Unconscious Bias in the Workplace

Unconscious bias in the workplace explained
In this article, we will look at unconscious bias in the workplace. You’ll learn what bias is and how it can negatively impact your employees’ work environment.

Important facts
– Unconscious biases can influence our decision-making, even if we are not aware of them.

– Leaders should work to recognize their own biases so they can make more impartial decisions.

– One of the most effective ways to deal with unconscious bias in the workplace is to address it when you notice it.

What is Unconscious Bias in the Workplace?
Unconscious bias in the workplace is when someone forms an implicit opinion about an employee that is influenced by previous experiences, snap judgments or preconceived ideas, including stereotypes. These opinions are often formed without any input from the person themselves, so they favor certain groups without being aware of it.

Assumptions about others can impact all levels of your organization. They can get in the way of promoting diversity in the workplace, hinder the brainstorming process, and more.

The Importance of Managers and HR Dealing with Unconscious Bias
The formation of unconscious biases is part of human nature and often cannot be prevented. But learning to recognize these biases at work – and overcome them – is critical to professional development and business growth.

This helps ensure that managers within their organization remain impartial and treat every employee fairly. Otherwise, employees may lose morale and turn away from their work if they feel like others are getting special treatment even though they work just as hard.

It can also lead to legal problems when unconscious bias prevents marginalized groups from advancing and excelling in your workplace.

Dealing with unconscious bias in the workplace
The nature of things makes it difficult to deal with unconscious bias. However, there are methods to identify and eliminate biases before they harm your business.

Monitor your decisions
Because you are unaware of possible biases and their impact on your decisions, it is advisable to monitor your decisions more carefully to avoid discrimination. One method is to log all the important decisions you make throughout the day to find out if there is a common connection between them. With this information, it is much easier to analyze your daily thought processes and check them for unconscious biases.

Set strict behavioral expectations
It is possible to establish human resources policies that prevent or mitigate the effects of unconscious bias in the workplace. While you can’t address bias directly, you can help ensure a level of respect and professionalism by establishing policies for treating employees fairly. In this way, you create the conditions for everyone to have their voice heard and receive equal opportunities for growth and opportunity.

If you notice prejudice, speak up
Unconscious prejudices persist because they are not addressed. Therefore, one of the most effective ways to eliminate them in the workplace is to speak up if you think someone on your team is showing bias. It is important that you do not do this in front of colleagues. Instead, take them aside and point out that they prefer certain people over others.

Frequently Asked Questions
What is Unconscious Bias in the Workplace?
Unconscious or implicit bias in the workplace occurs when someone in an organization makes snap judgments based on past experiences or gut feeling. These assessments often subtly alter the person’s behavior toward certain groups.

What are examples of unconscious bias in the workplace?
Biases to watch out for in the workplace include:

• Age discrimination, i.e.making assumptions about a person based on their age
• Peer pressure that causes one to conform one’s opinion to the group’s views
• Weight bias, judging someone based on their body size
• Affinity bias: A person’s opinion is judged to be more valuable because you share a trait with them.

How to deal with unconscious bias in the workplace
One of the most effective ways to deal with unconscious bias is to make people aware that they have it. They often go unnoticed despite their impact on our behavior, and recognizing them is the first step to mitigating them in most situations.

Otherwise, setting strict guidelines for dealing with colleagues and employees can help keep things fair.

Take bias out of the equation with IceHrm
Unconscious bias is difficult to control because it can influence us in subtle ways. While you can correct them, sometimes the best way to prevent our bias from influencing our judgment is to avoid details that we would judge. IceHrm‘s analytics capabilities allow you to make decisions based almost entirely on data and prevent bias from leading you down the wrong path.