Positive discrimination

[Starisnotanumber]

In the wake of the black lives matter it seems that positive discrimination is now a thing. Holly and Phil are supposed to be looking for a black presenter, the writers of killing eve are being slated for having no black writers.
Is this a thing that's allowed under current legislation as I thought that everyone should be considered equally for jobs etc regardless of race, creed, sexulality colour or disabilities.

In the wake of the black lives matter ...

Oh, is it all over now?

I thought that everyone should be considered equally for jobs etc regardless of race, creed, sexulality colour or disabilities.

So why aren't they?

The problem is that those people aren't being treated equally right now if they are underrepresented (or not represented). That is why we need to take action to ensure equity.

There is nothing positive about discrimination. I despise that statement.
We can't be (rightly)up in arms when a minority group faces discrimination but be fine and dandy with when it happens to a majority group. No double standards. Oh and don't anyone try to change my opinion on this as it won't work.

If there was a level playing field, and equality for BAME people, then there would be no need for positive discrimination.

In the wake of the black lives matter
What does this even mean?

Sorry phrased wrongly. In my job in a supermarket people come and go and the managers choose who they want for the job out of all the applicants regardless of colour of skin all the people there get the same wages and the wear the same uniform.
In the newspapers today it says that they are looking for black people as presenters with Holly and Phil and black writers for killing eve.
If 3.5% of the population is black according to the statistics why are 96.5% of people not allowed to apply for these jobs because of their skin colour.
I have white friends who are ethnic minority from Eastern Europe who couldn't apply either.

If you have a non-white sounding name you are 50% less likely to be called to interview compared to a candidate with a white sounding name.

Black writers are often only approached if they are writing about ‘black’ things, the same happens with Asian writers as well. We’re useful when there is a certain agenda.

Positive discrimination is illegal in the UK. Nobody can recruit someone based on the color of their skin or any other protected characteristic. Positive action, giving preference to the underrepresented candidate when considering two or more equally qualified candidates is not illegal. So I can say two things with certainty - 96.5% of people cannot be excluded from applying for jobs (unless there is a genuine occupational qualification); and you shouldn't believe everything you read in newspapers.

It always shocks me how many people are so misinformed on this stuff. Our system right now does not ensure that the best job goes to the best person. If so, your employee population's diversity would be close to your local diversity.

To your example, OP, most UK supermarkets actually have long-held corporate strategies around ensuring the employee mix in stores reflects the local population. It's not just managers picking who they want. It's often things like targetted recruitment advertising, diverse shortlists, and blind recruitment systems ensuring resumes aren't discriminated against for a protected characteristic. It's a very finely tuned system.

Other examples include:
-Diversifying the talent pool by working with predominantly BAME schools to promote roles/training opportunities in your sector
-Working with specialist recruiters
-Proactively communicating your inclusion strategies to ensure BAME candidates don't go to other companies
-Changing referral bonuses to incentivise diverse recommendations
-Putting BAME employees on interview panels (hugely effectively, especially if there are multiple BAME people)
-Ensuring your recruitment materials highlight your diversity

Positive discrimination is generally unlawful but not always - it’s lawful if it helps disabled people overcome disadvantages, or if a genuine occupational requirement applies. Black writers wouldn’t be a genuine occupational requirement, but black actors for a specific role might.

Positive action is also fine in limited circumstances... for example if there are two identical job candidates and the deciding factor is an underrepresented protected characteristic.

It’s theoretically possible to use positive action to recruit BAME candidates if BAME groups are underrepresented in a company for example... and BAME people suffer a societal disadvantage generally... but it’s a double edged sword and can be tricky to get right.

It would be really difficult to recruit only for BAME writers... because if a white candidate was rejected on the grounds of their race or ethnicity then they would potentially have a discrimination claim!

It’s complicated stuff

Thanks for taking the time to explain things. All I see is that when new people join the company some are black, some are white some are white from different countries.
Didn't realise there was so much in recruitment.

@MouseholeCat has put it very well.

Not all discrimination is illegal. It’s fine if it’s a proportionate means to a legitimate aim. It’s not my job to explain though, you’ll have to do your own research. Eg banning groups of school pupils from a shop is lawful even if it counts as age discrimination.

Hiring more black people or women isn’t illegal either, as the aim would be to level out the ethnic/gender imbalance within a company

Isnt Alison Hammond still on This Morning. Plus there is a GP who is black who does regular interviews on medical issues.

They will probably try to cut friends next ....

Isnt Alison Hammond still on This Morning. Plus there is a GP who is black who does regular interviews on medical issues.
Not on a daily basis.