Survey finds 64% of British Jews experience antisemitism in the workplace

Recent research carried out by the Board of Deputies of British Jews, the Jewish Leadership Council (JLC) and Work Avenue has found that Jews in Great Britain have been experiencing high levels of antisemitism at work, with few avenues available for support and change.

The Workplace Antisemitism Survey, conducted at the end of 2024, aimed to assess the ongoing levels of hostility Jewish individuals faced in the workplace during the year following the Oct. 7, 2023, attacks.

Of the 427 respondents to the survey, almost two-thirds (64%) reported that they had experienced antisemitism at least occasionally. 

Describing the issue as a “scourge,” Work Avenue CEO Debbie Lebrett said the results were “shocking, but sadly not surprising.” 

According to the report, 45% of respondents said they had received some level of support, but this was largely in the form of personal expressions of empathy rather than tangible change in the organization.

Lebrett stated, “The workplace should be a safe space. To see not only a high incidence of antisemitism but also a failure to address it, is deeply concerning. Work Avenue is committed to working with the Board of Deputies, the JLC and other communal organizations to combat this scourge.”

Among the sectors highlighted in the survey, healthcare had the highest reported incidence of antisemitic activity at 21%, with workers citing “institutional apathy” toward the issue, according to the Jewish Leadership Council.

Education and publishing were the second most frequently cited sectors, with respondents reporting significant hostility, particularly in academic settings.

Trade unions were reported as having a disproportionate focus on anti-Israel activism, leaving Jewish members feeling targeted. The unions were described as spaces where antisemitism was not only present but also institutionalized.

Board of Deputies Vice President Andrew Gilbert said: “This report gives a real-time insight into the problems that Jewish employees have been experiencing in the workplace in a post-October 7 world. We would urge all employers to adopt the recommendations in the report as well as working with their Jewish staff to foster an inclusive workplace. The Board of Deputies have a dedicated member of staff leading on supporting Jewish Staff Networks via our BoD@Work programme and we are looking forward to our first conference supporting Jewish Staff Networks and to expand our Employer’s Guide.”

The JLC's head of Strategic Programmes, Claire Mandel, stated: “These results highlight the urgent need for employers to address the ways in which they handle incidents of antisemitism in the workplace. We encourage employers (and where appropriate, Jewish employees) to engage with the JLC’s Forge the Future Cultivating Allies scheme, which offers a number of different ways in which antisemitism within the workplace might be addressed and ways to make Jewish employees feel more confident and comfortable within their workplace environments.”

Based on the findings, the report recommended that leadership teams actively commit to meaningful engagement with Jewish employees and consult relevant Jewish organizations when considering policy changes and responses to antisemitism.