Construction trade trainee-am I discriminating?

[Saleen836]

I posted an advert on a local Facebook page asking if there was any school leavers looking to learn a trade, a lady responded stating her son was interested so I messaged her and asked a few questions, the questions being..where does he live and does he have transport and does he have any disabilities. The lady then went off on one saying I can't ask that as it is discrimination against a disabled person, I explained that the job will involve the use of ladders, tools that require both hands and also a lot of walking (approx 4 miles a day), so am I not allowed to ask if someone is disabled?

As I see it all I am doing is preventing someone wasting their time.

[Fermit The Krog and Sarah Sexy]

As far as I see it, no. Discrimination would only come in to it if you rejected someone because of a disability (or sex, race, sexuality etc...) whilst otherwise they were the best candidate for the job. If a job can't possibly be suitable for someone with disabilities then you couldn't be expected to employ them. In the same way someone who is blind wouldn't land a job as a bus driver.

[parabolica]

Asking outright if someone has a disability is a bit dodgy as the term covers a wide range of things; i.e. a diabetic is technically covered by disability law, but they could well possible work on a building site and they shouldn't feel the need to disclose this when applying for a role. Maybe phrasing the question more like 'is there anything that would prevent you from performing a physically-intensive role?' would be safer.

[davepoth]

You discriminated in the first sentence of the advert, so you started as you meant to go on - "School Leavers" says you're looking for people aged 18 and no older, which is age discrimination!

It's a bloody minefield, and I'm glad I have an HR department to turn to.

[mph1977]

the OP while having the right idea , phrased it wrong ...

the 'correct' question on an application form is 'do you have any disabilities or health problems which may effect your ability to carry out the role ?'

even then it's not a simple yes /no process for the employer - as the stuff about reasonable adaptations come into.

[Saleen836]

Thanks all, will rephrase the question if/when I ask again

[anothernameitist]

Don't post on Facebook is tip one

[anonymous-user]

anothernameitist said:

Don't post on Facebook is tip one

Why?

[shtu]

Saleen836 said:

a lady responded stating her son was interested.

But not interested enough to message you himself? Hmm. Jury's out but that's rarely a good start.

As for discrimination, no. How many scaffolders do you see in wheelchairs?

[mph1977]

shtu said:

But not interested enough to message you himself? Hmm. Jury's out but that's rarely a good start.

given the OP was looking for a school leaver / apprentice it's perhaps unsuprising that parents are looking for placements as well ...

[anothernameitist]

desolate said:

anothernameitist said:

Don't post on Facebook is tip one

Why?

Its not a job hunting site, you get all sorts on facebook, me included. Its quite council. lol

[mph1977]

anothernameitist said:

desolate said:

anothernameitist said:

Don't post on Facebook is tip one

Why?

Its not a job hunting site, you get all sorts on facebook, me included. Its quite council. lol

however social media is

a) something which may well be of use to attract (traditional demographic) apprentices
b) social media is used by recruiters for various kinds of roles
c) the DWP encourage the use of social media in jobseekers agreements/ claimant comittments
d) the 'serious' job boards may cost money for a limited appropriate audience in this case - i.e. the 'wrong' solution

[Jasandjules]

Perhaps you could ask "are there any reasonable adjustments we could consider to enable you to undertake this role"....