Debunking the myth of job hopping amongst black professionals in corporate South Africa

摘要

PurposenThe purpose of this paper is to critically examine the facticity of the dominant construction of black professionals as job hoppers that derail workforce reforms in corporate South Africa particularly in leadership roles.nDesign/methodology/approachnHistorical literature review was conducted to trace the genesis of the alleged racialised job hopping phenomenon. Melissa Steyns (2015) idea of Critical Diversity Literacy was also applied to critically examine the implicit power dynamics, strengths, limitations and biases involved in the construction, valorisation, circulation and contestation of this dominant narrative.nFindingsnThe authors found the popular racialised job hopping phenomenon to be an overgeneralisation that lacks credible evidence. It ignores multiple variables that are crucial in studying employee turnover behaviour.nResearch limitations/implicationsnThe paper is conceptual. It is mainly based on critical literature reviews. Empirical studies could be undertaken within this domain in the future to confirm or disconfirm some of the findings of this paper.nPractical implicationsnThese allegations are emblematic of the endemic systemic racism in South Africas corporate labour market that remains an enclave of whiteness.nSocial implicationsnRace is a highly contentious phenomenon and a major field of social inequality. Black bodies confront numerous challenges that undermine their human rights and opportunities to participate meaningfully in society and the economy. This paper calls for organisations to play an active role in healing racial divisions and building social cohesion by critically examining, challenging and changing discourses that propel inequality.nOriginality/valuenBy addressing one of critical socio-economic and political issues confronting the worlds most unequal society, the paper hopes to stimulate healthy debate that can bring real change for marginalised groups in workplaces.