Diversity Builder Unconscious Bias Training Courses
Elevating self-awareness of biased thoughts and practices in the workplace is the first step in addressing underlying biases. Such biases are often unconscious and emerge in the workplace when communicating and can result in inequitable decision-making.
Unconscious Bias Definition
The definition of unconscious bias is favoring individuals or opposing individuals unintentionally in quick decisions based on personal attributes, identities, or social location.
These biases commonly involve race, gender, age, nationality, economic status, class, or sexual orientation.
The following are the options for implicit/unconscious bias training:
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- Online Training – Interactive E-learning Modules – Self-Directed
- Onsite
- Webinar using Zoom or Microsoft Teams
We all have biases. Raised awareness and training can help reduce biased behavior and elevate inclusion and belonging.
Research studies on bias have revealed that all of us have bias. It is often deep-rooted and stems from the messages and input we have received throughout our lives, starting in childhood. 1
The impacts of bias at work can be harmful and result in the following:
Microaggressions
Harassment
Bullying
Exclusion
Starting with an effective training program is often the best initial step in cultivating a culture of inclusion and belonging within an organization.
So why try to reduce or eliminate bias at work? When bias starts shaping decisions and behaviors within the workplace, it can have a negative impact to the organization and its culture. The good news is that training programs have been shown to mitigate bias in the workplace and increase diversity.2
Diversity Builder has learned which techniques work best when bringing bias training programs to employees. Our trainers take and evidence-based approach starting with scientific study results and findings. From there our trainers share ways to be more aware of bias and how to address it when it arises at work.
“Biases are inevitable. Acting on them is not.”
Katerina Tate, Diversity Builder Trainer
Increased Self-Awareness of Bias
The individual, social, and structural learning that shapes a person does not change once they arrive at work. Self-awareness of bias can be eye-opening to employees and be the catalyst for change. Recognizing that all people have unconscious or implicit bias is the first step of becoming self-aware of its influence. As we consider how bias impacts our choices, cultural change and shifting societal attitudes play a role in understanding appropriateness in the workplace. Bias often extends beyond race and gender. Recognizing bias helps employees understand what shapes their beliefs, thoughts, and feelings about another person or group of people.
Does Unconscious Bias Training Work
The top questions about bias training we receive are:
- Does implicit bias training work?
- Is it effective in changing behavior?
- What is the best long-term strategy that does work?
Research shows that there are four criteria that contribute to learning programs that work.3
- Initial awareness of personal bias
- Understanding how bias impacts workplace decisions
- Creating a feedback culture for joint accountability
- An ongoing learning program that includes review, evaluation, and actionable plans
Stereotyping and Discrimination
Common misconceptions and stereotyping open a space for discrimination when the unconscious become conscious. Often employees do not recognize their biases naturally; intention and practice are required.
One major impact of bias training is transforming thoughts by talking openly about stereotypes, implicit bias, and prejudice.
Racial Bias
Bias based on race is a significant topic of interest to organizations. They are interested in helping employees raise awareness of individual biases and reduce the prevalence of such biases to prevent acting on them in the workplace. While this topic can be built into the program for virtual or onsite facilitation, other organizations want an entire workshop on Anti-Racism training.
Diversity Builder’s Racial Equity training is also an option. This training provides a history of structural and systemic racism and equips employees with tools and actionable strategies to be more aware and confront both racism and racial inequality. Employees will learn about the Black Lives Matter movement and how to navigate communication to promote positive outcomes. Allyship is a key component of this class.
What is Allyship?
Allyship means:
Standing up for individuals from marginalized races
Active listening to individuals from differing races
Take on the challenges of individuals from different races as if they were you own.
Address personal privilege based on race. Take a stand for equality and equity.
Diversity Builder’s trainers have hosted more than 50 podcasts on race and has team members considered as some of the best in the country on the topic of anti-racism and social justice.
Diversity Builder’s curriculum developer holds a Doctorate Degree in American Cultural Studies and a Master’s Degree in Social Justice.
Transforming Workplace Conversations
Turning uncomfortable conversations into a space of trust and learning is how the trainers at Diversity Builder breakdown misconceptions and lessen the stigma surrounding bias issues. Creating an environment where feedback is valued and welcomed and help establish peer accountability and contribute to more inclusive communication and behaviors.
