Is your business a ticking time bomb? Are you certain your staff understands implicit bias and how to spot it before it is too late? Will your business be the next subject of a discrimination lawsuit?
There has been a paradigm shift in the past 20 years. Acts of overt racism has evolved to more subtle acts of bias, stereotype threat and micro-agressions. Attitudes have also shifted to a more inclusive and welcoming society, however, despite proper vetting and interviews to find the best employees, many businesses and organizations are still being called out for race related incidents by employees and customers alike.
Starbucks lost $16 million dollars in sales due to a racist incident. The Napa Valley Wine train settled an $11M lawsuit after they kicked a group of black women off the train for laughing too loud. Elmwood Cafe, suffered through protests, loss of business and eventually shut down after an employee told a black comedian and CNN contributor to "Shoo" while he was talking with his wife and her friends, all of whom were white.
These companies interviewed and hired what they believed were the best employees they could find. No company in their right mind would intentionally hire someone they know to be racist, sexist or potentially a threat to their business in any other way. So why does this happen so often to so many companies? There is something else at play here and it is called Implicit Bias. Implicit Bias operates under the surface of our consciousness and can cause well meaning people who harbor no ill will toward anyone to behave in ways that alienate, anger and even traumatize others, especially those members of our society who are already marginalized. These implicit biases can, if left unchecked, cost a company employee engagement, revenue, and even cause a complete shut down. The good news is that this is entirely avoidable! We all have biases. With the right training we can learn to control those biases reducing liability in the workplace and building more engagement within the organization. Reduce your liability, create real engagement in your employees and strengthen your place in the community. Call UTB consulting today and set up a free consultation.
"For diverse companies, the likelihood of outperforming industry peers on profitability has increased over time, while the penalties are getting steeper for those lacking diversity.
Progress on representation has been slow, yet a few firms are making real strides. A close look at these diversity winners shows that a systematic, business-led approach and bold, concerted action on inclusion are needed to make progress."
McKinsey & Company (Global Consulting Firm)
