Implicit bias is a commonly overlooked issue in today's workplace, yet it has significant impacts on workplace diversity and performance. In order to create an inclusive and productive work environment, it is important to understand what implicit bias is and how it affects employees. Additionally, strategies for mitigating implicit bias should be implemented to ensure fair treatment and decision-making processes.
Exploring Gender Bias in the Workplace
Gender bias remains a prevalent issue in the workplace. The unequal treatment and opportunities based on gender have long hindered the progress of gender equality. It is crucial to understand the concept of gender bias, the various manifestations it takes in the workplace, and how it can be addressed and overcome. By exploring these topics, we can strive towards creating a more inclusive and fair working environment for everyone.
Unpacking Gender Bias: A Close Look at Its Impact and Our Collective Role
The journey to overcoming gender bias is indeed a collective responsibility. Every single step taken in this direction matters and contributes towards building a more equitable society. However, the key to achieving real change lies in staying committed to the cause and consistently working towards the goal. When it comes to gender equality, change is definitely possible, but it requires persistent efforts from all stakeholders.
Leadership's Role in Managing Bias in the Workplace
Bias in the workplace can have a significant impact on individuals and organizations alike. It affects decision-making, relationships, and overall work culture. In this post, we explore the concept of bias and its effects on the workplace. We also discuss strategies for managing and reducing bias, the role of leadership in creating an inclusive culture, and ways to measure progress and ensure continual improvement. Join us as we delve into the complexities of bias in the workplace and explore practical steps towards a more inclusive and equitable work environment.
The Roots of Unconscious Bias
Unconscious bias refers to the biases that we hold without even realizing it. These biases can affect our decisions and actions, often leading to unfair treatment or discriminatory behavior. In order to address and mitigate unconscious bias, it is crucial to first understand its roots and underlying factors. This post explores the meaning of unconscious bias, the various types of biases that exist, and the effects they can have in different contexts. Additionally, it delves into the factors that contribute to unconscious bias, including the influence of background and personal experience, societal and cultural conditioning, and the role of media and stereotypes. Furthermore, it examines the science behind unconscious bias, touching upon the workings of the human brain, implicit association tests (IAT), and the role of social psychology in shaping our biases. By gaining a deeper understanding of these topics, we can strive towards a more inclusive and equitable society.
HCMx Radio Podcast: What's Next for Gender Bias
The HCMx Radio podcast is hosted by Rachel Cooke, Michael Rochelle, Mike Cooke and the Brandon Hall Group Analyst Team, and focuses on innovative, cutting-edge human capital management topics. I (Rachel) was thrilled to have a conversation with Rachel Cooke from Brandon Hall Group about “What’s Next for Gender Bias”.
Watch or listen, here!
Case Study: AAR Unconscious Bias Training
In August, we returned to AAR to support the women’s initiative in hosting an unconscious bias training for the organization. During the session, participants at all levels of the organization gathered to have an open dialog about bias. We began with a focus on recognizing our own biases—even when they might surprise us—and recognizing the need to interrupt bias in the workplace to create more inclusive teams. The rest of the session introduced bias interrupters that participants can implement in their daily work to reduce the impact of bias. This awareness and new tools for addressing bias were put into practice the following week, when the initiative led interactive sessions with LeanIn.org's 50 Ways to Fight Bias cards as a guide for discussion.
We’re so glad we could work with AAR on setting the foundation for such an important topic.
Case Study: Women in Bio Webinar
This month we partnered with Women in Bio to deliver a webinar to its members on Uncovering Unconscious Bias. Women in Bio is an “organization of professional women from all career walks in the field of life sciences. We are all volunteers and we all share the goal of enabling and empowering women to reach the highest levels of leadership, and -- more importantly -- to fulfill their own career aspirations.”
Case Study: University of Cincinnati Emergency Medicine
We were invited to deliver an initial foundational overview of unconscious bias and bias interrupters that can be used within the department to continue driving gender equity and representation forward. With this understanding, we will return in July to do a follow up applied learning session. Not only can we see how interrupters have impacted the department over the past 7 months, but we can also implement new tools for greater impact.
Unconscious Bias and Its Effect on Business Decisions: Spotlight on Starbucks
When Starbucks began their run to success in the early 1990s, it was clear the brand wasn’t simply about coffee and over the last year, we have seen many headlines highlighting their hits and misses in an effort to shift their culture. Such indications include their announcement of equal pay as well as their all-staff diversity and inclusion training. If Starbucks has taught us anything in the past year, it is that bringing awareness to unconscious bias and how it affects businesses is imperative.
Case Study: Ingage Partners + Thrive Impact Sourcing Uncovering Unconscious Bias Workshop
We loved working with local companies and B-Corps Ingage Partners and Thrive Impact Sourcing to deliver an Uncovering Unconscious Bias workshop to employees of both sister companies. Together we set the foundation of understanding our biases and why it is important to grow our awareness of them. With small groups, participants worked through a variety of scenarios to identify "bias interrupters" they might use in common workplace situations—especially those related to hiring and performance reviews.
Case Study: Brighton Center, Inc.
We were thrilled to be welcomed back to Brighton Center to present an Uncovering Unconscious Bias training to staff across multiple offices and departments. In the two hour training, we introduced the concept of implicit bias and assessed our own. We explored the impact of bias on our relationships with others, as well as discussed situations where we are more prone to experiencing it.
Case Study: Xavier Women of Excellence Conference
This year the topic was Addressing and Elevating Gender Issues, where we provided a picture of the current landscape of gender inequity in the workplace thanks to amazing current research. From there, we focused in on pain points that participants had identified in a survey before coming, and worked through the root causes, symptoms, and solutions to specific gender-based problems.
Case Study: Clark Schaeffer Hacket
This month, we returned to dig deeper into the concept of bias with the Advancing Women in Leadership initiative. Our goal with this workshop was not only provide a thorough understanding of what bias is and how we can recognize it, but also to explore how small moments of bias can have a tremendous impact on a woman's career throughout a lifetime.
What I’m Reading: Blindspot
I had the opportunity to hear Mahzarin Banaji speak last year at the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center in Cincinnati, Ohio and it was one of the most eye-opening talks I have heard to date. The concept of unconscious or implicit bias is what Mahzarin and her research partner, Anthony Greenwald, have been researching for decades and they have distilled it into a surprisingly easy-to-consume book.