Unconscious Bias in the Workplace: A Revealing Conversation Among Colleagues (Full Transcript)

Speaker 1: Mr. Mishra, Akshay, Shalini, Kavitha, Mr. Venkat.

Speaker 2: No way, I was just being polite. I am not guilty.

Speaker 3: I felt bad. No, that was meant to be a joke.

Speaker 4: No, no, no. It was just a compliment.

Speaker 1: Let's start from the beginning and see what happened.

Speaker 3: Thank you, thanks.

Speaker 4: Good morning. Good morning, Mr. Mishra.

Speaker 3: No, fourth actually.

Speaker 4: Did you also get stuck in the park traffic?

Speaker 3: No, I live next street.

Speaker 4: I ride a scooter. Very convenient. By the way, you are looking very nice.

Speaker 3: Oh, thank you, sir.

Speaker 4: Oh, I see. Appraisal meeting. Don't worry, you will get it. You will get it.

Speaker 3: Good morning, Shalini. What happened? I didn't even ask. You know that Mr. Mishra, he thought I am dressed like this just to impress the boss. Can you believe that? Listen, is our boss in? I need to ask for leave next weekend. Leave? In the middle of appraisals? Wait, what's your excuse? Are you pregnant? Oh, no, wait, wait, wait. You can use your Madrasi bonding and ask him. Of course, he will give you leave. Go, go, go. Go ask him. I see. I am leaving.

Speaker 5: Hello. Hello. Yes, I am coming. Yes, Kavita, two minutes.

Speaker 6: Shama, you should have been in the show yesterday. You missed an amazing show. You were so good. Hey, Ashwin, how was the show yesterday? See, it was a brilliant show.

Speaker 5: Hello, young achiever of the year. Morning, sir. Morning, what's up? Coffee? Break already? Evening, 7 p.m., con call.

Speaker 6: Sure, sir. I'll log in from home.

Speaker 5: No, office. Sure, sir.

Speaker 6: Mr. G. Sir. Sit, sit. You don't have to. By the way, the project that was in the pipeline, we got it. Congratulations. Thank you, sir. In fact, I was talking to Pooja about how the clients loved your presentation. And he is very happy with it. We'll be going forward. But there is a small problem. The client wants to run the production in two locations simultaneously. No problem. Which will involve a lot of travelling. Sir, I can... I know, I know. Which is exactly why I asked Pooja to take the lead. So, you can relax. Hmm. So, now what do you say?

Speaker 1: I was just showing empathy. Considering he is disabled.

Speaker 6: You mean differently. Yeah, yeah. That's what. But boss here was mean to me. It's not as if you are perfect, Akshay. You judged me because of my disability. Excuse me?

Speaker 4: Look who is talking. You judge me just because of the dress I am wearing. Women don't dress just because they are beautiful.

Speaker 3: Women don't dress just because they are beautiful. You judge me just because of the dress I am wearing. Women don't dress just to impress people, by the way. By the way? You keep saying I get perks because I am from Madras. That's also not cool. No, but that's a joke. Oh, you know it's a joke. But you know I was meaning it as a joke. How can you take it so seriously? You keep saying it every time. One or two times. Stop.

Speaker 1: Stop. It's all of you. You are all guilty of unconscious bias. What bias? Unconscious bias. Judging people based on stereotypes which you are not even aware of. Like assuming that Shalini was well-dressed only for a better appraisal. Now that's a bias, Mr. Mishra.

Speaker 4: By the way, you are looking very nice today.

Speaker 3: Oh, thank you, sir. Thank you.

Speaker 1: You should have been more self-aware. And you thinking that Kavita uses her regional connect to pull favours.

Speaker 3: No, that was meant to be a joke.

Speaker 1: You could have showed more empathy.

Speaker 3: In the middle of appraisals. Wait, what's your excuse? Are you pregnant?

Speaker 1: And Akshay, you could have asked for a second opinion.

Speaker 6: But there is a small problem. The client wants to run the production in two locations simultaneously. Which will involve... Will that be an issue?

Speaker 4: No problem, sir. I can shuttle between the two locations. Thank you for asking. Alright then. All the best. Thank you, sir. Thank you.

Speaker 2: I got it. I got it. I am guilty of unconscious bias. I assume young people take a lot of breaks and don't take work seriously.

Speaker 6: Guys. Can we go for a coffee break? Coffee.