From the course: Unconscious Bias

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The impact of a 1% bias

The impact of a 1% bias

From the course: Unconscious Bias

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The impact of a 1% bias

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- Is a small amount of bias really going to dramatically affect your workforce? The short answer is yes. The long answer, still yes. Researchers from three universities collaborated to create a computer simulation that showed a 1% bias in favor of promoting men in the workplace. Now, you might think that beginning with the same number of men and women in entry level positions and applying a 1% bias in promotion wouldn't change the expected 50-50 outcome. But in fact, applying a 1% bias in favor of men at every six-month review for 10 years led to 65% of the most senior positions in the company being held by men. Every decision made about a person, from the time we're hired to the time we're promoted, passed over, get fired or quit, each decision costs us and the company money. And the wrong decision sends us running to the nearest online employer rating board to post a negative review. Failure to attend to…

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