Toxicity and hostility in the workplace are often easy to identify and address. However, identifying unconscious bias is much more difficult, as many people have a hard time noticing when it’s at play. Unconscious bias is what happens when we act on subconscious, deeply ingrained biases, stereotypes, and attitudes formed from our experiences, upbringing, and environment. This week, we consider what unconscious bias looks like in the workplace, how to minimize its impacts, and how technology may be a tool to help.

Unconscious Bias in the Workplace

Our unconscious biases are shaped and reinforced by the environments we come from and our past experiences. We may unknowingly discriminate against people based on race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, and class. The first step is to acknowledge the existence of unconscious bias and recognize the way our unconscious minds think, especially in the workplace. Here are three areas unconscious bias shows up within the workplace and solutions to address each. 

A New Book Examines Ways to End Unconscious Bias

Jessica Nordell, a freelance writer, started pitching stories under a gender neutral name. Upon doing so, she started to see more of her pitches accepted. Since then, she’s dedicated her work to examine solutions to unconscious bias. She even teamed up with a computer scientist to develop a computer simulation of a workplace to better understand the phenomenon and has written a book to summarize her research. Learn about her book and consider the ways to end unconscious bias in this interview. 

Talent Track: Can Technology Help Reduce Gender Bias in Hiring?

Many companies are pushing to recruit more women in line with their gender diversity policy. However, there is a very real concern that there is an unconscious bias towards women when they apply for jobs, blocking their entry to the job opportunity. Some firms have started using blind hiring. Others are using automated tools at almost every stage of the lifecycle of hiring. Companies are using tech-based assessments, AI, and language tools to eliminate biases and allow for objectivity in the decision-making process. See how technology is being used to reduce gender bias, what some of the shortcomings are, and a few potential solutions to address them.