What makes a positive and productive work environment? The answer varies somewhat by industry, location, etc. – but it has also changed significantly over the last few decades. In recent years, especially, the eyes of the world have been on Western society to create more balance and less bias in the workplace. From reducing harassment to increasing opportunities in the workforce for people from all walks of life, the working world is changing – but perhaps not fast enough.
The Ugly Truth About Unconscious Bias
While most people don’t realize it, we all have some degree of unconscious biases. In times gone by, these biases were seen in much more severe – and often violent – iterations. The suffering of women, people of color, minority religions, and almost everyone who wasn’t wealthy, white, and male have been storied in history books and are increasingly the topic of modern conversations about creating positive change. However, until people realize that we all hold some individual biases, it may be impossible to create meaningful change.
This is why many employers and major companies are now introducing unconscious bias training for their staff members. These trainings are helping reshape the way we see other people in the workplace – and everywhere else.
Training for a Better Tomorrow
A generation or two ago, women were entering the workforce in droves. People of color were increasingly being accepted into positions they had long been denied employment in. At that time, so-called sensitivity trainings were often held to prepare longtime employees for these changes – but rarely did they address the creation of a comfortable and positive work environment for everyone in the facility.
Today’s cultural bias trainings are geared toward doing exactly that. Rather than treating diversity in the workplace like a problem to be addressed, modern attitudes view diversity as an asset for any good company. Unconscious bias training and coaching sessions help staff members understand their role in diverse environments and how to make those spaces comfortable and safe for everyone around them. Only by continuing this focus on diversity as the way to a better future can we create one for every member of the modern workforce.
