Flexible and inclusive: how we can #BreakTheBias

08/03/2022

This International Women’s Day, First Choice Homes Oldham’s chief executive Donna Cezair shares her thoughts on how businesses can break the bias.

Donna Cezair Fcho 200421 107LOWRES

This year, International Women’s Day has been themed around #BreakTheBias. Bias can be defined as an … “inclination or prejudice for or against one person or group, especially in a way considered to be unfair”.

When contemplating what bias I have faced in my life, I realise that there have been two main things occurring:

  1. many experiences have been as a direct result of people’s pre-meditated expectations, or rather their lack of expectations, and;
  2. the rituals and practices which discriminate, often in an unforeseen way.

Let me explain!

I started out in social housing in 1987 as a Housing Assistant, and then undertook various different roles which delivered me into a Director of Housing position by 1993 – quite a swift rise.

During this period, my progression was marked by an ambition to keep moving upwards and success was underpinned by proving myself capable. So, the first bias was overt and attached to my age, with disbelief around me holding a director level role in my mid-twenties, and being able to do that role effectively. This often resulted in meetings where it was assumed I was there to make the coffee or take the minutes!

I have always been keen therefore, to encourage young talent and to not see age as a barrier to creativity, good ideas or ability. This is something we can and do actively promote at FCHO.

The second point about rituals and practices which create bias, and which I experienced at different times, was the ‘good old-fashioned ways of doing business’ on the golf course or in the pub, which are not usually conducive to child care (or other care) arrangements. We still see this approach alive and well in the halls of Westminster, where votes are often called late in the evening, with no good reason!

So as a business we need to make sure that we are flexible and inclusive: That colleagues’ responsibilities outside of work do not preclude them from full engagement with opportunities to contribute, and to be seen or to be heard.

I am pleased and proud to lead FCHO, where we can all work together to make sure we break the bias every day.