Australia tried 3 fixes to take bias out of hiring — here's what worked

The dangers of the crabbing industry were well known long before the show "Deadliest Catch" made them famous. But deaths on the job decreased dramatically thanks to an awareness campaign spearheaded by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health of Alaska, paired with better involvement from the Coast Guard. Their efforts lead to dramatic decreases in fatalities in just a few years. Can this model be replicated in the oil and gas industry?

The "Constructoras" training program in Salta, Argentina, combined with 10% gender quota laws for public works, has trained over 1,100 women in construction trades since 2022 and helped increase women's participation in the sector nationally from 4.1% to 7.1%, though progress faces significant challenges from political rollbacks and persistent workplace discrimination. Read this article in Spanish here: https://solu.news/aeh0

After enduring unfair working conditions, an organizing committee at a Starbucks in Tennessee, later dubbed the Memphis Seven, became the first of the state to attempt, and succeed, to unionize with help from Starbucks Workers United. Their work inspired a nationwide movement, and now over 250 Starbucks are unionized.

Somalia's first all-women news outlet, Bilan, provides opportunities for women in the journalism industry and publishes coverage of issues often ignored by male-dominated outlets. The organization's work has led to the creation of a new medical facility in an area that previously lacked access and has inspired more women and girls to pursue journalism.

Organizations like Milk and Dignity are filling in the worker safety gaps left behind in federal regulations by working with farms to implement worker-driven protections.

The Ban the Box campaign has led to legislation like New York's Fair Chance Act, which prevents employers from asking questions about conviction history during the application process and makes it unlawful to rescind an offer because of a previous offense. Ban the Box policies are now being implemented in cities and states across the country and have improved job prospects in places such as Washington, D.C., where the number of applicants with conviction records being hired grew by a third after the policy was put in place.

Civic engagement led to the passage of a bill that empowers and protects garment workers in California. Citizens were encouraged and taught how to mobilize and participate in the democratic process which eventually led to the successful outcome.

Athletes in the first public benefit pro sports league now have perks that include childcare, charity stipends, an emphasis on racial equity, and representation on committees that make decisions on behalf of players. Athletes Unlimited is a public benefit corporation, which means it prioritizes social good over profits.

The Chicago Black Drag Council launched after a series of protests that called on Chicago’s LGBTQ neighborhood to address racial discrimination and oppression. A handful of businesses quickly agreed to a live-streamed town hall to discuss ways to increase inclusivity. As a result, a prominent host of popular drag shows was ousted for racial discrimination and the business chamber dropped the neighborhood’s nickname, “Boystown,” from marketing materials because it is not inclusive. The Drag Council has also raised tens of thousands of dollars in cash and supplies to support Black- and trans-led initiatives.

Several cities across the U.S. have organized Racial Equity Rapid Response (RERR) teams to address and combat "the racial disparities exposed and exacerbated by Covid-19." Although each city's version of this team looks slightly different, some commonalities exist such as enacting the teams at the municipal level and relying on community connectivity to drive impact.