Distrust and disempowerment, not apathy, keep employees from supporting marginalized colleagues

The reasons colleagues stay silent when co-workers are mistreated may not be what you assume − and it’s not what companies typically spend money on in their efforts to create a fair environment.

By: Meg A. Warren, Western Washington University and Michael T. Warren, Western Washington University, The Conversation

Outlets: The Conversation

Published: February 11, 2026

Words: 864

Last Updated: 1 month ago

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By Meg A. Warren, Western Washington University and Michael T. Warren, Western Washington University

What really holds people back from stepping up as allies in support of their marginalized colleagues? For example, why don’t more men say something when they see a colleague or a customer make a sexist remark about a female co-worker?

Our research, published in the European Journal of Work and Organizational Psychology, suggests that people often hesitate to intervene when co-workers …

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