Verbal abuse faced by Indian professionals in the US

Many Indian professionals and students aspire to succeed in their ideal nation, the United States. 
They make up a sizable portion of the US labour force. There are millions of Indian professionals 
working in education, healthcare, and technology. Over the past few decades, the number of Indian 
workers in the US has only increased, contributing to the US economy. 
Regardless of their qualifications, the majority of workers occasionally encounter discriminatory 
remarks, verbal abuse, hostility, and microaggressions at work. The abuse happens in any setting, 
like offices, public spaces, social media, and professional networking platforms. Verbal abuse may 
take many forms, such as insults, slurs, belittling, or stereotyping. The abuse is sometimes overt. The 
behaviour towards professionals is hostile, explicit, and obvious, with the intent to insult, demean, 
or harm someone. Mocking someone for their cultural and religious practices, making xenophobic 
comments, mocking someone for their food habits, skin colour, their accents, dismissing their ideas 
and using racial slurs. Sometimes the abuse is covert, like excluding someone from essential
meetings, giving backhanded compliments, and making microaggressions.
Employee morale is not the only thing that suffers; professional development and mental health are 
also at risk. Indian professionals in the US are not exempt from such abuse, making them reconsider 
their decision to continue in their careers there. 

Following India's economic reforms in the 1990s, the number of Indian job seekers in the US surged. 
During the Y2K crisis, there was a huge demand for Indian technicians. There has never been a 
greater influx of Indian professionals and students to the United States. A significant portion of NASA 
scientists and a sizable portion of Microsoft employees are Indian. Locals there are feeling insecure 
and frustrated due to the high demand for Indian workers. 

Indian professionals are renowned for their delivery, grit, and professionalism. Their professional 
development will only be hampered by the racial and cultural prejudice against them and their 
absence from crucial decision-making processes. 

According to the National Library of Medicine, racial discrimination against South Asians has surged 
phenomenally post-COVID-19 pandemic. The American workforce is increasingly ethnically diverse. 
The workplace verbal abuse/harassment may only affect the inflow of professionals to the US.

Common contexts and contributing factors

Several prominent Indian professionals lead corporate giants in the United States. Indians are 
denigrated because of the colour of their skin. Their culture has led to these misconceptions. Many 
Americans are afraid that Indians could threaten their employment, and there is a false belief that 
they might even steal their work away. Coordinated hate campaigns against Indian professionals 
have been launched in an attempt to validate their unfounded fear. American social media users are 
spreading anti-Indian narratives, and the administration there has neither condemned nor taken any 
action. Because of the effects of immigration, people with H1B visas are increasingly hated.

Impact on the victims

Anxiety and self-doubt have been brought on by the Indian workers' ongoing mistreatment and 
isolation. Constant monitoring may result in decreased productivity and poor job performance. They 
might use altering their speech or behaviour as a coping strategy to blend in with the system. There 
may be fewer networking and advancement opportunities as a result of subtle exclusion. To survive 
as immigrants, they internalise abuse.

Speaking up is feared. Even if one makes an effort to speak up, there is a risk of missing out on 
advancements, encountering unpleasant work settings, and losing one's job. Other coworkers may 
isolate the professional. 

A 32-year-old Indian professional working in the US said on Reddit that a senior team member asked 
him to stop talking during a meeting because the professional couldn't understand his accent. An 
Indian doctor experienced prejudice at work. He heard remarks such as “you Indians are stupid” and 
the depressing “the best Indian is a dead Indian.”

According to an Economic Times article, an Indian software developer who works remotely for a US-based company recounted that a recruiter asked him during his interview whether people in India 
were “scamming.” The employer then added, “You people can't be trusted,” following a laptop 
problem. He said that after submitting an HR complaint, he was retaliated against (shut out of his 
account). This is a clear instance of derogatory, stereotypical terminology used toward “people in 
India.”

Coping mechanisms and policy reviews

Indian-American organisations must advocate for stricter rules against discrimination, harassment, 
and hate speech. The safety of Indian professionals working overseas should be the subject of 
diplomatic pressure from the Indian government. 

HR policies should be reinforced to address the growing dissatisfaction among US professionals with 
their Indian colleagues. Mechanisms for monitoring abuse reports, analysing patterns (such as verbal 
abuse based on race or ethnicity), and incorporating this information into policy reviews should all 
be part of HR policies. One best practice is to regularly evaluate Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) 
measures. 

Slurs and verbal abuse should be recorded and reported. The methods for anonymous reporting 
ought to remain open. Over time, verbal abuse results in extreme mental anguish. Options for 
counselling and mental health support should be made available to the professionals.

The Way Forward

Employee allyship and bystander intervention should be promoted. Indian professionals should be 
informed of their rights under the Civil Rights Act and other US employment laws. The leaders of 
every corporate organisation should strive for compassion, decency, and fair treatment, as this also 
helps expand the business. An environment where diversity is respected and a multicultural work 
culture is established must exist.

Any corporate setting is at risk from verbal abuse. Professionals look for work overseas, particularly 
in the US, to enhance their establishments rather than merely earn money. Not only can 
microaggressions harm individuals, but they can also threaten a company's well-being. Every 
American citizen has a duty to make the workplace safer and more respectful