Preventing Unlawful Discrimination and Valuing Diversity at Work
From hiring to termination, employees enjoy certain rights that businesses must respect. However, employers should realise that by avoiding discrimination during the recruitment phase, they do not only comply with a legal requirement but also benefit from the opportunity to get the most suitable person for the job.
Enjoying the safeguards provided by labour laws, applicants can easily make an employment tribal claim against your company if they belief they were bypassed unlawfully. Thus, here are some pointers to keep your human resource processes in check.
- Specification and Description
- Advertisements
- Disability and Health Issues
- Occupational Requirements
It is unlawful to require something that is not directly related to the job. For instance, forklift drivers need not be good in written English, as the qualification is not essential or even desirable to the task to be performed.
It is against the law to specify a particular gender, race, etc., unless such are considered bona fide occupational requirements. Also, it is prohibited to use such words as young and dynamic, as they may lead to age bias. Even publishers may be liable for putting to print prejudicial ads. Nonetheless, it is all right to treat favourably people with disabilities, indicating that the position is open only to them.
According to the Equality Act of 2010, there are certain legal restrictions to what things the hirer may ask. Although asking a non-permissible question is not discriminatory per se, the Equality and Human Rights Commission can still file a claim against you.
There are cases when race, religion, age, or sexual orientation may become lawful conditions. For example, a restaurant that wants its customers to feel what it is like to be dining in Italy may limit its hiring to natives of the country.
So, avoid getting into trouble with the law by showing respect to protected rights. Indeed, for all business owners, it pays to know what challenges lies ahead. If you want to arm yourself with the right skills and tools to increase your profits, check out this website.