Bias in the Workplace

One of the most common types of bias in the workplace is favoring employees for reasons other than excellent job performance. Favoritism occurs when a biased manager gravitates to certain personality types, such as extroverts who are allowed to take over meetings and ignore everyone else. A boss may also show favoritism toward those who share similar hobbies, religious beliefs or political views. Employees may be favored because of their shared passion for certain sports or athletic teams.

Favoritism becomes a problem when it affects the terms and conditions of an employee’s job. Employees who are not the manager’s favorite may feel slighted and angry if they are consistently treated less favorably due to the manager's personal quirks and lack of professionalism. Those who are favored by the manager may be ostracized by resentful co-workers.

Treating employees differently because of their membership in a legally protected group constitutes discrimination. The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) states that workers are federally protected from employment discrimination based on factors such as race, color, religion, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age over 40, disability and genetic information, including family medical history.

Employers must also comply with state anti-discrimination protections that may be more expansive. Under law, job applicants and employees are protected from retaliation for filing a discrimination complaint