Supermarket job application form asking about sexual orientation- do they have quotas??

[Smallhorse]

Otherwise why on earth ask?

Lots of places have diversity questions, including disability, ethnic origin etc but they are usually optional and shouldn't be used to decide who to interview/give the job to.

My understanding is that they want to make sure that there isn't discrimination happening during recruitment, rather than trying to fill quotas.

All applications collect this sort of demographic data (you can still opt out of providing it). It's because of what the pp above said, to keep an eye on the demographics of recruitment in case there is an issue of discrimination. The people actually doing the hiring, like your line manager, do not have access to this information. I think it goes into some big deidentified HR database for number crunching.

It’s pretty standard isn’t it? I don’t think you have to fill it in you can tick prefer not to say.
It’s so that they can show they are employing a diverse workforce and not discriminating under the equality act.

Yes it’s optional but I still wondered if they might positively discriminate if I tell them I am gay

Batshit - doesn’t that mean I should tell them I’m gay ?

No, they don't discriminate. I work in HR for one of the big supermarkets.

Quite frankly, no one actually cares which sex you are attracted to. It's for reporting purposes only.

Usually the sheet is taken off before the applications go for shortlisting, so it's unlikely to make any difference as to your chance getting the job.

No they don't but use it to monitor equality and diversity. Best practice is to separate the for from your application and personal data. In my experience it is used to check direct or indirect discrimination isn't occurring or trends which could be stereotyping. For example are lots of Asian people getting interviews but not job offers? Or are all the cleaners only women?

I say usually - that is what has happened in places I have worked . I can't state that happens everywhere!

The sixth form college DC3 started at 18 months ago asked the same question. Bit difficult for every 16 year old to answer.

Gotten, do mean they do positively discriminate gays?

It's a diversity questionnaire, most places do them and they're unlikely to discriminate.

If they positively discriminated against those who weren't heterosexual everyone would claim to be bi before long just to increase their chances of getting a job so I really don't think that's what they're doing.

You don't need to answer.

It's to monitor whether there are differences in the demographics of the applicants and the final hires.

So if they have very diverse applications but are only hiring straight white men they know that there may be discrimination at the interview/hiring state.
The hiring manager shouldn't see the D&I form - it should be separated out as soon as the application is received so positive or negative discrimination isn't possible.

I doubt there is a positive discrimination policy unless it's at a really high level (eg if all board members are male they may decide it's more balanced to have a female next). I don't think in general that's a UK thing. It is more checking there isn't discrimination usually like PP have said for example they would have to do lots of retraining if they found out 50pc of applicants were from ethnic minorities but only 10pc of job offers were made to ethnic minorities. This isn't the same thing as saying to managers 'pick the next (insert minority) one!' They won't be allowed to discuss it in your interview. I doubt the hiring manager would even be made aware as all their systems and training is to try and ensure that hiring managers don't discriminate. It's up to you what you'd put, if you'd rather not say just leave it blank.

A friend of mine applied to the police 4 years in a row. First 3 years her app wasn't progressed. On the 4th year 'bi-sexual' was ticked rather rather than 'heterosexual'. That year she got in. Maybe a coincidence. Maybe a fucking disgrace. I hope to god it was former.

Yes, they do have quotas and it's crazy. At my place of work you get a guaranteed interview if you are LGBT. Why? Why does who you want to have sex with affect how well you can serve customers?

I think I might self-declare as a man next time I'm job hunting!

I work in the public sector and have done a lot of recruitment, we collect diversity information so we can report on who is applying for our roles. That information is removed by HR before the applications are sent to whoever is shortlisting so there is no discrimination positive or otherwise. On a wider scale it impacts where we advertise job roles, so if we recognise we're getting only a low percentage of applications from younger applicants we might target universities in our next recruitment drive for example, or we might target specific communities, add it's important in my industry that their is fair representation of all demographics within the area we cover.

Ugh autocorrects
as it's important in my industry that there is fair representation

I applied for my first job (in retail) 17 years ago and that question was on the form. It’s to do with equal opportunities and is pretty standard now everywhere. It’s up to you how you answer the question.

OP I had to fill one in recently and though I did do it honestly I did think afterward....why should it matter.

Now this week I have heard some nasty homophobic comments (with a side order of misogyny and racism thrown in) The person making the comments is a thick twat, and cant possibly comprehend that someone, who to his blinkered eyes, presents as heterosexual can be anything else. I'm sort of glad that I ticked the box I did

If they want to know who I'm attracted to: male, female or both. Do I need to let them know that yes, I'm attracted men but very much prefer them not be too tall, have a ginger beard, green eyes and a small nose.

NB. Description is for illustration purposes only.

I just don't understand why knowing with whom I like to get my sexual kicks has ANY bearing on how good I am at the work I do.

@Everanewbie Far more likely that they were successful due to having three years experience of the recruitment process!