This International Women’s Day, we reflect on the importance of inclusion, equality, and challenging unconscious bias in the workplace. Bias—whether unconscious or conscious—can influence hiring decisions, workplace culture, and career progression, often without us even realising it.   

The Royal Society defines unconscious bias as making judgments or decisions based on deep-seated thought patterns, assumptions, or interpretations—without being aware of it. Conscious bias, on the other hand, is a deliberate attitude or belief towards a person or group.   

A Deloitte study of 3,000 participants found that:   

– 86% of respondents felt they could be themselves at work most of the time   

– 39% experienced bias frequently—at least once a month   

– 83% of workplace bias was reported as subtle, indirect, or microaggressions   

Bias remains a real and present challenge in the workplace, and under the Equality Act 2010, discrimination based on characteristics such as sex, race, disability, pregnancy, and sexual orientation is unlawful. Employers have a duty to recognise and address bias to create truly inclusive workplaces.   

How employers can inspire inclusion and beat ‘bias’ in the workplace:   

– Provide training and education   

Educate teams on unconscious bias, how it affects decision-making, and practical ways to challenge it.   

– Review recruitment and selection processes   

Remove gendered language and subjective criteria in job descriptions and promotions to ensure fair, unbiased decision-making.   

– Use objective and standardised criteria   

Basing decisions on data and multiple sources of evidence rather than personal judgment ensures fairness in hiring, promotions, and performance evaluations.   

– Promote diversity and inclusion   

Actively recruit and support diverse talent while ensuring equal opportunities for progression in line with the Equality Act 2010.   

– Encourage open communication   

Foster a culture of inclusion where employees feel safe to share experiences, challenge bias, and contribute to meaningful change.   

Let’s inspire inclusion this International Women’s Day   

Creating a bias-free, inclusive workplace doesn’t happen overnight, but every step towards recognising and addressing unconscious bias makes a difference.   

At View HR, we help businesses navigate these challenges through expert HR consultancy, training, and strategic support. If you’d like guidance on promoting diversity and inclusion in your workplace, get in touch with us today via www.viewhr.co.uk.   

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