How To Tackle Unconscious Bias At The Workplace

The problem with unconscious bias at the workplace is that talented individuals may be overlooked causing a decline in morale and engagement.

An organization’s workforce today comes from diverse backgrounds - whether it is in terms of different geographies, ethnicity, religion, culture, gender, sexual orientation or even perspectives. A progressive workplace should provide an inclusive environment where this diversity is respected and celebrated.

In simple terms, unconscious bias refers to the feelings we have towards others that influence our judgement of people and groups — feelings we aren’t aware that we have. Unconscious bias can create conflict, separate people from each other, and hold back talent, therefore negatively affecting business outcomes.

There are multiple facets to unconscious bias. An easy example would be how one may make hurtful comments based on the education, upbringing, beliefs or sexual orientation of fellow employees or team members without necessarily intending or realizing it. In the workplace, this could also creep in during the hiring process or during performance reviews. As a matter of fact, the 2018 Recruiter Nation Study showed that when deciding on a candidate, female recruiters are more likely to focus on conversation skills while male recruiters are more likely to focus on personal style and sense of humor.

Forms of unconscious bias at the workplace