BY-Peers HR presents a conversation on proximity bias and how to address it.
About this event
Remote and hybrid work is no longer just a trend in the workplace today – it is now part of our work lives and thoroughly disrupted the traditional on-site working model among top organisations. With these flexible working models, where some employees work from home part- or full-time while others put in more face time at the office – comes a new challenge for employees and managers alike: proximity bias.
Proximity bias is the idea that employees with close physical proximity to their team and company leaders will be perceived as better workers and ultimately find more success in the workplace than their remote colleagues. That bias often looks like on-site employees having access to better perks and getting more time with executives, while remote employees may get left out of meetings, inadvertently silenced on calls, and potentially even paid less than their co-located peers.
A 2015 study, for example, showed that remote workers at a Chinese travel agency had higher levels of performance while simultaneously losing out to in-house staff on performance-based promotions (Bloom et al., 2015).
While this is detrimental to the average employee, it might even be more harmful for those from a Black, Asian or other ethnic background who already have added barriers when it comes to career progression and access to opportunities.
So, what is the best way to address proximity bias from an HR perspective? Is it for companies to be 100% remote? Or should companies that adopt a hybrid approach permit the same level of physical participation in the office? What can employees do to navigate proximity bias?
Join us on December 1st, 2022, to discuss and share on overcoming proximity bias in the new workplace.
Time: 6.00pm – 7.00pm
Host: Samuel Akinlotan
Register for this event to secure your place!
Your Host
Samuel is a personable and internationally-certified talent management professional, with strategic and operational level work experience in consulting and financial services. He has designed and executed several people-centric solutions with leading organisations across diverse sector and industries like Big 4 Consulting, FMCG, Retail-Chain stores, Hospitality, Banking, Engineering, Information Technology, Media, Education, Agriculture etc.
Samuel is passionate about talent development, diversity and inclusion (racial, gender and disability), and discussing contemporary workplace issues.
In the meantime join our BY-Peers Human Resources Facebook group.
About BY-Peers
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Whatever stage you are in your career we are inviting you to celebrate the next chapter in your professional life, sharing resources that can help you on your journey to career progression whilst connecting you to likeminded peers.
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