KPMG goes woke

KPMG’s UK chairman, Bill Michael, has lost his job for daring to question unconscious-bias training.

In a Zoom meeting on Monday, Michael said ‘unconscious bias is complete crap’. He complained that ‘after every single unconscious-bias training [session] that’s ever been done, nothing’s ever improved’.

He also accused staff of using Covid as an excuse to play ‘the role of the victim’, adding that they work in a ‘very lucky sector’. He said they should ‘take control’ of their lives rather than ‘sit there and moan’ about the pandemic.

Following complaints from staff, KPMG started an investigation into Michael’s comments. He initially stood aside from his role, pending the results of the investigation, but has now resigned, saying that his position is ‘untenable’. He has also apologised.

So ends his 30-year tenure at the company. But what Michael said was correct. Unconscious-bias training is complete crap. These training sessions treat an absurd ideological claim – that we are all secretly racist, without even realising it – as fact. They force people to admit to non-existent prejudices. They are not worth anyone’s time.

As for racism in general, Michael said on the Zoom call that ‘there’s a lot… more generally, to change’ at KPMG. But he clearly feels unconscious-bias training is not the way to achieve this. That should not be a controversial opinion. But such nuances have got lost in the clamour for him to be sacked.

The bean counters at KPMG clearly see themselves as social-justice advocates. It seems the Great Awokening has captured the corporate sector.