In simple terms, unconscious bias means that as an employer you favour one segment of workers over another. The favouritism is considered subtle, as the person exhibiting the prejudice is often unaware the discrimination exists. On the other hand, conscious bias suggests the hiring manager or employer are aware of their deliberate prejudices and overtly hurt another person or a group of people. Regardless of whether it is conscious or unconscious bias, either can have a negative effect on workplace environments. Unconscious racism, ageism, and sexism play a big role in who gets hired. A lot of studies show that many hiring processes are biased and unfair. Left unchecked, these biases can also shape a company or industry’s culture and norms. A simple example would be, if we don’t see male kindergarten teachers or female engineers, we don’t naturally associate men and women with those jobs, and we apply different standards when hiring, promoting, and evaluating job performance.
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