8 Examples of Unconscious Bias in Job Descriptions (2020 Update) (2024)

FAQs

What is an example of unconscious bias in the workplace? ›

An example of this bias during hiring is if the hiring panel favors male candidates over female candidates even though they have similar skills and job experience. Another well-known example is the gender pay gap. As of 2021, the average median salary for men is about 18% higher than women's.

Height bias is an unconscious bias where a person judges others who are significantly shorter or taller than average height. Similar to the weight and beauty biases, this focuses entirely on the appearance of an employee or candidates for a job rather than their potential to contribute to the business.

Examples of Bias in Behavior

If they're biased toward women, they might hire only women because they feel they make better employees for some gender-related reason. Conversely, if they're biased against women, they might hire a man over a more-qualified female candidate.

Confirmation bias, sampling bias, and brilliance bias are three examples that can affect our ability to critically engage with information.

In hiring, unconscious bias happens when you form an opinion about candidates based solely on first impressions. Or when you prefer one candidate over another simply because the first one seems like someone you'd easily hang out with outside of work.

One of the most common cognitive biases is confirmation bias. Confirmation bias is when a person looks for and interprets information (be it news stories, statistical data or the opinions of others) that backs up an assumption or theory they already have.

Conscious bias is the biased attitudes about a certain group we are aware of. In conscious bias, we know we are being biased, and we are doing it intentionally. For example, a person prefers to work with men rather than women, or a person who doesn't like to associate people with a different culture.

A common example of implicit bias is favouring or being more receptive to familiar-sounding names than those from other cultural groups. Implicit bias doesn't mean that inclusivity is not one of our values. It means that we are not aware of how our own implicit bias can impact our actions and decisions.

9 Types of Unconscious Bias.

What should you avoid in a job description? ›

Avoid including words in your titles like "hacker," "rockstar," "superhero," "guru," and "ninja," and use neutral, descriptive titles like "engineer," "project manager," or "developer."

You may only write phrases such as “recent graduate”, “young and fresh” or “mature” in the advert if they are actual requirements for the job role. These types of phrases may violate discrimination law because they exclude some people based on their age. Be careful with any gender-specific terms.

Bias in the workplace is the purposeful or accidental assumptions made when hiring candidates, delegating tasks or comparing employees in other ways.

Unconscious bias typically results in negative outcomes. Studies have shown that around 33% of those who report workplace bias feel alienated, and 34% withhold their own ideas and solutions from the organization. A troubling 80% of them would not refer others to their employer.

These biases result from our brain's efforts to simplify the incredibly complex world in which we live. Confirmation bias, hindsight bias, self-serving bias, anchoring bias, availability bias, the framing effect, and inattentional blindness are some of the most common examples of cognitive bias.

Unconscious bias is triggered by our brain automatically making quick judgments and assessments. They are influenced by our background, personal experiences, societal stereotypes and cultural context.

How do you test for unconscious bias? ›

One of the best ways of identifying any hidden biases is by taking an Implicit Association Test (IAT). An IAT can be used to evaluate a person's attitudes or beliefs about a range of topics, including age, gender and race.

Research has shown that types of implicit bias that may emerge during the candidate recruitment and selection process include name, age, beauty, physical appearance, hair color, birthplace, credentials gained outside the recruiting country, height, and weight.

In a study conducted by Harvard Business Review, researchers found that the hiring process is often biased and unfair, highlighting that racism, ageism, sexism, and a variety of other factors that we may or may not be aware of as major push factors for inequity.

What is a behavioural bias? Behavioural biases are irrational beliefs or behaviours that can unconsciously influence our decision-making process. They are generally considered to be split into two subtypes – emotional biases and cognitive biases.

Implicit bias is a form of bias that occurs automatically and unintentionally, that nevertheless affects judgments, decisions, and behaviors. Research has shown implicit bias can pose a barrier to recruiting and retaining a diverse scientific workforce.

The two major types of bias are: Selection Bias. Information Bias.

A Few Key Characteristics of Implicit Biases

Implicit biases are pervasive. Everyone possesses them, even people with avowed commitments to impartiality such as judges. Implicit and explicit biases are related but distinct mental constructs. They are not mutually exclusive and may even reinforce each other.

What are the three psychological stages of implicit bias? ›

Bias can occur in all three psychological components: affects (ie, prejudice), cognition (ie, stereotypes), and behaviour (ie, discrimination).

Bias is a tendency to prefer one person or thing to another, and to favour that person or thing. Bias against women permeates every level of the judicial system. There were fierce attacks on the BBC for alleged political bias. Synonyms: prejudice, leaning, bent, tendency More Synonyms of bias. 2.

We are a diverse company and welcome you to apply if you are qualified… My advice: Try writing only in the 1st/2nd person. Another tip is that you should mention “you” (candidate) at least as often as you mention we/us (the employer).

JOB SUMMARY

Remember to specify if opportunity is paid or not to avoid misunderstandings. Show your company culture and personality. Make it clear what do you stand for and what kind of people you need while growing your vision. Write in a direct and personal way, using your company's voice.

Don't use terms like “physically” fit or “energetic” – instead describe the physical requirements of the role so people with disabilities can consider whether it is suitable for them.

Can you give someone a job without advertising it? ›

Can you give someone a job without advertising it? An employer can appoint someone into a vacant position without first advertising that role or completing a recruitment process, although failing to advertise a job could, in some circ*mstances, unlawfully discriminate against any person not appointed into that role.

Unconscious biases are social stereotypes about certain groups of people that individuals form outside their own conscious awareness. Everyone holds unconscious beliefs about various social and identity groups, and these biases stem from one's tendency to organize social worlds by categorizing.

Bias at work can appear just about anywhere, but most often in recruiting, screening, performance reviews and feedback, coaching and development, and promotions.

Unconscious bias typically results in negative outcomes. Studies have shown that around 33% of those who report workplace bias feel alienated, and 34% withhold their own ideas and solutions from the organization. A troubling 80% of them would not refer others to their employer.

In hiring, unconscious bias happens when you form an opinion about candidates based solely on first impressions. Or when you prefer one candidate over another simply because the first one seems like someone you'd easily hang out with outside of work.

One of the most common cognitive biases is confirmation bias. Confirmation bias is when a person looks for and interprets information (be it news stories, statistical data or the opinions of others) that backs up an assumption or theory they already have.

Conscious bias is the biased attitudes about a certain group we are aware of. In conscious bias, we know we are being biased, and we are doing it intentionally. For example, a person prefers to work with men rather than women, or a person who doesn't like to associate people with a different culture.

What are the most common biases in the workplace? ›

9 Types of Unconscious Bias.