Tech Diversity Report: Uber’s Black Workforce Declines Amid Industry Challenges
Welcome back to Human Capital, your weekly breakdown of diversity, equity, inclusion (DEI), and labor trends in the tech industry. This week, we examine critical developments—from shrinking Black representation at Uber to Facebook’s controversial return-to-office policies for content moderators.
Key Highlights This Week
- Uber’s Black employee base declined despite anti-racism pledges
- Facebook content moderators protest unsafe working conditions
- Turo commits $1M to combat wealth inequality through car-sharing loans
- 63% of Silicon Valley’s blue-collar tech workers are Black or Latinx, per new report
- Apple appoints third head of D&I in four years
- Reddit adds second Black board member in 2020
Facebook Faces Backlash Over Moderator Safety
Over 200 Facebook content moderators—alongside full-time employees—issued an open letter demanding safer working conditions. The protest followed reports that moderators handling graphic content (e.g., violence, abuse) were forced back into offices during the pandemic, leading to at least one COVID-19 case.
Facebook’s Defense: VP of Integrity Guy Rosen argued sensitive content requires secure office environments, stating:
“This is not something you want people reviewing from home with their family around.”
Critics counter that the policy endangers workers unnecessarily.
Turo’s $1M Initiative Tackles Wealth Inequality
Car-sharing platform Turo partnered with Kiva to launch the Turo Seed Initiative, offering interest-free loans (up to $15,000) to Black individuals and underserved communities. The goal? Enable car ownership and income generation through Turo’s marketplace.
How It Works:
- Borrowers raise up to $7,500 via Kiva
- Turo matches with another $7,500
- Funds must be used for business purposes (e.g., listing a car on Turo)
Silicon Valley’s Blue-Collar Workforce: A Diversity Snapshot
A Silicon Valley Rising report revealed stark disparities:
- 63% of blue-collar tech workers (cafeteria staff, security, custodians) are Black or Latinx.
- Mass layoffs hit these workers hardest:
- LinkedIn cut 261 food service workers in June
- Tesla laid off 280 janitors and drivers in April
- Verizon Media contractors protested CEO’s home after September layoffs
Leadership Shifts: Apple and Reddit Make Moves
Apple’s New D&I Head
Barbara Whye (ex-Intel) will join as VP of Inclusion and Diversity in 2021—Apple’s third D&I leader in four years. Previous heads Denise Young Smith (2017) and Christie Smith (2020) departed after short tenures.
Reddit Expands Board Diversity
Paula Price, a seasoned executive (Accenture, Deutsche Bank), became Reddit’s second Black board member this year. Co-founder Alexis Ohanian had urged the appointment of a Black director upon his June exit.
Uber’s Backslide on Black Representation
Uber’s 2020 diversity report showed:
- Black employees dropped from 9.3% (2019) to 7.5%
- Layoffs disproportionately affected Community Operations (40% cut)
Chief Diversity Officer Bo Young Lee admitted:
“As a company that has so publicly stated its stance on anti-racism, that’s not acceptable.”
CEO Dara Khosrowshahi and leadership pledged to address the decline.
DEI Under Biden: A Warning Against Complacency
On TC Mixtape, DEI expert Y-Vonne Hutchinson (Ready Set) cautioned:
“The dirty, nasty undercurrents… all that festering toxicity—it’s still there. We must hold our industry accountable.”
Her message: Progress requires sustained effort beyond political cycles.
Policy Update: LAPD Bans Commercial Facial Recognition
After BuzzFeed revealed officers’ use of Clearview AI, the LAPD banned commercial facial recognition tools that scrape social media. The department will still use booking-photo databases for suspect identification.
Stay informed—subscribe to Human Capital for weekly DEI insights. Next edition arrives December 4.
