Indian Academic Receives Compensation Following Ruling on Unconscious Bias

Portsmouth University has been directed to pay a minimum of £450,000 in damages after a tribunal ruled that the institution exhibited "pernicious and destructive" unconscious bias in its decision not to reappoint Dr. Kajal Sharma, an Indian academic, to her position in the Business and Law faculty. Despite Dr. Sharma's five-year tenure in her role, the university opted to hire an inexperienced white candidate instead.

 

During a three-year span, Dr. Sharma was one of only two senior lecturers at the university who were not reappointed, and notably, she was the sole ethnic minority applicant during that period. In contrast, 11 out of 12 white colleagues were retained. Employment Judge Catherine Rayner emphasized the damaging impact of unconscious bias, stating that although the discrimination may not have been intentional, it still inflicted significant harm on Dr. Sharma.

 

Dr. Sharma was granted a compensation award of at least £450,000, with the potential for an additional £300,000 depending on pension calculations, as the tribunal concluded that race discrimination tainted the selection process. She had commenced her role as associate head for organizational studies and human resources management under a five-year contract in 2016.

 

During the tribunal proceedings, Dr. Sharma highlighted a strained relationship with her manager, Prof. Gary Rees, citing instances of unfair treatment, such as being expected to fulfill university duties immediately following her father's passing and lacking support while caring for her ill infant son.

 

Fiona Hnatow, chief people officer at Portsmouth University, issued an apology on behalf of the institution, acknowledging the unlawfulness of the conduct and its adverse effects on Dr. Sharma. She stressed that there are no justifications for race discrimination within the university's policies and practices.