Bias is a growing concern for New Zealand businesses trying to increase diversity and inclusion in their workplace, according to new research.

The latest New Zealand Diversity Survey reveals that 48 per cent of organisations identify bias to be a key issue, up 18 per cent from the previous survey six months ago.

Bias is now ranked as the third most important diversity issue in the workplace, behind wellbeing and flexibility.

Diversity Works chief executive Bev Cassidy-Mackenzie is pleased to see there is a growing awareness around the impact bias can have.

'Bias, particularly unconscious bias, can subtly undermine the many hours organisations invest in creating a culture that embraces diversity and inclusion. But awareness is the first step in mitigating its effects.”

Public sector organisations are even more cognisant of bias, with 51 per cent of those respondents ranking it as a concern, making it the second most important diversity issue, behind wellbeing, for the public sector.

'That's not surprising. Many of New Zealand's public sector organisations have made a real commitment to reducing the impact of bias, working with Diversity Works New Zealand on training and other strategies,” says Bev.

Bias was identified as one of the factors impacting the gender pay gap in New Zealand in research released recently by the Ministry for Women.

'Publicity around the gender pay gap and research into its causes may have impacted the Diversity Survey results. Gender was identified as an important issue by 45 per cent of respondents, up from 29 per cent in our previous survey.”

'We think it's great the message around bias and the gender pay gap is spreading, and that organisations are gaining a better understanding around these important issues, and how they impact their workforce and ultimately, business performance,” she says.

The NZ Diversity Survey, which was initiated in 2013 to create a better understanding of the key diversity challenges facing New Zealand organisations, is carried out twice a year by Diversity Works New Zealand in partnership with the New Zealand Chambers of Commerce and has been supported by AUT, and now Massey University.

Tauranga Chamber of Commerce chief executive Stan Gregec welcomes the chance to discuss the findings of the survey with local businesses, and to hear ways in which some companies are overcoming the barriers identified in the report.

The chamber will be hosting a special ‘Diversity in the Workplace' event on May 18 to share ways that business owners and organisations can create a more inclusive culture and reap rewards such as better staff recruitment and retention, and improved products and services.

Visit http://www.tauranga.org.nz for more details and to register.