To be shocked by this?

[lizzlebizzle33]

DP filling out a job application for very well known grocery store, the usual tick boxes appear such as gender, age etc but it actually asks your sexual orientation.

AIBU to think that this is none of their concern and definitely should not affect your chances of employment? Why are they asking this? I have never come across it before. Have you?

Yes it is quite usual and there is usually a prefer not to answer box too.

It is so they can monitor their diversity and will not affect any decision making. Some places ask you to complete this with the application and some after acceptance.

They are obliged by law to monitor all that stuff to ensure that they can then monitor equal treatment. It won't affect chances of getting the job.

Yep, that’s common. There’s nothing shocking about it.

I cant think of any good reason why an employer would need to know your sexual orientation.

I work in a community team with the NHS. We have to ask all our (mainly elderly) patients this question, among others. It is to ensure that we are offering services which meet all needs in an equitable way.

It's usually on a separate sheet, so it doesn't go to the selection team.

It’s kept for statistical purposes. Not a big deal.

It's an equality thing. It is usually detached from the application and used statistically so ensure that they are not discriminating against anyone.

Ok I can understand it from an equality point of view, I've just never seen it before. When did companies start doing this?

I've seen it often for several years. Usually that part of the form is removed so that the decision maker doesn't see it, and is kept by HR just so that they can monitor their own diversity practices and ensure they aren't discriminating.

I always want to write things like "open to offers" when I'm asked questions like this.

An equal society would not need to capture any "equalities" data. They probably asked about "race" as well. Because there is so much inequality data is collected to paint the sorry picture of society.

yep ds filled out the very same application

he's now just back from an induction at the aforementioned retailers direct competitor.....drug/alcohol text before anything else where he says a third of people were instantly turned away

he then had a video about what to do if a gunman enters the workplace (warehouse)

welcome to the working world ds!

Is there not an option to say you'd prefer not to say ? I have just filled out an NHS one and there was the option to do this. It's just so that workplaces can prove they have their fair share of homosexual workforce. My current workplace had no gay people but now in the past few months there has been an influx of about five , so I suspect they were pulled up on not having their quota !

I don't answer these questions but it's 100% used to keep diversity levels up in certain industries. It does affect who is employed.

I agree, if it didn't affect your employment opportunity then why would they ask? If they have "quotas" to fill they surely that in itself is discrimination?

TBH - I just put prefer not to say. Sex as F usually sufficient IMO.

'Sex' 'Yes, please'

@Oooeeeerrrrrindeed

? You don't believe that there's racism and sexism in this society then? Oh do fuck off.

If they discover that some groups are under represented, they can tweak their advertising of the post to redress the balance. For example, advertise on BAME radio stations, place ads in women's magazines, or change how they describe the job to make it more appealing.

A bike company increased its female workforce by changing their advert to sound less technical. They got a more balanced selection of applicants that way.

4Funnels your racism denial continues

I am really surprised that you have never come across this before, these questions have been around for years.
it is so that companies can monitor their inclusiveness.

Lizzlebizzle, not discrimination no. Say a company is in an area where the population is %50 white, %50 per cent black then they should/will make sure that their employee profile reflects this.

Incidentally the London school I attended as a child had a 'Jew quota' for the first few years I was there. I think that meant that no more than 2 or 3 girls in a class could be Jewish. I do think a world with diversity questionnaires is better than that tbh.

Ok I can understand it from an equality point of view, I've just never seen it before. When did companies start doing this?

I work in HR, i've never known it not to be asked