When “Not a Good Fit” Means “Not Like Us”

Summary:

A racialized team member with excellent performance reviews was passed over for promotion — three times. Each time, the feedback was vague: “You’re just not quite the right fit for the team.” Meanwhile, newer, less experienced staff were advanced quickly. Eventually, the employee left — not because of performance issues, but because of exclusion masked as professionalism.

Ethical Lens:

• Bias in advancement pathways

• Policy vs. lived culture in inclusion

• The misuse of “fit” as coded exclusion

Leadership Insight:

Diversity metrics are meaningless without real accountability in advancement decisions. “Fit” should never be used without a transparent, documented definition.