We had a chat with Ed Heppel, a Partner at Wilkin Chapman Rollits, about his upcoming seminar which is free to attend.
Wilkin Chapman Rollits has the largest Employment Law team in the area. Ed Heppel, a Partner in the department, will soon deliver an inspiring event to equip attendees with tangible steps to build a more inclusive, fair and legally robust business.
Unconscious Bias in the Workplace, taking place at Hull Truck Theatre on Wednesday 4th June from 2pm to 4pm, will offer practical legal advice delivered through interactive theatre. As the term suggests, unconscious bias refers to hidden prejudices or preferences that affect our decisions and behaviours without us being aware of them. For instance, favouring CVs with names that sound more familiar, or overlooking older candidates for training or promotion because you assume they are less adaptable.
“This topic really stands out,” said Ed. “Unconscious bias has received a lot of attention over the last few years and it’s important to tackle it in the workplace. This seminar looks at what it is and how our brains are structured. It will explore how we may show favouritism to certain people without even meaning to, which is something we all need to prevent.
“A common example is if you walk into a networking session, see someone who is the same sex or a similar age to you, and gravitate towards them because you think you’ll have more in common. Though you may have a great chat with that person, you could be missing out on meeting other interesting people simply because of this automatic response.”
Unconscious bias can take many forms in the workplace. A manager may spend more time chatting to a colleague who shares their interests, which seems only natural, but this can result in others feeling excluded. It can also have a negative effect on recruitment, staff retention, brand image, workplace morale, and even lead to litigation if an employee feels that they are receiving detrimental treatment because of a protected characteristic, for example sex, race or age .
“The event very much focuses on the positives, such as slowing down, thinking through your decisions, and making sure you ask yourself questions as part of your ongoing self-development,” explained Ed. “I’ll be joined by Tom Saunders, Associate Director at Hull Truck Theatre, who has organised a team of actors to deliver powerful theatrical storytelling to bring multiple scenarios to life. There will also be some interaction, where the audience identifies instances of unconscious bias and I provide more details into how to it can be avoided.”
The scenarios played out by the actors at Hull Truck Theatre will provide thought-provoking examples of work-place interaction and highlight how we can all play a role in creating more inclusive work environments.
“This event will prove very useful for recruitment managers, HR professionals and business owners,” said Ed. “If you have a more diverse workplace, you gain a more productive and dynamic workforce. In the process, you need to be careful not to cross the line into positive discrimination, so it’s all about finding the right balance.”
If you’re interested in attending the Unconscious Bias in the Workplace event, tickets are free but they must be booked in advance through Eventbrite.