<p><img src="https://static4.businessinsider.com/image/5c24eafaad95712af430a7ed-911/gettyimages-1056134474.jpg" border="0" alt="Larry Fink" data-mce-source="GettyImages / Eugene Gologursky" data-mce-caption="BlackRock CEO Larry Fink"></p><p></p><bi-shortcode id="summary-shortcode" data-type="summary-shortcode" class="mceNonEditable" contenteditable="false">Summary List Placement</bi-shortcode><p>BlackRock is taking new steps to address employees' concerns and complaints. The new plans come after <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/thousands-sign-petition-discrimination-former-blackrock-employee-essma-bengabsia-allegations-2021-2">two former employees said</a> they had faced discrimination and harassment while they worked there.</p><p>The firm is creating a dedicated team within the firm's employee relations unit to closely review employees' concerns about inappropriate behavior when they are raised, in an effort to ensure "focus and timeliness of each review, " BlackRock's global head of human resources said in a memo that was sent to all employees on Tuesday and seen by Insider.</p><p>BlackRock is also going to improve the way it communicates with employees about investigations' consequences and offer follow-up meetings with the person who raised the complaint for two years after an investigation is concluded "for ongoing support and to maintain communication," Manish Mehta, global head of human resources, wrote.</p><p>BlackRock said it will promote a greater awareness of the investigations process by training leaders across the firm, including "select DEI business leads and Human Capital Committee members," so they can better support employees.</p><p>The firm<strong>,</strong> the largest asset manager with $8.7 trillion in assets under management as of December, is also going to improve its reporting and analytics to help pinpoint areas of concern and emerging themes.</p><p>Mehta also wrote that the firm next week is set to deliver its wider diversity, equity, and inclusion strategy that it has been developing for several months.</p><p>A BlackRock spokesperson declined to comment beyond the contents of the memo. </p><p>The new details come after two former analysts, Essma Bengabsia and <a href="https://muginguyai.medium.com/an-open-letter-to-blackrocks-ceo-larry-fink-discrimination-a-roadmap-to-justice-3ef4ea537b2">Mugi Nguyai</a>, came forward with allegations of discrimination at New York-based BlackRock.</p><p>Bengabsia, a Muslim woman of color, wrote a post in February saying that colleagues sexually harassed and discriminated against her based on her religion, race, and sex. A separate petition she created garnered thousands of signatures online called on the asset manager to broadly address allegations of racism and discrimination against the firm.</p><p>"I'm not an angry woman of color. I'm angry at racism and injustice," <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/thousands-sign-petition-discrimination-former-blackrock-employee-essma-bengabsia-allegations-2021-2">Bengabsia told Insider in an interview last month</a>. </p><p>A spokesperson for BlackRock said in a statement at the time that the firm investigated, but did not find she had been the subject of discrimination or harassment. </p><p>"In recent weeks, many people across the firm have engaged in a dialogue about BlackRock's commitment to a culture of inclusivity, belonging, and trust," Mehta wrote in the Tuesday memo. </p><p>In late January, a former Black female employee, Brittanie McGee, filed a lawsuit against the firm alleging the firm "urged" her to leave the investment manager after she reported discrimination there.</p><p>A spokesperson said in a written statement at the time that BlackRock has no tolerance for discrimination of any kind, and that it conducted a thorough review of McGee's claims and found no basis for them.</p><p><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/blackrock-forms-new-team-to-help-address-employees-complaints-memo-2021-3#comments">Join the conversation about this story »</a></p> <p>NOW WATCH: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/candy-corn-ingredients-made-of-gelatin-lac-resin-halloween-sugar-syrup-2017-10">What candy corn is actually made of</a></p>
Click here to read full news..
