Join the Peter P. Dhillon Centre for Business Ethics and Organizational Behaviour & Human Resources Division for a JEDDI (Justice, Equity, Diversity, Decolonization, & Inclusion) Seminar.
Camellia Bryan (University of British Columbia) will be presenting her work on “DEI U-Turns and Downward Spirals: Understanding Negative Turns in DEI Attitudes”.
When: Fri., Feb. 27, 2026 at 1:00-2:30pm Pacific
Where: UBC Sauder School of Business & Zoom
To register: https://bit.ly/JEDDI-Bryan
About the talk
DEI U-Turns and Downward Spirals: Understanding Negative Turns in DEI Attitudes
What causes employees to shift from neutral and even positive attitudes towards DEI initiatives towards negative attitudes? To understand this phenomenon, we investigate this question through a qualitative study with employees who experienced negative shifts in their attitudes towards DEI initiatives. Our findings reveal that participants’ social location within systems of power and social hierarchy significantly shapes their shift in attitudes. We identify key drivers of this shift, including perceived exclusion from DEI initiatives and workplace outcomes such as forced compliance and resigned silence. Our findings highlight the multifaceted nature of attitudes towards DEI initiatives, illustrating how employees understand shifts in their own DEI attitudes and the role of their positionality in social hierarchies in forming these attitudes. This research develops a new perspective on DEI attitudes by showing that support for DEI initiatives is not inherently enduring and can, in some cases, give rise to opposition among marginalized groups, including intended beneficiaries.
About the presenter
Camellia Bryan is an assistant professor in the Organizational Behaviour and Human Resources Division of UBC Sauder School of Business. She was previously a post-doctoral fellow at Rotman School of Management (University of Toronto) and the Gender and the Economy (GATE) Institute in Toronto, Canada.
Her research focuses on uncovering the drivers of resistance and backlash against diversity in organizations. She delves into the cognitive, emotional, and social processes underpinning individuals’ rejection or resistance to diversity initiatives. This understanding guides the development of effective interventions to overcome these barriers to diversity and foster inclusion.
About the JEDDI Seminar Series
The Peter P. Dhillon Centre for Business Ethics launched the JEDDI (Justice, Equity, Diversity, Decolonization, & Inclusion) Seminar Series to provide a platform for academic and business thought leaders to share their experiences and strategies for creating more just, equitable, diverse, decolonized, and inclusive workplaces. Learn more.