic research was conducted in two departments of the municipality in such a way that the research itself would contribute to the solution of the problem. Preliminary steps in this process aimed at mobilizing positive attitudes among employees towards integration.