Managing Partner & Head of Dispute Resolution Bazul Ashhab shares with The Business Times’ Views From The Top how businesses can reduce racial divides at the workplace

Oon & Bazul’s Managing Partner and Head of Dispute Resolution, Bazul Ashhab, shares with The Business Times article, “An irrational, emotive bias”, addressing the topic, “Why have racial issues surfaced of late? How can businesses reduce racial divides at the workplace?”. His thoughts on how businesses can reduce racial divides at the workplace below:

Like any other bias, racial bias is irrational, instinctive, and emotive. The underlying urge for sticking together with ones’ own race is that it brings prosperity and comfort from familiarity. Our forefathers have done much to dispel and show that race-blind policies ultimately lead to greater prosperity as critical decisions are based on merits and needs rather than race. Policies, even though intrusive, were implemented to foster understanding and relationship among communities. They have worked well alongside robust laws that deter any act which may cause hurt among races. The recent scourge in social media is not unexpected, giving keyboard warriors a free platform in the guise of freedom of speech. I am certain the laws will evolve to deal effectively against racial discrimination, as long as more people are prepared to stand up against racial injustice.

Businesses have to embrace diversity and implement transparency as the guiding principle in promotions and recruitment. From our own experience, racial diversity in the workplace has avoided ”group-think” and contributed to creativity and growth. We have made a significant effort to ensure that meritocracy-based policies are accepted and embedded into our business’ DNA.

Read the original article here.