RESEARCH FUELED BY ADVOCACY
Cost of It All: The Impact of Work Culture on Black Women’s Wellbeing
Exploring how work environments impact nourishment, total well-being, and identity for Black Women
Work not only shapes our schedules — it influences how we eat, rest, heal, and care for ourselves and our community. Research indicates that 69% of Black women report work-related stress affects their health, yet very little data captures what that means for core well-being for Black women — including nutrition, sleep, and emotional balance practices, creating a vital wellness gap at work that often goes unnoticed. If Black women struggle to meet their basic life needs due to workplace pressures and barriers, then what is the true cost?
The Cost of It All: The Impact of Work Culture on Black Women’s Wellbeing (COIA) insights will offer a transparent picture of how workplace culture and systematic barriers can influence Black women’s overall health and where support is most needed.
COIA is an independently funded and managed research study — no personal data will be recorded or sold to third-party vendors.
Eligibility for this study includes identifying as Black or African American and as a woman.
The survey takes 7–10 minutes, and all responses are anonymous and confidential.
Findings will inform a forthcoming tool designed to guide practical strategies for balancing work and well-being.
COIA Focus
Why are we talking about COIA?
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69% of Black women report that work-related stress impacts their health.
COIA examines how workload, pace, and workplace expectations directly influence daily nourishment, rest, and emotional regulation.
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Black women on predominantly white teams experience an 8.9% higher turnover gap, often linked to inequitable access to authority, recognition, and influence.
COIA examines how these structural barriers intersect with wellbeing and the conditions under which Black women’s expertise is validated or constrained.
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68% of Black women report limited access to wellness tools created with their specific needs in mind.
COIA identifies where existing systems fall short and how culturally aligned resources can better support Black women’s wellbeing at work.
*Stats are from external research
Unraveling Data to Improve Outcomes
PERSONAL NOTE
When I earned my holistic nutritionist and health & wellness coach certification, I knew I wanted to center Black women’s relationships with our bodies and the hidden factors that interrupt our ability to care for ourselves as a baseline — in both work and personal settings.
From my own experiences, I noticed that the moments I was most stressed at work, navigating microaggressions, being overlooked, or managing constant pressure — were the same seasons I neglected my well-being the most.
COIA grew out of a desire to understand these patterns more deeply, identify common threads, and honor the wide range of experiences Black women hold in professional spaces.
Our stories are not a monolith, but they often intersect at many similar challenges. My hope is that COIA helps give understanding, clarity, and visibility to those shared experiences and inspires better resources.
Thank you in advance for participating and sharing!
Queneisha Harvey
COIA Research Director
Join COIA
Cost of It All: The Impact of Work Culture on Black Women’s Well-being (COIA) is an independently funded and managed research study — no personal data will be recorded or sold to third-party vendors.