The Effects of Racialized Workplace Discourse on Race-Based Service in Full-Service Restaurants

Existing studies have found that restaurant servers sometimes deliver service that is informed by their customers’ race. However, we know considerably less about the causes underlying such discriminatory behaviors within the restaurant context. In this study, we advance this literature by analyzing data derived from a survey of restaurant servers (N = 195) to assess the effects of working in a racialized workplace environment, characterized by racist and stereotypical discourse, on servers’ reports of providing race-based service. Our findings reveal a strong statistically significant positive relationship between observing racialized workplace discourse and servers’ self-professed discriminatory behaviors. Furthermore, we find that these effects are not mediated or moderated by servers’ willingness to participate in the discursive spreading of racial stereotypes by discussing their customers’ race with peers. We conclude by identifying suggestions that restaurant leaders might consider to reduce racial discrimination within the restaurant industry.