Black and Hispanic workers are more skeptical than white workers that job performance is the most important reason for advancement in their workplace, according to a recent survey by Novations Group, a consulting organization based in Boston.

Nearly two-thirds of white employees (65.2 percent) cited job performance as most important reason for advancement in their workplace, compared with 56.6 percent of Hispanic respondents and 58.2 percent of black respondents.

Hispanic workers were somewhat more likely than other workers to say "who you know" was the most important reason for advancement. Black workers were somewhat more likely than other workers to say seniority is the most important reason for promotions at their company.

Among all workers, just 61.4 percent say job performance is the most important reason for advancement.

"Just 61.4 percent of all employees said it's job performance, which means there's a large minority that doesn't believe the system is working fairly or as it's supposed to," says Mike Hyter, chief executive officer and president of Novations. "On the other hand, for the merit system to work fairly organizations have to make available to all employees the challenging opportunities. And at the same time, individual employees themselves must become engaged in managing their own growth and development, and demonstrate a willingness to take up those risks and challenges. While job performance and merit are certainly key, so is initiative."