Unconscious Bias in the Workplace
April 19th, 2007“Unconscious bias” is an element in two pending class-action lawsuits potentially involving millions of workers, one by women against Wal-Mart, and another by blacks against Walgreens. It’s fundamental to an enforcement effort announced last month by the federal Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) that focuses on filing “subtle” discrimination lawsuits and educating employers. It’s called Eradicating Racism and Colorism from Employment (E-RACE). Here is an example of unconscious bias:
When a female lawyer who worked full time was away from her desk, her colleagues assumed that she was in a meeting. When she started working part time and was away from her desk, her colleagues assumed she was at home with her child. And suddenly her job evaluations went bad.
This is a form of unlawful discrimination. Even though the employer may not be consciously discriminating against the female employee.