At the State Employment Service, a number of employment counselors were hired together during a special recruiting effort 12 years ago. They formed a cohort, went through training together, and received graduate hours in vocational counseling together. About a year ago, Jane Midland, the first member of the cohort to get promoted, tested into a supervisory position at one of the Job Service Centers. Two of the eleven employees who report to her are members of the original cohort. Barb Rick and George Malloy deeply respect her abilities and have a strong affection for her. In fact, Barb Rick has spent time at Jane’s home watching their children play together and helping with the remodel of Jane’s house. George, Jane, and Barb get together for lunch regularly. Recently, they have considered attending evening classes together to get a master’s degree in Human Resource Management. Yesterday, Jane received a memo from management reminding her that it is time to complete the annual appraisal forms for her staff.
Discuss the factors that may cause Jane to intentionally and unintentionally distort her ratings of Barb and George.
Evaluate the kinds of training programs that could help minimize the factors you have described. What do you recommend and why?
Full Answer Section
In addition to her personal relationships with Barb and George, Jane's own biases and perceptions could also influence her ratings. For example, Jane may have a subconscious bias against women or men, which could affect her assessment of Barb and George's performance. Additionally, Jane's own experiences and expectations could influence her ratings. For instance, if Jane is particularly demanding of herself, she may set unrealistic expectations for her employees and be more likely to rate their performance as unsatisfactory.
Kinds of training programs that could help minimize the factors described
Several types of training programs could help Jane minimize the factors that could distort her ratings of Barb and George. These include:
Unconscious bias training: This type of training can help Jane identify and address her own unconscious biases, which could influence her ratings of her employees.
Performance appraisal training: This type of training can teach Jane how to conduct effective performance appraisals and provide fair and accurate ratings.
Communication skills training: This type of training can help Jane communicate feedback to her employees in a constructive and supportive manner.
Recommended training program
I recommend that Jane take a comprehensive unconscious bias training program. This type of training can help her identify and address her own biases, which could influence her ratings of her employees. Additionally, unconscious bias training can help Jane understand the impact of bias on decision-making and create strategies for mitigating its effects.
Why I recommend this training
Unconscious bias training can be a highly effective tool for reducing bias and promoting fair and equitable decision-making. It can help individuals identify their own biases, understand the impact of bias on their behavior, and develop strategies for mitigating its effects. Additionally, unconscious bias training can help create a more inclusive and equitable workplace culture.
By taking unconscious bias training, Jane can gain valuable insights into her own biases and develop the skills to mitigate their effects. This will help her provide fair and accurate ratings to all of her employees, including Barb and George.
Sample Answer
Factors that may cause Jane to intentionally and unintentionally distort her ratings of Barb and George
Jane's personal relationships with Barb and George could lead to both intentional and unintentional distortions in her ratings of their performance.
Intentional Distortion
Jane may intentionally inflate the ratings of Barb and George due to her personal friendship and affection for them. This could be motivated by a desire to maintain a positive relationship with her friends or a fear of hurting their feelings.
Unintentional Distortion
Jane may unintentionally distort the ratings of Barb and George due to her close personal relationship with them. This could lead to a halo effect, where Jane's positive feelings for them cloud her judgment about their performance. Alternatively, Jane may be hesitant to provide constructive criticism to her friends, even if it is warranted.