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unbelievable 2525 Responses
Last post: 5 months, 1 week ago | Thread started: Jun 26, 08, 5:40 a.m.
- moth
I can't believe I'm reading this:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_po…This government is clueless.
- Jun 26, 08, 5:40 a.m. – Permalink
- detritus
I still don't quite get this - from the reports on Radio4 this morning, the sum of the plan amounts to something like "If there are two equal candidates, the employer can choose who they want".
OK, then.
But how else would they do it?
Is it just legislation to endorse free choice? I mean, it's not saying that you should actively choose the 'Less Typical' option (for wont of a better term), just that you're free to choose who you want. If that's so - how does it work now?
I mean, if it were me, I'd rather choose the woman anyway, and pocket the 40% difference in her reduced pay...


- Dog-earJun 26, 08, 5:44 a.m. – Permalink
- detritus
But. what I don't get, is that any selection process is inherently discriminative? I mean, I can appreciate that in large scale gov't jobs there might be some way of peeking behind the green curtain and divining the selection process, but in private enterprise?
If I'm The Boss - who's to tell what my selection criteria are?


- Dog-earJun 26, 08, 5:50 a.m. – Permalink
- drgs
die america, die
http://www.economist.com/world/n…

- Dog-earJun 26, 08, 5:50 a.m. – Permalink
- kelpie
positive discrimination gives guidelines to companies on targets they MUST meet, regardless of suitability of candidates, to re-address workplace inequalities.
This doesn't do that. It sounds kind of pointless to me for the reasons detritus has stated above, but its doesn't make requirements of companies to discriminate "positively" in favour of of the less well suited candidate.
Strikes me as a bit of, either, PR to curry favour with Labour's key demographics in working class women etc or simply an entrenching of equality principles in law without significantly legislating to alter the workplace.
the pay scale transparency, homophobia and ageism legislation are the significant parts of this announcement.

- Dog-earJun 26, 08, 5:54 a.m. – Permalink
- designbot
In the U.S. I have seen this same type of thing transpire. Co's I have worked for have a "minority qouta" they have to meet. Suddenly it's like they just need to hire a minority regardless of their capabilities/skillset. It's an idea that only looks good on paper....but fails miserably when implemented.

- Dog-earJun 26, 08, 5:57 a.m. – Permalink
- stem
What bugs me is that they always back this stuff up with comments like...
"A society which is equal and fair is one which is more at ease with itself," she added.
Which, no-one in their right mind could argue with. But if you agree with this 'over-arching' statement, then you must agree with the rest...
Nah, it doesn't wash with me.


- Dog-earJun 26, 08, 5:58 a.m. – Permalink
- Glitterati_Duane
It's interesting. What if a company wanted to hire someone because they felt that person's cultural perspective would benefit the team more than their skills? But there were other candidates that were more skilled so out of fairness they had to hire them. It's interesting just extremely flawed. I can see a racist or sexist employer abusing the shit out of that legislation.

- Dog-earJun 26, 08, 5:59 a.m. – Permalink
- calculator
It should be the best person for the job, regardless of sex, race or anything.


- Dog-earJun 26, 08, 6:02 a.m. – Permalink
- calculator
it's also as much about personality when picking people as it is skillsets

- Dog-earJun 26, 08, 6:04 a.m. – Permalink
- flashbender
thank god I'm white and male and I don't have to deal with discrimination


- Dog-earJun 26, 08, 6:56 a.m. – Permalink
- Jaline
"The new Equalities Bill will...force employers to disclose salary structures in a bid to close the gender pay gap."
This doesn't seem horrible to me (but I'm sure someone will post more info about why it could be hidden).
Other than that, there are many contradictory things about this plan.


- Dog-earJun 26, 08, 6:56 a.m. – Permalink

