Is this job description remotely legal? AIBU to think MN should know better?

[sparechange]

From MN jobs:
jobs.mumsnet.com/job/292020/operations-associate-/?TrackID=16#sc=widget&me=referral&cm=16

"Hassle.com is looking for mums who want to get back into work and would like to be part of our pilot flexible working programme within our Operations team. Our CEO is a new mum herself and is passionate about giving women the opportunity to get back into work"

If that was 'new dads' or 'childless women', there would (rightly) be uproar.
Surely this can't be legal?
AIBU to think MN should be vetting a bit better?!

There are jobs that are exempt from the discrimination act; very small businesses, personal care, etc. However, to cite 'mums' in particular is discriminatory.

More sexist crap. At least most people would see that and decide they wouldn't go near the company.

Doesn't sound legal to me but I'm no expert

I would never apply for something advertised in that way because I'd wonder what sort of expectations they would have of me as a 'mum' which I would most probably not fulfil. Much easier to cut out the guesswork by being assessed on your own skills and abilities rather than someone else's preconceptions.

Small businesses are not exempt from the Equality Act.

I notice this 'employer' is not actually offering employment at all, but instead want people to perform a customer service role on a 'self-employed' basis. Doesn't sound like a genuinely self-employed role to me. Trying to avoid employment obligations presumably, how caring and responsible.

I've been massively unimpressed by MN jobs generally. None for Scotland. Not jobs that are particularly suited to mums being advertised, which is not how MN are advertising it. And this one looks like a con too!

Ernst and young and other large companies have initiatives that target women who have left the workforce due to children. I never thought about the legality aspect, I might look at their site later. It's not uncommon round here for employers to target that group as they are under represented and organisations believe they are missing out on the diversity and talent that will improve their results. Interesting if I get the chance I'll see what I can find later.

The self employed thing is bullocks though you apply for a job and they tell you you have to be self employed, so they don't have to meet their legal obligations to employees. This is rife in small businesses and it's shit.

What are "jobs that are particularly suited to Mums"?

If they were advertising part time, term time only, there would be virtually no jobs on there! I've just had a look, and I think there's a pretty good range. I quite fancy the banking job in Jersey, personally, but it will have to remain a dream as I have no experience in banking!

If it is being advertised elsewhere as open to anyone, then probably not illegal as they could argue this advert was a targeted advert. Sounds questionable though as a role.

Hi folks,

Thanks for flagging this up. Mumsnet Jobs is still fairly new but we're getting new recruiters from all over the country adding jobs daily. Scotland has been a little slow to take off but we're hoping to make progress there soon.

As for this job, we're having a chat with the recruiter about the wording of the role. If you do ever spot a job which you think we need to take a closer look at, feel free to let us know via [email protected].

I spotted this last night!

Lists, what?
You have to send that in your local paper or something.
Name and shame! It is outrageous!

I might. Just realised I wrote last night... I mean last week. Funnily enough though just passed teh same shop and the sign is still up!

Can everyone else see CamillaMumsnet 's message as blue?

I've just reported it to MNHQ, as it looks like everyone else's posts to me.

green I thought I was going colour blind

It's bollocks, but there always seems to be ways around the rules for these firms. I saw a perfect job at a local charity, then noticed in the job description that you had to be a practicing Christian as it's a Christian organisation. Apparently that's not illegal either because of exemptions and blah blah. To be honest, I'd rather not work for such a discriminatory firm in the first place.

Sounds like the sort of company where childless women, men and women with older children will be expected to put up with loads of shit like not being able to take leave in school holidays, working bank holidays etc. Dreadful and not legal.

Religious organisations have a lot of exemptions from equality legislation.

Religious organisations do have some exceptions yes, but they can't put in place a blanket requirement for all staff to be (for example) practicing Christians. It needs to be necessary for the role in question.

From the Equality Act explanatory notes:

"A religious organisation may wish to restrict applicants for the post of head of its organisation to those people that adhere to that faith. This is because to represent the views of that organisation accurately it is felt that the person in charge of that organisation must have an in-depth understanding of the religion’s doctrines. This type of discrimination could be lawful. However, other posts that do not require this kind of in-depth understanding, such as administrative posts, should be open to all people regardless of their religion or belief.

They also have exemptions from some aspects of the Equality Act around sex discrimination.

Ooh that's interesting info about religious roles. I got in touch with the job board it was posted on and they claimed the advert was legal. To clarify, the job was a marketing role for a charity that sends Christian volunteers abroad. The person specification asked for an 'active, committed Christian' under essential criteria, and under desirable it said 'formal member of a church'.

No idea who I could complain to about it though, so it's immaterial really. Just made me angry at the time because the location, role etc seemed perfect.

When i'm fit for work those hours woukd be perfect for me because of my illness!
Problem is i'm still not a mom and now probably never will be.
Before i was sick there were never jobs going with those hours