14668: Transforming Latino Work Experiences in U.S. Organizations: Addressing Sticky Floors

Latinos are the largest minority group in the United States, comprising 19% of the workforce, or approximately 31.8 million individuals. Despite their significant and increasing presence in the population, workforce, and academia, Latinos remain underrepresented in higher managerial roles, accounting for only 4% of top business management positions and just 3% of faculty in U.S., AACSB accredited business schools. This disparity highlights obstacles to upward mobility for Latinos. This symposium applies the concept of "Sticky Floors," originally developed to examine barriers to women’s advancement, to explore the organizational conditions that hinder Latinos’ career progression, particularly early in their careers. The symposium expands the concept of sticky floors to analyze factors unique to Latino experiences within organizational contexts, and that hinder their advancement. To achieve this, five panelists address key topics related to Latino sticky floors: the historical and sociological factors shaping Latino workplace realities in the U.S.; organizational dynamics that trigger impostor syndrome (impostorization); lessons from Latina CEOs on organizational survival, identity management, and success; leveraging bicultural identities for career advancement; and fostering Latino dignity and belongingness in the workplace. By highlighting these themes, the symposium aims to provide actionable solutions for addressing sticky floors and upward mobility barriers while fostering equity and inclusion for Latinos in organizational settings.