Workplace bias is one of the most common issues that hamper any business in any industry. When it occurs, our subconscious zeros in on our “intuition” or “groupings” to create fast decisions without considering if it’s suitable for the task at hand.

Changing workplace bias can be difficult because of how ingrained it is in our workplace culture. However, there are ways to deal with it and inspire others to fight against it.

Down below are some tips on how to deal with workplace bias:

Recognise that Every Person is Different

Whether you are a regular employee, a team leader, a hiring manager, or the company’s boss, you need to remember that each person is different. Even though they may look unreliable at first, you need to see beyond their physical appearance to know who they indeed are.

Go in Hiring Auditions Blind

If you hire new employees, list down all the skills you are looking for in your target employees and the rating system you will use to determine if they are the right fit for the job. After the interview, review each candidate based on each trait and decide based on their scores.

Educate People about Workplace Bias

Some people do not know that they have workplace bias because they are not aware of its signs. Make it a point to host lectures and seminars about workplace bias and how to combat it.

Ask Employees about The Current Situation in the Workplace

As a team leader or manager, you may not see everything from your employee’s perspective when it comes to the employment process and promotions. Hold surveys to see what they say about these processes to see if bias affects the employment and promotion process.

Give Out Rewards to Employees

There will be people who will be reluctant to participate in seminars because of shyness or uncertainty regarding the issue of workplace bias. To give them a push, don’t hesitate to offer incentives to get them to support the cause.

Be Open to Updates regarding Combating Workplace Bias

You must be open with the discussions on workplace bias and let people know what the company is doing to stop it. If it is not going smoothly, let your workers know so they can help out. If it is going smoothly, let them know as well. When people know you are doing your best to combat bias, they will be inspired to do the same.

Conclusion

For a workplace to be successful, we must take our time to consider the decisions we make and not rely on gut instinct often. If we let our instincts guide us, we may overlook the people who may handle the task efficiently but dismiss them because of our biases. It also creates a toxic working environment that will make others feel unwelcome.

Take the proper steps to combat workplace bias today and see how it will change your work environment for the better.

Having trouble in your workplace? Check out these articles, they may address your problems:
Singapore is the 2nd-Worst Globally For Workplace Diversity; 1 In 4 Workers Bullied
The Importance of Getting Your Staff to Speak Up
5 Sensitive Topics that You Shouldn’t Discuss in Office

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