Which factor is a retention risk that disproportionately affects underrepresented groups?

• A. Limited advancement opportunities
• B. Microaggressions
• C. Exclusion from networks
• D. Pay gaps

Answer: (C)

Access to networks and belonging strongly influence whether employees stay with an organization. Exclusion from networks directly limits access to mentors, sponsors, insider information, and high-visibility assignments that accelerate career progression. When members of underrepresented groups are left out of these informal networks, they miss opportunities for advocacy, referrals, and timely feedback, which dampens engagement and makes promotions less likely. Over time, this network disadvantage compounds, increasing the likelihood of turnover as they seek environments where they can gain visibility and advancement more readily. While pay gaps, microaggressions, and limited advancement opportunities are real retention risks, they do not capture the specific way that being kept out of informal networks systematically reduces access to key career resources for underrepresented employees. In short, network exclusion creates a disproportionate barrier to career growth and retention for these groups.