Should I ask about the driving requirement?

[Teladi]

I've just seen a job that I'm interested in. It lists a driving licence as a requirement but from the description of the role and my (admittedly limited) knowledge of the organisation I'm not sure why it's a requirement.

I live in a city where everyone drives but it's not an option for me to learn as I have a chronic health condition and don't meet the DVLA standards to hold a driving licence. I'm otherwise fine, so I don't consider myself disabled, and I have worked in offices successfully for a long time.

There is a contact email and phone number listed for informal enquiries, should I call up and ask about the driving requirement? I'm not sure how it works for 'reasonable adjustments' if I'm not otherwise disabled. I don't want to put them off me before I've even applied but at the same time is it pointless me applying if I don't meet that requirement? I've worked in the same place for a very long time so I'm not up to date on how I should proceed. Would welcome advice!

[CotswoldStrife]

I think it would be worth contacting them to check just in case it's been included by mistake to clarify what driving will be required in the role? Good luck!

[Teladi]

That's a good way of putting it. I'm a bit nervous that I'll end up having to go into the ins and outs of why I can't drive and I feel like it might put people off me as a candidate. No one likes complicated even though me not driving is the most complicated thing about my health. Perhaps I should email to avoid motormouth.

[caroldecker]

I would check - it would be discriminatory to include this as a requirement unless absolutely essential. For example, the accounting firms do not require this despite 90% of working hours being at varied client sites across the country.

[CotswoldStrife]

I meant to contact them and ask them what driving is required for the role - but don't tell them that you can't drive! If they have made a mistake, then they never need to know that you can't drive!

I have stopped recruiters asking about this at interview (former HR). When I asked one recruiter if it was possible to do the travel by public transport they admitted that it was as the previous postholder did, they just thought it would be quicker better if someone could drive. So no, they didn't get to ask their interviewees about that! Fair enough if it is a requirement of the job, but not if it's just a 'ooh, it would be handy/we may need this in the future' kinda thing.

[holidaysarenice]

If it's NHS I can help.
We have the driving requirement - a lot of my profession never use it in their jobs. The rest use it for on-call duties and as long as you can get to the hospital in the time it doesn't matter how.

[holidaysarenice]

And I should have added the adverts all have a clause about driving unless disability preventing driving etc etc

[StealthPolarBear]

Definitely ask!

[caroldecker]

Holiday I would suspect that if driving is not necessary, this could be classed as indirect discrimination. In 2010, 80% of men and 66% of women held a licence, so this fake requirement is discriminatory against women (and also the young, who are less likely to hold a licence)

[Teladi]

Thanks for all the responses. I hadn't realised it was potentially discriminatory (although that makes sense!) but I don't want to point that out to them quite so directly. I'm actually not sure now if I am going to enquire about this particular job for various other reasons (sorry to be vague, I'm trying not to out myself in any way!) but I've come across this 'driving required' situation before when looking at potential roles and I value the advice! Food for thought.

I suspect in this particular case that it's a bit like the situation you outlined CotswoldStrife as there are a couple of sites that the organisation use - however there are also good public transport links. The clients/users of the organisation are often public transport users as well.