Where Bias Appears
6 of the Top Ways Organizations Experience Bias
- Communication including Corporate News, Announcements, Public Relations, Water Cooler Conversations & Ensuing Microaggressions
- Organizational Meetings & Events – Excluding from Invites, Interruptions, Not Crediting Ideas
- Embedded Systemic Frameworks – Existing Systemic Bias Includes Signs, Forms, & Processes and May be Exacerbated by AI Algorithms
- Third Party Interactions – Comments & Interactions to and from Third Parties to include Vendors and Customers
- External Work Functions and Events – Letting guard down behaving inappropriately
- Recruiting and Hiring
When bias is prevalent in a workplace as a result of a lack of awareness, teamwork suffers and individual employee performance can decline.4
The key to bias is gaining awareness of how such viewpoints get formed and the associated influencers. Reconciling beliefs and opinions about people that have been categorized takes time, practice and intention. Diversity Builder trainers present employees with effective and simple steps to recognize their own biases, identify root beliefs, reframe harmful beliefs, and use skills gained in their decision making Additionally, bias is always in flux and understanding individual perception and self-management is key to successful training. Bias affects evaluation of individual and team performance, the effectiveness in collaborating and managing people, and job satisfaction/retention.
Mandatory Training
Certain occupations require implicit or unconscious bias training. When industry oversight groups or states identify specific risks related to outcomes of bias, mandatory bias training is put into place for practitioners. For instance, healthcare workers and physicians may experience biases in diagnosis of conditions, assuming that women overstate their pain levels or that Black patients have a higher pain threshold. This can result in patients receiving inequitable care and having adverse health outcomes. Healthcare professionals may also be less patient or use a less empathetic and caring voice with certain groups of patients. Research shows this being common with people who do not speak English fluently in the United States or clients who have low incomes.
In law enforcement, over-policing in areas with high populations of Black or Hispanic residents, for example, is a serious risk to the communities served. Criminal justice research reports an increased use of force when officers are in high stakes situations where they need to make quick decisions. Roland Fryer, a Harvard University Economics professor, performed extensive research and cited evidence-based findings in his published paper, “An Empirical Analysis of Racial Differences in Police Use of Force.”
Other professions are similarly affected. For example, expectation bias is common in schools. Expectation bias occurs when teachers lower expectations for certain students. This bias may relate to race, neurodiversity, gender, lower income, or other student identities.
Top 6 Occupations Requiring Implicit Bias Training
1) Healthcare Providers – Doctors, Dentists, Nurses, Therapists and others
2) Prosecutors & Attorneys
3) Law Enforcement, including Police and Sheriff Organizations
4) Social Workers
5) Teachers and Education Managers
6) Real Estate Brokers and Sales Personnel
List of States Requiring Unconscious or Explicit Bias Training – Latest Update
Connecticut Training Requirements state that law enforcement employees including police and sheriff personnel complete the course.
Michigan Training Requirements state that all licensed healthcare professionals including Nurse Practitioners, Physician Assistants, Medical Doctors, RNs, LPNs, Acupuncture Providers, Dentists, Dental Hygienists, Optometrists and Ophthalmologists, Pharmacy Technicians, Pharmacists, PTs and OTs, Midwives, Respiratory Therapists, Dieticians, MFTs, Behavioral Counselors, Speech Pathologists, and Psychologists.
Initial training and continuing education are required. The training requirements range from one to two hours in duration.
Illinois Training Requirements state that all nurses and nurse practitioners complete a one hour class to for license renewal.
Additionally, all healthcare workers in the following professions are required to do the training in addition to APRN, LPN and RN designations include Doctors of Osteopathic Medicine, Medical Physicians, and Chiropractors.
California Training Requirements state that nurses must receive this class as part of their schooling and at renewal of their license.
Real estate agents in California are required to have this course prior to receiving a license.
Maryland Training Requirements state that implicit bias is required for renewal of healthcare licenses. Structural racism training is proposed at this time.
Massachusetts Training Requirements state that a two-hour class is required for renewal of license for all medical doctors.
Minnesota Training Requirements state that their hospitals and birthing facilities who provide obstetric care and perinatal health must complete anti-racism and implicit bias classes for continuing education.
