This document provides an introduction to key concepts related to diversity and inclusion in the workplace, including implicit bias. It discusses identity salience, explicit and implicit attitudes, stereotypes, and microaggressions. The objective is for participants to develop a better understanding of these concepts and recognize how they can manifest in common workplace scenarios through a series of analysis activities and a closing survey.

1. Intro to Implicit Bias in
Workplace Scenarios

2. Objective for the day
Develop better understanding of key concepts fundamental to
fostering diversity and inclusion in work spaces.
Activities for today:
1. Recognize common diversity and inclusion related
misconceptions
2. Group evaluation of case scenarios based on bias,
stereotypes or misinformation
3. Close the loop survey question

3. Identity salience
is conceptualized (and
operationalized) as the
likelihood that the
identity will be invoked
in diverse situations.

4. Identities to Consider:
● Race
● Gender
● Gender Identity
● Sexual Orientation
● Religion
● Ability
● Age
● Nationality
Jones & McEwen 2000

5. Explicit attitudes
are attitudes that are at
the conscious level, are
deliberately formed and
are easy to self-report.

6. Implicit attitudes
are attitudes that are at
the unconscious level,
are involuntarily formed
and are typically
unknown to us.

7. Explicit
Attitudes
Implicit
Attitudes
“We don’t rent to __.” Property manager performs
background checks on all __
applicants.
Center for Social Inclusion

8. Stereotypes
are assumptions made
about a group of people
and are applied to
individuals, irrespective
of their personal
characteristics, because
of their affiliation with a
certain group.
Stereotypes can be
positive, negative or
neutral.

9. Positive Neutral Negative
African
Americans can
dance.
Hispanic families
are family-oriented.
Christians are
homophobic.

10. Microaggressions
are the everyday verbal,
nonverbal, and
environmental slights,
snubs, or insults,
whether intentional or
unintentional, which
communicate hostile,
derogatory, or negative
messages to target
persons based solely
upon their marginalized
group membership.

11. Verbal Nonverbal Environmental
“You are pretty
smart, for a girl.”
Touching an
African American
woman’s hair
without permission.
Every counselor at a
mental health clinic is
White.

12. So how do these concepts actually
look and sound?
And what’s the big deal?

13. You are getting reading for your
first case analysis meeting at
your new investment firm.
Present are two junior analysts
both of equal time on the job
and education (yourself the only
female and one male) and one
Senior Analyst (male). The
Senior analyst turns to you and
says, “while we dive into the
background of the case, how
about you do the coffee run.”
Photo Credit:
Theantiroom.wordpress.com 2010

14. You just finished presenting
business recommendations to
the board of your organization.
While your recommendations
are met with positive feedback,
a member of your audience
says: “You’re so well-spoken
and professional, unlike some
others similar to you”
Photo Credit:
Fordham University’s Lincoln Center campus
2013

15. Your department is homogeneous.
Your manager is assembling a
team for a large upcoming
project. At a large department
meeting, your manager
announces its members and
delegates roles. When your
manager announces your name,
he/she explains that you would
contribute diversity to the group.
Photo Credit:
Fordham University’s Lincoln Center campus
2013

16. You and two of your co-workers
decide to go get lunch at the
new bistro nearby. After you
order and receive your food, one
of your co-workers asks the
waiter for a pair of chopsticks.
When the waiter arrives with the
chopsticks, your co-worker
hands them to you and says “I
figured you may need these”.
Photo Credit:
Fordham University’s Lincoln Center campus
2013

17. You are invited to an informational
interview. You notice that the
interviewer appears to not be
sure of where to start the
conversation. You break the
silence by delivering your
elevator speech. The interviewer
then asks “So, what are you?”
Photo Credit:
Mary Washington University 2012

18. Which concept most resonated with you
today?
1. Identity Salience
2. Implicit and Explicit Attitudes
3. Microaggressions
4. Stereotypes

19. Which concept would you like to learn
more about?
1. Identity Salience
2. Implicit and Explicit Attitudes
3. Microaggressions
4. Stereotypes