Since the Covid pandemic, remote working and hybrid working have become commonplace in our organisations. These new, more flexible ways of working have many benefits, especially for people juggling work and caregiving responsibilities, the neurodiverse community or anyone facing a long commute to the office.

However, remote working also increases the risk of proximity bias: the tendency of managers or leaders to rate more highly the employees they work alongside in the office than those they see more frequently on a computer screen.

Left unchecked, proximity bias can lead to unfair treatment and reduced opportunities for remote or hybrid workers. It can affect promotions, pay and renumeration and performance reviews. With research showing that women are more likely than men to take up remote working, there is also a risk it could impact gender equity.

In this Diversity Session webinar, our panel will explore:

• How proximity bias can influence perceptions of performance, leadership potential and team dynamics.
• The impact on inclusion, career progression and belonging for employees who work flexibly or from different locations.
• Practical strategies for leaders and teams to recognise, reduce and actively counter proximity bias in everyday decision-making.

Diversity Sessions are interactive online conversations designed to deepen our understanding of inclusion issues affecting our organisations and our people.

Join us as we take a deep dive into proximity bias - where it shows up, who it impacts, and what actions organisations can take to ensure it does not impact how fairness and inclusion play out in the workplace.

Event Details

Date: Wednesday, 25 June 2025

Time: 2pm-3pm

Venue: Online

Investment: Member Free; Non-Member $85+GST per person

Please note: To be able to book this workshop/event at member pricing, each individual of a member organisation who wants to attend must be a contact in our database. If you are unsure if we have you listed as a contact for your organisation please email membership@diversityworksnz.org.nz. We will check your details and add you to our database. If you are booking for others in your organisation, please send their details (name, job title, email address and phone number) and we will add them to database before you start your booking. We will then let you know when you can start your booking.