Private companies have also experienced conflict over this issue. KPMG is one of many large firms providing unconscious bias training to its employees, which it’s been rolling out since 2014. In an online meeting made public in February, KPMG’s UK chair, Bill Michael, called the concept of unconscious bias “complete and utter crap”, adding: “Because after every single unconscious bias training that has ever been done, nothing’s ever improved.” His comments (on Covid-19 as well as bias training) led to an outcry from staff and others, after which Michael apologised and resigned.
