What Is Code-Switching? The Unspoken Pressure Black Professionals Face In The Workplace

Code-switching is the latest topic of discussion on NewOne’s brand-new episode of Life, Liberty and The Pursuit Of Happiness titled “Working Doubles.” For many Black Americans, navigating professional spaces can mean adjusting their personalities, speech, and even physical appearance to fit into environments where they may feel pressured to conform. While these changes can sometimes help individuals navigate workplace dynamics, they can also be exhausting. So, what exactly is code-switching, and why does it remain such a common experience for Black professionals?

What is code-switching?

Code-switching takes several forms. According to the Cleveland Clinic, social and behavioral code-switching involves modifying behavior, tone of voice, clothing, grooming, or physical appearance to align with dominant cultural expectations, avoid stereotypes, or navigate power dynamics. Linguistic code-switching, on the other hand, refers to shifting between languages, dialects, or styles of speech depending on the audience or setting. For many Black professionals, both forms can become part of the daily effort to navigate predominantly white or corporate environments.

Research shared in the latest episode of NewOne’s Life, Liberty and The Pursuit Of Happiness, featuring findings from a 2023 Harris Poll for Indeed, highlights just how common these adjustments are. Among Black employees who reported code-switching at work, 65% said they changed their language or word choice. Approximately 50% adjusted their tone of voice, while 37% changed their physical appearance, including their hair.

These experiences highlight the pressure many Black workers face to balance their authentic selves with workplace expectations. And examples of code-switching are not limited to corporate offices; they can also be found throughout popular culture.

Journalist Charreah K. Jackson points to Ghost, the notorious mobster in the Power franchise played by Omari Hardwick, as an example of someone who knows how to navigate different worlds. Although Ghost is street-smart, he can adapt his communication style, presentation, and approach to connect with different people, whether he is operating on the streets or building legitimate business relationships.

Jackson explains that he “takes his street knowledge, repackages that to have a legit business.”

She continues, “Now, is he still in the streets, a little bit? Yes, but what we see is the same skill set, the same sharpness, the same ability to run a deal, to make partnerships, to have to shake a few people. All the things that you need to do to be successful are reflected in a character who is relatable.”

Ghost’s character illustrates how adapting to different environments can be a form of social navigation. However, for many Black professionals, code-switching is not simply a strategic choice. It can be a response to workplace expectations, racial stereotypes, and the fear of being judged unfairly.

The Workplace Pressure Behind Code-Switching.

Code-switching is one of the many challenges Black employees navigate in professional environments, where subtle forms of discrimination and microaggressions can shape their everyday experiences.

According to a 2024 Indeed report examining the topic, 44% of Black respondents said code-switching was necessary at work, regardless of the level of minority representation in leadership. Women were just as likely as men to code-switch and consider it necessary in the workplace.

For many employees, these adjustments go beyond communication. Microaggressions—subtle comments, actions, or attitudes that communicate harmful assumptions about a person’s race or gender—can influence how Black professionals are perceived, treated, and evaluated. These experiences may include dismissive remarks, biased hiring or promotion decisions, and criticism of cultural expressions that fall outside traditional workplace norms.

Hair, in particular, remains a significant source of scrutiny for Black women.

As NewOne previously reported, a 2023 study co-commissioned by Dove and LinkedIn found that Black women were 2.5 times more likely to be perceived as unprofessional when wearing their natural hair in the workplace. Approximately 54% of participants said they felt pressured to wear their hair straight to be considered professional or successful. Some also reported experiencing uncomfortable microaggressions from coworkers and supervisors when wearing their natural or textured hair.

Shockingly, “more than 20% of Black women aged between 25 and 34 had been sent home from work because of their hair,” the study noted.

This is exactly why workplace standards can place an unequal burden on both Black women and men, forcing some to weigh personal expression against professional acceptance. What may seem like a simple choice of hairstyle can become a source of anxiety when natural hair is unfairly associated with being less polished or less capable.

Remote Work Has Changed the Experience, but Not Eliminated It

For some Black employees, remote work has offered a degree of relief from the microaggressions often encountered in traditional office settings. However, working from home has not eliminated the pressure to code-switch.

According to a 2021 survey conducted on Slack, 97% of Black workers expressed a preference for continuing to work remotely full-time or adopting a hybrid model following the pandemic. Respondents cited the benefits of avoiding some of the microaggressions associated with in-person workplace environments.

Yet virtual work has introduced its own challenges. An article published by Business Insider’s Voices of Color highlighted how online professional interactions can still require Black employees to adjust their communication and presentation to meet workplace expectations.

Some Black workers reported feeling physically and mentally drained by the need to maintain a professional persona throughout the workday, even while working from the comfort of their homes. Without the physical office environment, the pressure to manage how they speak, behave, and present themselves can persist through video meetings, virtual collaboration, and other digital interactions.

Ultimately, code-switching reveals a broader conversation about workplace inclusion and the expectations placed on Black professionals. While adapting to different environments can be a valuable skill, the burden should not fall disproportionately on employees to minimize parts of their identities to be accepted or advance in their careers.

Creating more inclusive workplaces means recognizing these pressures, challenging racial and cultural biases, and allowing employees to show up authentically without fearing that their speech, appearance, or mannerisms will undermine their professional credibility.

Watch the full episode of Life, Liberty and The Pursuit Of Happiness above. Tell us your thoughts in the comments section. 

SEE MORE:

Who Decided What a ‘Black Job’ Was?

On Dawn Staley, Black Women, And Disrespect In The Workplace