Addressing bias in employee benefit programs

Best of the week: Addressing bias in employee benefit programs

April 16, 2021 12:09 PM

Employers are focused on diversity and inclusion efforts with new programs and benefits to help all employees succeed.

Bank of America’s support services team is helping employees with disabilities navigate the challenges of the pandemic, with healthcare support and social programs to keep workers connected. PwC has also launched a program to provide career readiness training, upskilling and mentorship for Black and LatinX college students.

Getting those students hired is a new challenge for employers using artificial intelligence in their recruiting efforts. AI may be adding to the bias at organization if companies aren’t looking closely at algorithms that may exclude underserved groups.

See how employers are navigating diversity and inclusion in their organizations in these top stories:

Artificial intelligence could be adding to the bias at your company

Employers are increasingly turning to technology to ramp up their diversity, inclusion and recruiting efforts, but the wrong applications could be introducing bias instead of eliminating it.

While employers may be utilizing software created by some of the biggest names in the industry, those companies are lacking the diverse talent needed to create truly inclusive AI programs. The best remedy to an unreliable AI is diligent human oversight, according to Imo Udom, chief strategy and product officer at Outmatch, a recruiting platform. Companies should pair the incorporation of AI with a good checks and balances system.

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Artificial intelligence could be adding to the bias at your company

Bank of America gets creative in supporting employees with disabilities

Bank of America is breaking down barriers and busting through antiquated prejudices for employees with disabilities.

To support this population and help them excel, Bank of America created its support services team, an in-house marketing operation that employs over 300 teammates with intellectual disabilities. Over the last year, the team has worked to find creative ways to keep employees engaged and supported as they navigate the pandemic.

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Bank of America gets creative in supporting employees with disabilities

Reframing discussions around fertility benefits to create greater inclusivity

When it comes to fertility benefits, employers need to restructure their perceptions of what employees need and expand the conversation around fertility.

Fertility benefits that include IVF treatments are offered by just 19% of employers, according to the Society for Human Resource Management. About 12% of women aged 15 to 44 years of age — regardless of marital status — have difficulty getting pregnant or carrying a pregnancy to term, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Around 9% of men aged 25 to 44 years report seeking advice or treatment for infertility. While those statistics offer insight into biological infertility among mostly white, cis-gender people, there are several other groups that are excluded.

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Reframing discussions around fertility benefits to create greater inclusivity

PwC is tackling workplace equity by uplifting Black, LatinX students

Big four accounting firm PwC is expanding its Access Your Potential program through a $125 million dollar investment that is focused on increasing social equity for Black and Latinx students.

The new pledge will go towards initiatives that combine high-demand digital and career readiness training, upskilling and mentorship throughout their college careers in hopes of preparing them for future careers. The investment will be allocated towards building a new curriculum, leveraging the right technology and even put towards potential salaries for students who could end up working for the firm after they’ve graduated.

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PwC is tackling workplace equity by uplifting Black, Latinx students