UNBIAS: Addressing Unconscious Bias at Work

More than a year after the tragic and brutal murder of George Floyd sparked massive protests that demanded greater accountability in terms of racial justice, organizations continue to address the need for diversity and inclusion. Stacey Gordon offers her experience as a diversity leader tackling contentious issues in Unbias: Addressing Unconscious Bias at Work. Gordon provides practical advice on how organizations should address biases at work, referencing dimensions of diversity beyond race and ethnicity. Yet, Gordon also makes the case for why leaders should develop the personal comfort and capacity to lead difficult conversations about racial issues in the workplace.

This book is a timely read for anyone who is committed to developing equitable, diverse, and inclusive workplaces. It’s especially useful for human resources and/or diversity and inclusion managers who are tasked with operationalizing diversity initiatives in the workplace. In a straightforward and pragmatic way, Gordon bridges the gap in understanding between the proponents of social justice and those in the business world. Data are critical to defining and addressing workforce diversity gaps, and Gordon offers actionable advice on eliminating biases in recruitment and hiring processes.

Beyond implementing employee training on unconscious biases, Gordon challenges leaders to champion equity at work by modeling and rewarding inclusive behaviors and practices. The work has legal, moral, and business imperatives. To be successful, all those imperatives must be addressed to articulate and sustain an organization’s commitment to advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion.