Offer a means for making anonymous complaints. This provides a safe space for employees to report an issue without fear of retaliation.

Provide bias training. Training can benefit the entire workforce by educating employees and reassuring those who may feel excluded that the issue of bias is being actively discussed and addressed.

Make sure all employees feel fully listened to and respond constructively to comments you might disagree with. Ensure equal amounts of interaction with each employee. Be aware of who you sit next to and engage with each meeting.

Make meetings inclusive. Being inclusive can mean doing things as simple as valuing others’ time.

Promote dialogue. Creating a culture that promotes open expression and discussion about bias not only educates and builds trust among employees but also reinforces an organization’s values.

Some companies use blind evaluations so that the employee is represented solely by their work and not their race or gender.

Have clear criteria for evaluating qualifications and performance. Having such criteria eliminates nearly all possibility that bias will impact the appraisal process.

Make leaders responsible. Ensuring decision-makers are accountable for the organization’s values will demonstrate the importance of an unbiased workplace to the organization’s culture.

If you are proactively recruiting professionals from diverse backgrounds and experiences, being transparent about it will build your employees’ trust in the hiring and promotion processes.

Be transparent about your hiring and promotion process. This transparency will assure employees that these processes are not biased toward the hiring and promotion based on gender, age, race, sexual orientation, or other factors.

Include a diversity statement in your organizational values, demonstrating your commitment to diversity.

Make sure employees understand the company values diversity, inclusion, and equity.

Set expectations. Let employees know that you are prioritizing bias mitigation.Make sure employees understand stereotyping, the foundation for bias. Educating employees about stereotyping can raise awareness and keep people mindful of their stereotyping behaviors and perceptions.So, what can you do at your company to reduce the negative impact of unconscious bias on your team and create a healthier and more productive culture? 10 ways to mitigate against unconscious bias at your company 10 Ways to Better Support Women-Owned Businesses.6 Things Women in Business Know That Men Don’t.

Affinity bias definition