Moving Beyond Unconscious Bias in the Workplace
Unconscious bias is an aspect of building diverse and inclusive workplaces that may go unnoticed or unchecked. Even in organizations that advocate for greater equality and respect, unconscious bias is often seen in the hiring and promotion process. An inclusive workplace free of unconscious bias is one in which all employees, regardless of nationality, color or race, feel respected, have a voice and a strong sense of belonging, and are comfortable bringing their whole, true selves to work. The presenter draws on his personal and professional experiences to illustrate why addressing unconscious bias is critical in order to achieve true inclusiveness in the workplace—a theme central to his own life. The reassurance that diversity is a strength, not a setback, can motivate employees to give their best at work, boost confidence, and enhance relationships.
Learning Objectives:
- Identify unconscious bias as a first step toward building a more diverse and inclusive workplace.
- Recognize the difficulties and issues pertaining to unconscious bias and address them constructively.
- Understand how creating a more inclusive environment—supporting, advocating, recognizing and, most importantly, celebrating different perspectives—helps attract and retain the talent, customers and business partners who are critical to an organization’s success.
- Recognize the carry-over effects that a positive workplace experience can have on employees’ work and personal lives.
Steve Pemberton
Steve joined Workhuman in December of 2017 as chief human resources officer (CHRO) and works with HR leaders and senior management executives worldwide to help build workplaces where every employee feels recognized, respected, and appreciated for who they are and what they do. He champions and promotes our Workhuman movement to inspire HR leaders to embrace more humanity and foster a sense of purpose in the workplace. Steve is focused on building upon Workhuman’s award-winning culture, which has set a new industry standard through its own power usage of recognition and positivity.
Before joining Workhuman, Steve served in senior HR executive roles for Walgreens Boots Alliance and Monster.com. A frequent presenter on Capitol Hill, in 2015, he was appointed by U.S. Secretary of Labor Thomas Perez to serve on the Advisory Committee for the Competitive Integrated Employment of People with Disabilities.
Jesse Harriott
Jesse focuses on expanding the research efforts of WorkhumanIQ, and building out Workhuman’s data science capabilities. An esteemed research and analytics professional with more than 20 years of experience, Jesse has advised many private and public organizations on analytics and labor-market issues, including the White House, the Federal Reserve, and the U.S. Department of Labor.
Jesse previously served as chief analytics officer at Constant Contact, a SaaS company, helping more than 650,000 organizations generate repeat business and referrals through online marketing solutions. Jesse also served as chief knowledge officer at Monster Worldwide, where he helped drive annual revenue from $300 million to more than $1.3 billion. An acclaimed author, he taught at the University of Chicago and holds a master’s and a Ph.D. in Experimental Psychology from DePaul University.