Biases can sneak into your workplace if you’re not careful. There are a lot of different biases to be aware of. One of these is proximity bias. This is a bias against remote workers under the belief that workers in the office get more done than those working from home, which generally is untrue. Here are some ways to combat proximity bias in your workplace:
Promote Communication
Remote workers miss out on a lot of impromptu conversations that occur in the office. These conversations may seem like little things, but if enough of these conversations lead to decisions remote employees aren’t informed of, it can make it hard for remote employees to do their job well. Make sure you are actively keeping remote employees in the loop in real time. This will keep all work efforts unified and make remote employees feel connected and included.
Hold Inclusive Meetings
Even if remote workers are participating in meetings through video, it can still be difficult for them to share their questions and feedback. Make sure to ask for remote workers’ opinions in meetings. Also, make sure that they are visible to everyone in the meeting so they feel more included.
Give Equal Opportunities
Remote workers are often passed up for promotions because of proximity bias. Make sure that when you are considering candidates for promotions that you consider all candidates, including remote workers. Choose the best possible candidate regardless of where they work. Remote workers deserve an equal chance to be recognized for their work and to be given opportunities to grow and improve.
Use these tips to prevent proximity bias as your remote workforce grows.