Wording in job vacancy advert
Wording in job vacancy advert
Author
Discussion

Matt Evans

Original Poster:

1,530 posts

204 months

Thursday 14th January 2010
quotequote all
Now, I don't want to come across as discriminatory in any way here, but I've just noticed an advert for a job vacancy where I work, and there is a line at the bottom saying:

"We would particularly welcome applications from ethnic minority groups and people with disabilities who are under represented in the University".

Are employers allowed to put this down? Surely this is effectively saying that they will give people with disabilities or those from an ethnic minority an advantage over anybody else applying?

I understand that in the past there have been situations where people have not been employed because, say, they are in a wheelchair. Yet they could have done the job just as well as an able bodied person. However, does this line in the advert now mean that able bodied people would be turned down in favour of someone with a disability? Essentially turning the problem around the other way?

JCB123

2,265 posts

226 months

Thursday 14th January 2010
quotequote all
Apply - and when you don't get it, sue them for discrimination!

Chris_w666

22,655 posts

229 months

Thursday 14th January 2010
quotequote all
They have to say it to prove they are being open to everyone. Maybe 'We particularly welcome applications from white middle class males' wouldn't go down too well in the corporate brochure.

bonsai

2,015 posts

210 months

Thursday 14th January 2010
quotequote all
It's utterly outrageous that they have any sorts of ethnic targets to meet.

JCB123

2,265 posts

226 months

Thursday 14th January 2010
quotequote all
HOW MANY TIMES DO I HAVE TO SHOUT THIS...

By making a point of being equal - you are being discriminative....by pointing out that people are different.

An equal rights advert would read "Job Opportunity - Applicants Wanted"

boomboompow

7,017 posts

214 months

Thursday 14th January 2010
quotequote all
What job is it for? If they're looking for a Spokesperson for the Ethnic Minority Disability organisation, it may well be justified wink

I don't think there's an issue as long as the advert doesn't say "people from a certain background will not be considered"; all that advert is doing is encouraging people from a cetain group who may not normally apply for the job, to apply.

Kit80

4,764 posts

217 months

Thursday 14th January 2010
quotequote all
It is called positive discrimination, the company I worked for had discussion previously over having targets to actually achieve in terms of recruitment for minority groups, which I don’t agree with, but they should have policies in place to actively encourage application from minority groups, ergo tackling discrimination. That sentence will be an example of this. The police force recruitment has a similar sentence and is perfectly legal

JCB123

2,265 posts

226 months

Thursday 14th January 2010
quotequote all
boomboompow said:
I don't think there's an issue as long as the advert doesn't say "people from a certain background will not be considered"; all that advert is doing is encouraging people from a cetain group who may not normally apply for the job, to apply.
I wouldn't apply for a £150k pa job in a bank, are they going to encourage me to apply?

You Sir, are talking tripe!

Matt Evans

Original Poster:

1,530 posts

204 months

Thursday 14th January 2010
quotequote all
boomboompow said:
What job is it for? If they're looking for a Spokesperson for the Ethnic Minority Disability organisation, it may well be justified wink

I don't think there's an issue as long as the advert doesn't say "people from a certain background will not be considered"; all that advert is doing is encouraging people from a cetain group who may not normally apply for the job, to apply.
It's for a Library Assistant (not for myself, having a look at things for the other half).

That's the thing though, I don't read it as encouraging people that wouldn't normally apply, I read it as "We would rather have this sort of person applying".

Perhaps it's my interpretation.

bonsai

2,015 posts

210 months

Thursday 14th January 2010
quotequote all
boomboompow said:
all that advert is doing is encouraging people from a cetain group who may not normally apply for the job, to apply.
Well unless the advertisement was for grand wizard of the KKK or similar then they shouln't need extra special encouraging.


MynameisRob

396 posts

223 months

Thursday 14th January 2010
quotequote all
All this meeting quotas of spackers and darkies is ridiculous if you ask me ... *

The best person for the job should be given the job. If someone is deemed to have given the job to a person of a certain ethinic background or with a disability over someone more suitable then they should be reprimanded not praised. fking PC bollards ...




