Joint meeting of the HR Committee and ESG Hub on tackling bias in hiring and onboarding

03/ 10/ 2025

Listen to online Stop   On 25 September, the European Business Association held a joint session of its HR Committee and ESG Hub, dedicated to the topic of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in hiring and employee onboarding processes. The event brought together HR leaders, DEI managers, and executives from member companies to discuss practical approaches to ensuring equal opportunities and overcoming bias at every stage of people management. Nataliia Voloshyna, Editor-in-Chief of ALL TOGETHER JOBS media, career coach, and consultant with over eight years of experience in recruitment and team building, opened the session with a presentation on the nature of bias and its impact on recruitment practices. Silka Gurabardhi, DEI Community Manager at OLX Group, shared the company’s experience in developing systemic approaches to countering bias in hybrid and remote work environments. Iryna Gorban, Head of Talent Acquisition at Raiffeisen Bank, presented a comprehensive strategy for embedding DEI principles in one of Ukraine’s largest banks. She stressed: “Combating bias is not a project, but a transformation of corporate culture and people’s mindset.” Types of bias discussed included: Affinity bias – the tendency to choose candidates similar to ourselves; Halo effect – when one positive trait overshadows the objective assessment of other qualities; Expectation bias / Pygmalion effect – when our attitude towards a person shapes expectations of them; Confirmation bias – seeking information that supports pre-existing beliefs; Proximity bias – favouring those who are physically closer to the manager; Working time bias – equating longer working hours with higher productivity; Gender bias; Cultural bias – such as language barriers or different communication styles. The meeting also focused on practical tools for implementing DEI practices in hiring, from inclusive job descriptionsand structured interviews with identical questions for all candidates, to the use of AI tools (such as Metaview, Textio, Datapeople) to ensure greater objectivity. The NGO ALL TOGETHER JOBS is currently working on practical guides for companies wishing to better understand the employment needs of veterans, including those with disabilities. To support this initiative, businesses are invited to share their views and experiences by completing a short questionnaire, available via QR code. The European Business Association continues to promote an inclusive business environment in Ukraine through the work of its HR Committee and ESG Hub. Stay tuned for updates on upcoming events on our website.

On 25 September, the European Business Association held a joint session of its HR Committee and ESG Hub, dedicated to the topic of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in hiring and employee onboarding processes.

The event brought together HR leaders, DEI managers, and executives from member companies to discuss practical approaches to ensuring equal opportunities and overcoming bias at every stage of people management.

Nataliia Voloshyna, Editor-in-Chief of ALL TOGETHER JOBS media, career coach, and consultant with over eight years of experience in recruitment and team building, opened the session with a presentation on the nature of bias and its impact on recruitment practices.

Silka Gurabardhi, DEI Community Manager at OLX Group, shared the company’s experience in developing systemic approaches to countering bias in hybrid and remote work environments.

Iryna Gorban, Head of Talent Acquisition at Raiffeisen Bank, presented a comprehensive strategy for embedding DEI principles in one of Ukraine’s largest banks. She stressed:

“Combating bias is not a project, but a transformation of corporate culture and people’s mindset.”

Types of bias discussed included:

• Affinity bias – the tendency to choose candidates similar to ourselves;
• Halo effect – when one positive trait overshadows the objective assessment of other qualities;
• Expectation bias / Pygmalion effect – when our attitude towards a person shapes expectations of them;
• Confirmation bias – seeking information that supports pre-existing beliefs;
• Proximity bias – favouring those who are physically closer to the manager;
• Working time bias – equating longer working hours with higher productivity;
• Gender bias;
• Cultural bias – such as language barriers or different communication styles.

The meeting also focused on practical tools for implementing DEI practices in hiring, from inclusive job descriptionsand structured interviews with identical questions for all candidates, to the use of AI tools (such as Metaview, Textio, Datapeople) to ensure greater objectivity.

The NGO ALL TOGETHER JOBS is currently working on practical guides for companies wishing to better understand the employment needs of veterans, including those with disabilities. To support this initiative, businesses are invited to share their views and experiences by completing a short questionnaire, available via QR code.

The European Business Association continues to promote an inclusive business environment in Ukraine through the work of its HR Committee and ESG Hub. Stay tuned for updates on upcoming events on our website.