Talking about the elephant in the room

Over the last few years, we’ve run a whole range of workshops aimed at raising awareness on how unconscious bias could create a feeling of exclusion for various sub-groups.

We’ve looked at many sources of unconscious bias – gender, sexuality, age, physical ability, veterans, neuro-diversity….the one area we haven’t yet spoken about is the elephant in the room. Caste. 

I hasten to add – caste as it impacts the workplace. 

It’s a thorny issue and difficult to talk about because of the many historical, social, cultural, psychological and political factors that deeply influence the discourse. 

• People from the privileged classes may deny the relevance of caste today, seeing it as a relic of the past or blaming its perpetuation solely on politics.
• Many people internalize caste-based hierarchies, often unconsciously. Discussing caste challenges these internalized norms, leading to discomfort or defensiveness.
• There could be a genuine lack of understanding about how caste operates today.
• Discussions often require historical and sociological context, which many people may not be equipped to navigate.
• Conversations about caste can quickly escalate into heated debates or personal accusations, deterring people from engaging with the topic.

But we do need to talk about it…as HR people, as leaders, as individuals who want to create workplaces that are equitable and diverse.

Hence this ask.

We’ve found in our work with unconscious bias over the years that when people connect with personal stories; when they listen to others talking about how unconscious bias has impacted them, they’re often very open to reflecting on and changing behaviour.

If you’ve been impacted at the workplace by bias based on your caste and want to help make a change, we’d love to hear your stories.

Please take this ultra-short survey here: https://forms.gle/ZZSqR1QPWXDRLL528

You don’t have to share any identifying details. Please do pass this on to anyone you think could share their experiences.