It is common knowledge that job postings are done in an organization to attract talented / qualified / skillful candidates to the organization from the out side world.
Asking for certain discriminatory questions would reflect a bad image on the organization, as well as it will avoid much suitable candidates from applying for the posted job. This will prevent the organization from having talented candidates with high potential, from joining the organization talent pool.
Certain countries have laws regarding such practices to avoid discrimination and provide equal opportunities to all people. As an example, The U.S Equal Employment Opportunity Commission has several rules and regulations regarding this matter and one of them is, the law which is about Pre Employment Inquiries and Marital Status or Number of Children. It has restricted the following questions and considers such inquiries as evidence of intent to discriminate when asked in the pre employment context (EEOC, 2017).
- Whether applicant is pregnant.
- Marital status of applicant or whether applicant plans to marry.
- Number and age of children or future child bearing plans.
- Child care arrangements.
- Employment status of spouse.
- Name of spouse
In Sri Lanka, there is no such law / regulation which encourages organizations to avoid such irrelevant and discriminatory questions to provide equal opportunities to the public. The ethical approach of avoiding discrimination when posting a job is to avoid asking a question where you cannot provide document proof as to why that question is relevant to the job requirement.
Certain questions/requirements posted in the following job posting by Sri Lankan Airlines can be considered as a bad example of providing equal opportunities and can be discriminated according to the guidelines provided by the Office of Equity and Diversity, Monmouth University (2015).
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| Sri Lankan Airlines Careers (2017) |
How to avoid discrimination? - Follow the guidelines below
National Origin
Avoid asking for the national origin in the job posting in any sort, unless it can be proved by document that it is a requirement to perform the job. Avoid questions such as "Only XXX Citizens"
Age
There could be some instances where the law requires that a person is of a certain age to work in a particular position. In such instances it is acceptable to use such age requirements such as "an applicant must be 18 or older". If you use the term "recent university graduates", it potentially discriminates against older workers, since statistically, most recent university graduates are in their twenties. To avoid discrimination, it is a good practice to use "looking for a energetic person with innovative ideas".
Gender
Job postings should always avoid any mention of gender even if it is to encourage an underrepresented group to apply. A job posting should also never indicate or imply that the position is for a person who is not married / doesn't have / doesn't plan to have children. It is considered as gender discrimination to ask such irrelevant questions unless it can be proved with documents that such requirement is needed to perform the job. Looking into the job posting by Sri Lankan airlines, it asks for a candidate who is "Single". Unless it can be proved with documentation that such requirements must me met to perform their job role, it is considered as discrimination against others who are "not-single".
Religion
Job postings should not mention religion unless in few rare instances when it is required to the job such as in hiring a chaplain.
Race/Colour
Job postings should not have preferences to persons of a particular race or colour.
Author : Randoll James
Reference List
EEOC (2017) Prohibited Practices. [online] US: EEOC. Available from https://www.eeoc.gov/laws/practices/inquiries_marital_status.cfm [Accessed 14 November 2017]
Sri Lankan Airlines Careers (2017) Cabin Crew. [online] Available from http://www.srilankan.com/a/Careers/careers-page/42 [Accessed on 14 November 2017]
Office of Equity and Diversity, Monmouth University, (2015)Avoiding Discrimination in Job Postings. New Jersey: West Long Branch. Available from https://www.monmouth.edu/uploadedFiles/Content/University/faculty-and-staff/offices-and-services/human-resources/equity-and-diversity/Avoiding%20Discrimination%20in%20Job%20Postings%20rev%20feb%202015.pdf [Accessed 14 November 2017]
Ethical practices of job posting is a new theam for Sri Lanka.
ReplyDeleteOrganisations are loosing skill and knowledgeable , energetic employees due to the article said points.
Most of private organisations are consided age limit, gender but government sector not much consider the gender. But
Maximum age limit is 45 years to apply government job.
Sri Lanka also need employees recruitment laws to avoid un ethical practices in the job posting and recruitment process.
Job posting may provide the opportunity to recruit nearly perfect candidates and further save massively on training & culture adaptation.... existing employee satisfaction would be another key element.
ReplyDeleteI heard in your organisation previously they don't care any performance.But they are related on political parties they get more benefits their works.So,how this matter will affect on currently.It will mainly harm to your organization al ethical consideration.
ReplyDeleteAdding to the perfectly defined guidelines you have captures above I believe a change in the mindset is also required to avoid discrimination ( I'm considering the Asian context). If the organizations or managers are not mentally ready to recruit without being bound by the discriminating factors what ever the changes on job posting will not provide the expected outcome.
ReplyDeleteTo develop a workforce that reflects the diversity of consumers and clients, HR departments should reach out to groups that were discriminated against and excluded in the past. Recruiting a workforce that reflects today's reality is another challenge for human resources departments.
ReplyDeleteMy view is that, in order to enhance value of equal opportunity and diversity in organizations, and to address the challenge of attracting a new generation of employees, HR professionals should carry necessary steps in carefully drafting the job posting.
Very interesting topic to comment. In Sri Lankan context job posting is all about filling the vacancies. If the organization is equal opportunity granted employer they should post job vacancies without any discriminatory content. But in our culture if we post our vacancies in conventional manner without mention the clarity (Age,gender) it might attract wrong pool of candidates. Hence it is very important use new social media platforms for job posting
ReplyDelete