This is a joke, before you get your turbans and collostamy bags in a twist


boomboompow

7,017 posts

214 months

Thursday 14th January 2010
quotequote all
bonsai said:
boomboompow said:
all that advert is doing is encouraging people from a cetain group who may not normally apply for the job, to apply.
Well unless the advertisement was for grand wizard of the KKK or similar then they shouln't need extra special encouraging.
A valid point if you assume all job seekers have adequate or high self confidence/esteem etc, but I imagine those in ethnic minorities or those who have disabilities who may have trouble finding jobs suitable for them do need/welcome encouragement. It looks like a university library is looking for an assistant and they wanted to appeal to the groups that perhaps normally have trouble finding work; I'm sure whoever they choose will be right for the job, no matter what background they come from smile

58warren

589 posts

209 months

Thursday 14th January 2010
quotequote all
This always annoys me... An organisation that looks at their workforce and thinks 'We are under-represented by a particular ethnic group - therefore we need to encourage people of that ethnic group to apply for positions here.'

Surely a company should always be looking to find the best candidate, regardless of their ethnicity. A person that meets all the criteria for the job and can demonstrate the appropriate skills/diligence required.

I work for a company with around 15,000 employees worldwide and the workforce is extremely diverse, which is great, but in a smaller organisation - particularly one set in a more rural location away from well populated areas it may not be possible to find potential applicants from different ethnic backgrounds.


crmcatee

5,807 posts

257 months

Thursday 14th January 2010
quotequote all
Given todays speech - it seems Male White may be the minority class you're looking for.

Ethnic minorities 'no longer always disadvantaged'

cmsapms

708 posts

274 months

Thursday 14th January 2010
quotequote all
Do you work at hudderfield poly (as was)?

marshalla

15,902 posts

231 months

Thursday 14th January 2010
quotequote all
Universities are government funded - there are targets to meet to help massage official statistics. Common sense has nothing to do with the way they are run.

(Me ? Bitter ? Just resigned from one in frustration at the stupid way they prevented me doing my job ? Guess...go on - guess.)

rhinochopig

17,932 posts

228 months

Thursday 14th January 2010
quotequote all
Matt Evans said:
Now, I don't want to come across as discriminatory in any way here, but I've just noticed an advert for a job vacancy where I work, and there is a line at the bottom saying:

"We would particularly welcome applications from ethnic minority groups and people with disabilities who are under represented in the University".

Are employers allowed to put this down? Surely this is effectively saying that they will give people with disabilities or those from an ethnic minority an advantage over anybody else applying?

I understand that in the past there have been situations where people have not been employed because, say, they are in a wheelchair. Yet they could have done the job just as well as an able bodied person. However, does this line in the advert now mean that able bodied people would be turned down in favour of someone with a disability? Essentially turning the problem around the other way?
Bloody hell, I was going to start a thread on exactly the same topic - I thought better of it due to the likelihood of it getting locked. My wife was looking at an NHS vacancy this morning which had virtually the same wording.

I have to say it boiled my piss. Everyone should be given a fair crack of the whip.

Matt Evans

Original Poster:

1,530 posts

204 months

Thursday 14th January 2010
quotequote all
boomboompow said:
It looks like a university library is looking for an assistant and they wanted to appeal to the groups that perhaps normally have trouble finding work
Just to point out that on closer inspection, this sentence appears on all job vacancy details.


Matt Evans

Original Poster:

1,530 posts

204 months

Thursday 14th January 2010
quotequote all
marshalla said:
Me ? Bitter ? Just resigned from one in frustration at the stupid way they prevented me doing my job ? Guess...go on - guess.
Leeds Met?

marshalla

15,902 posts

231 months

Thursday 14th January 2010
quotequote all
Matt Evans said:
marshalla said:
Me ? Bitter ? Just resigned from one in frustration at the stupid way they prevented me doing my job ? Guess...go on - guess.
Leeds Met?
Nope.