FAQ

Who? What? How?

Blacklist is a safe space for BIPOC, LGBTQ+ and other underrepresented communities to warn each other of toxic and unsafe work environments. Over time The list spread and grew into the community-driven Blacklist you see today.

What is DEIB and why should companies care?

According to workhuman, "DEIB stands for diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging; and despite often being referred to as an acronym, these four letters hold a lot of weight on their own."

According to Gallup, it’s a matter of creating genuine appreciation for everyone’s differences and contributions.

Happy employees, more time to enjoy-ees? Something like that. Anyway, every single one of us deserves dignity at work. Ensure that people can be their authentic selves without being punished and (surprise!) productivity and profits sore.

Why not just leave a toxic company, find a new job and move on?

Quitting jobs willy nilly in this economy? Blacklist supports safe spaces for all. We firmly believe "an injustice anywhere is an affront to justice everywhere." That being said, many people DO quietly leave toxic workplaces only to find themselves jumping from the frying pan to the fire, winding up in the same situation over and over. If only there were a space where they could quickly scan a warning list of some kind....a Blacklist of some sort...

At Blacklist, we refuse to accept that racism, ableism, homophobia and general unfairness and toxicity are just par for the course in the workplace. Things can only get better if we hold businesses accountable by sharing our stories and calling them out. We will not be silenced.

What if my experience happened a long time ago?

If your experience was over 5 years ago, consider double checking review sites like Inside Voices to see if the company has changed. If there are recent reviews that mirror your experience, the company may need a push from the Blacklist and your story would be greatly appreciated.

Things to ask yourself:

- Is there new leadership in place different from the administration that allowed my experiences to happen without consequence or accountability?

- Have they since hired a head of DEI?

- Has the identity makeup of leadership shifted since I last worked there?

If you answered no to all 3, your voice needs to be heard.

Why not just write a Glassdoor review?

We recommend folks do that, too! (Though we prefer Inside Voices.) The Blacklist is a complement to review sites that gets to the meat of the matter: "Will I be psychotically safe at the company I want to work for?"

With a quick glance at The List, you can decide for yourself whether or not a company is going to be safe for you based on the experiences of people just like you. Even if you don't identify as an underrepresented minority, if your empathy drives you only to support companies that treat ALL their employees with fairness and respect regardless of race, ability, or sexuality, The List is for you, too.

How can a company get off the List?

Unlike on some review sites, companies can't contest or remove their names from the list. What they can do is be better.

They can hire a DEI consultant, prioritize making the place where people have to be to survive a place they actually want to be rather than a stress factory. They can ensure and document fairness and put in place mechanisms to eliminate unconscious bias. They can shuffle leadership and try again. But most importantly, they can just do better.

I think I've suffered a constructive dismissal. What are my options?

In employment law, constructive dismissal, also called constructive discharge or constructive termination, occurs when an employee resigns as a result of the employer creating a hostile work environment. Since the resignation was not truly voluntary, it is, in effect, a termination.

First and foremost, if you feel you are in a hostile work environment or experiencing unfairness due to a protected classification, document, document, DOCUMENT. Then consult an attorney. Constructive dismissal can be hard to prove, but it's not impossible. Following through on your case and sharing your story are just a few ways to hold organizations accountable.

My company has changed since my bad experience. Can I edit my entry?

Of course! We love a redemption arc at Blacklist! All entries are easily edited. Search your inbox for your original entry, or submit a new one with a note and we'll fix the old one for you.