A mixed methods study of the biopsychosocial and economic impacts of workplace racism among Black professionals in the United Kingdom

Purpose Workplace racism is increasingly recognised as a social determinant of health, yet its interconnected psychological, social, and economic consequences for Black professionals in the UK remain underexplored. This study examines how workplace racism operates as a biopsychosocial-economic (BPSE) stressor, shaping mental health, organisational engagement, and career precarity, while identifying pathways of coping and resistance. Methods A convergent parallel mixed-methods design was employed. An exploratory online survey (n = 53) assessed experiences of workplace racism, reporting confidence, perceived inclusiveness, and policy effectiveness. Semi-structured interviews (n = 11) and focus groups (n = 12) explored lived experiences of racism, coping strategies, organisational responses, and economic impacts. Quantitative data were analysed descriptively and through group comparisons, while qualitative data were analysed thematically. Findings were integrated using a joint-display matrix. Results Most survey respondents reported experiencing (73.6%) or witnessing (69.8%) workplace racism, alongside low confidence in reporting mechanisms and low perceived policy effectiveness. Black and younger respondents reported significantly lower workplace inclusiveness. Qualitative analysis identified five interrelated themes: structural and institutional racism; psychological and health consequences; cultural stoicism and silenced resistance; economic exploitation and career precarity; and empowerment through solidarity, faith, and embodied coping practices. Integrated findings indicate cumulative biopsychosocial and economic harms, partially mitigated by alternative support networks in the absence of effective organisational responses. Conclusions Workplace racism functions as a structural determinant of health for Black professionals, operating through interconnected psychological, social, and economic pathways.