Although we have made strides in advancing the professional lives of women and minorities in the last several decades, there are still key areas where companies need to improve their employment practices.  Our guest today, Jean Back, is an employment attorney with Schwabe, Williamson & Wyatt and has over 25 years of experience in helping employers navigate and solve a range of complicated problems and scenarios. Her experience is broad and covers litigation as well as mediation and settlement of employment and business tort claims. She has also conducted training for managers and employees in employment compliance and is experienced in all areas of state and federal employment, wage and hour, discrimination, and leave laws. Today, you’ll hear Jean unpack the key distinctions between overt and unconscious bias and how they can come into play in a wide range of employment practices. She explains how unconscious biases show up in the hiring and layoff process and what can be done to address these biases. Jean also discusses how to cultivate a bias-free work culture and how to improve your own organization’s DEI practices today.  Even the most progressive employers (who approach hiring with the best of intentions) can have blindspots when it comes to unconscious bias. And while we all may have unconscious biases, recognizing them is the first step in the journey to change them. To learn how to avoid these stumbling blocks to a fair and equitable workforce and what you can personally do to build a workplace that works for all, don’t miss this episode.    Key Highlights From This Episode:   The distinctions between overt and unconscious bias. [03:40] Examples of how job descriptions can signal bias through their language. [06:25] How our brains use unconscious bias and prejudice to protect us. [08:17] How training can help you become more aware of your biases and address them proactively. [10:07] Why you need to seek out information on how to reprogram your unconscious biases. [13:24] Examples of words that are used in job descriptions that unconsciously invite men to apply while discouraging female applicants. [16:08] An overview of the doll test and what it teaches us about unconscious bias. [17:11] How unconscious bias can affect the layoff and hiring process and how to fix these problems in an organization. [20:57] The most important Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) elements that companies need to be focusing on. [27:57] An overview of the need for pay equity laws and how to conduct a pay equity analysis within your company. [29:39]   For More Information: Jean Back Schwabe Jean Back on LinkedIn Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:   For more information on this topic, read Jean Back’s piece on Avoiding Discrimination Claims as the Result of a Reduction in Force Read Kathy’s Forbes interview with Jean Black How To Eliminate Gender Bias In Your Hiring And Employment Practices Today Learn more about the Doll Test and its devastating effects Brown v. Board: The Doll Test Search for articles on unconscious bias at Harvard Law Review and The Business Journals   ANNOUNCING THE MOST POWERFUL YOU LIVE COURSE (that starts February 1st) I’m very excited to be offering a new 8–week LIVE training course with me all about The Most Powerful You content from my book, and how you can address and close the 7 most damaging Power And Confidence Gaps that keep us from thriving in our work. The course starts Wednesday, February 1st! I’ve been delivering workshops and trainings on The Most Powerful You for over two years now in all sorts of ways for over 50 organizations (including an international division of the United Nations and other top global companies), and folks are saying it’s been truly transformative and life-changing for them. To make sure everyone can have access to this very same training, I’m thrilled to offer you a live course that includes: 8 WEEKLY LIVE Zoom Group Coaching Calls with me 8 Video Training Modules (tota