Implicit bias is unfortunately an issue that is still relevant in current American business. According to an Illinios CPA society, ” research has found that we’re to make biased decisions when we make those decisions quickly—findings that have serious implications for today’s rapidly evolving business world” (Morrison). This could mean discriminating against a strereotypically non-white sounding name when looking at applications or disciminitating against a non-white applicant during an interview. This can very negatively impact the reliability or validity of a selection process and potentially cause legal trouble to the company in question. Bias can be hard to shake, it requires exposure, perspective, and training.
According to a Harvard Business Review article, ” by closely examining and broadening their definitions of success, and second, by asking what each person adds to their teams, what we call their “additive contribution”” managers can clock bias among themselves and employees. There are multiple benfeits to this; measurable benfits include reduced turnover and increased efficiency. When employees feel valued and represented they are more likely to stay with a company. When culture, race, religion, etc. are respected within a workplace, quality of product or service is the primary focus resulting in increased efficiency.
It is important that implicit bias is taken seriosuly and is confronted head on within the workplace. This requires a culture of empathy, humility, and validation. Every qualified applicant deserves a chance at opportunity, we shouldn’t allow implicit bias to be a limting factor of that opportunity any longer.
Mackenzie, Lori Nishiura and Correll, Shelley. “Two Powerful Ways Managers Can Curb Implicit Biases.” Harvard Business Review, 27 Aug. 2021, hbr.org/2018/10/two-powerful-ways-managers-can-curb-implicit-biases
Morrison, Cassandra. “Uncovering Unconscious Bias in Business.” ILLINOIS CPA SOCIETY, www.icpas.org/information/copy-desk/insight/article/fall-2020/uncovering-unconscious-bias-in-business.
