Unconscious bias is recognized as a big no-no in the recruiting world, as it can have a significant impact on the overall wellness of a workplace. If you are not familiar with what unconscious bias is, or if you want to learn how to practice avoiding it in your organization, keep reading to learn more from Prescott HR.

What is Unconscious Bias?

Unconscious bias is sometimes referred to as implicit bias. It is the practice of automatically making assumptions about certain groups of people based on unconscious attitudes, beliefs, or stereotypes. Factors like a person’s race, gender, ethnicity, or age can play a role in unconscious bias. By nature, unconscious bias is not intentional and most of the time, we don’t realize we are doing it. However, unconscious bias has historically played out in many workplace organizations, leading to an increase in discrimination and unfair policies. 

How to Avoid Unconscious Bias

One of the first steps to avoiding unconscious bias is to simply be aware that it happens. We always recommend starting with recognizing your own potential biases, so you can be more aware of how this can manifest in your workplace. Here are several tips to avoid unconscious bias at work:

• Encourage diversity: Engage with and hire people from diverse backgrounds to increase diversity within your organization. This will allow your team members to interact with people who are different from themselves, leading to more meaningful work and shifts in perspective.

• Implement blind recruiting strategies: If you are worried that unconscious bias is playing a role in your recruitment strategy, then be sure to implement a blind strategy when interviewing new candidates. You should always eliminate identifying information from your application process, including indicators like gender or ethnicity.

• Slow down: We all get busy, which is part of the reason why unconscious bias can take hold in decision-making processes. When hiring a new person for a role, really slow down and take your time to evaluate the candidate as a whole. This will help eliminate any automatic judgments that you may unconsciously jump toward.
• Establish a DEI initiative: Does your organization have a DEI (diversity, equity, inclusion) initiative? You may want to consider implementing a DEI strategy in your workplace to help avoid unconscious bias. An impactful DEI strategy can help your team challenge stereotypes, practice empathy, and change perspectives, all while strengthening the overall culture of your workplace. You can read more about Prescott HR’s DEI tips and best practices on our website here. 

Work with Prescott HR

Does your organization struggle with unconscious bias? We are here to help! Prescott HR offers a wide range of services that can help your organization evaluate your current policies and incorporate new ones, as needed. Our unintimated HR practices allow us to be focused and effective, providing your business with precisely what you need. Give us a call today at 443-351-8818 or contact us online.