Most of us feel like we (and our compliance programs) are generally fair and impartial. However, bias creeps in to affect our judgement and decision-making process in ways in which we are unaware. This can show up in how we perceive a raised concern and how we react towards certain people or groups.
Unconscious bias commonly comes into play with regard to the Speak-Up process. These biases arise when 1) people think about reporting suspected misconduct; 2) how the concern is investigated and resolved; and 3) where there could be a perception of inequitable outcomes.
Have you seen any of these biases show up in your Speak Up process? Are there any that you would add to the list?