Minnesota also requires peace officers to take a course on Valuing Community Diversity and Cultural Differences, which has an implicit bias component.
Lastly, state employees are required to complete an implicit bias course.
New Jersey Requirements state that new law enforcement police officers and sheriff deputies have to complete the class.
Texas Training Requirements state that all police officers receive a law enforcement bias class in their training academy.
Similarly, the Department of Justice requires implicit bias training for all agents, federal attorneys, and other legal personnel.
List of Cities Requiring Bias Training
Chicago requires a separate implicit bias training for all healthcare workers at renewal.
San Francisco- Has an ordinance in place that requires city leaders and department heads to participate in the class. The city lists the city personnel who have completed the training.
Des Moines – Has an Unbiased Policing Ordinance in place that includes an extensive education on topics of cultural awareness, de-escalation and unconscious bias.
Seattle – Has bias-free policing policy with training.
Chicago also has bystander intervention and harassment prevention requirements for training of the city or for other organizational or corporate needs.
Contact Diversity Builder to gain access to our Chicago trainers and programs onsite.
Expected Successes
Ultimately, bias training opens dialogue about the ideas and actions that may be hidden for many employees, as they lack awareness. It is recommended that companies evaluate past issues and policies related to suspected bias, to uncover areas of improvement.
Reducing bias in the workplace requires:
- Creating a Standardized Mentoring Program
- Establishing Ongoing Learning
- Evaluating Anti-bias
- Implementing programs for Change
Strategies for Success
Changing unconscious bias into conscious understanding is actionable and can be used to establish employee and manager accountability. Initiating an evaluation program helps to track impact and change in employee actions and behaviors. When assessing the collected data, it is important to understand that major change does not happen at once, and adequately adjusting expectations to celebrate incremental success should be the goal.
What Sets Diversity Builder’s Curriculum and Facilitation Apart
Diversity Builder’s curriculum designers consider an organization’s challenges and goals when creating content. Every webinar and instructor-led training course is designed for individual organizations who need customized solutions to enable growth and innovation. Real life examples are incorporated into each workshop. Diversity Builder tailors the PowerPoint slides and facilitation of bias training for each company to promote positive and impactful outcomes. Bias training should be refreshed continually for the long term, through multiple sessions. The impact of bias is so significant that it is beneficial to incorporate it into an organization’s diversity and inclusion vision.
Research References
1 Rebecca A. Dore, British Journal of Developmental Psychology
2 Olivia Nelson, “Potential for Progress: Implicit Bias Journey to Make Change,” Joseph Wharton Scholars, Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania
3 Judgment under Uncertainty: Heuristics and Biases by Paul Slovic and Amos Tversky, Cambridge University Press
4 National Bureau of Economic Research, Amanda Pallais, Dylan Glover, William Pariente
Why Choose Us for Your Unconscious Bias Training?
Programs Designed for Impact
Our approach goes beyond surface-level awareness. We deliver actionable strategies that your employees can put into practice immediately, creating real and lasting change within your organization.
Tailored for Your Business
No two workplaces are the same. Choose the unconscious bias training for employees that reflects your industry, culture, and unique challenges.
Expert-Led, Evidence-Based Training
Designed with input from psychologists, educators, and workplace leaders, our programs are grounded in research and proven to drive results.
Flexible Delivery Options
Whether you’re looking for in-person training for unconscious bias or an easy-to-access unconscious bias training online option, we’ve created programs to suit your team’s schedule and needs.
Build a Stronger, Inclusive Workplace Culture
Help your team develop empathy, engage in respectful conversations, and ensure everyone has a sense of belonging at work.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is unconscious bias training?
Unconscious bias training helps individuals recognize and mitigate hidden attitudes or stereotypes that influence their actions and decisions. It’s designed to create fairer and more equitable workplaces.
How effective is unconscious bias training in the workplace?
When done right, it leads to increased awareness, improved team dynamics, and long-term behavioral change. We use evidence-based methods to maximize its impact.
Who should take the training?
Our programs are ideal for employees at all levels, including HR professionals, managers, and leadership teams. An inclusive workplace starts with everyone.
Are your trainings available online?
Yes, we offer both in-person and implicit bias training online options for flexible learning experiences.
How long are your training sessions?
Depending on the depth and scope of your selected program.