Would you bother applying? Does this put you off?

[icelolly99]

I'm on a few job sites and several employers have a paragraph as follows. "The (name of company) is committed to equality of opportunity in employment and we understand the benefits of recruiting a diverse range of people. We welcome and encourage applications from underrepresented sections of the community" if you're not in a minority group would this put you off applying?

I understand what you're saying OP. You think that as part of an over represented majority, your application would not be considered in favour of a minority group.

It's funny (But not funny at all) because this is how under presented groups have probably felt applying do jobs for decades.

Interestingly, the organisation I work for were recently found to be using positive discrimination in their recruitment process. A white, heterosexual male stated that he had been discriminated against based on his gender, sexual orientation and race. The employment tribunal found in his favour.

Just boilerplate text, wouldn't bat an eyelid

Mind you, as a middle aged white man I would assume I could be in with a lesser chance than other groups.

@Fatted

I understand what you're saying OP. You think that as part of an over represented majority, your application would not be considered in favour of a minority group.

It's funny (But not funny at all) because this is how under presented groups have probably felt applying do jobs for decades.

Interestingly, the organisation I work for were recently found to be using positive discrimination in their recruitment process. A white, heterosexual male stated that he had been discriminated against based on his gender, sexual orientation and race. The employment tribunal found in his favour.

Omg I know where you work if his name starts with F. Tbf he had a valid point. It shouldn't happen like that.

No of course it wouldn't. And even companies who use positive action don't work like that. The company has to give the role to the best candidate, regardless of age, sex, race etc. Only when there is a dead heat should the person with the underrepresented characteristic get the job.

And yes, I do know that in reality people are still discriminated against. I work for ACAS.

Oh ignore the many LEFTIES on here OP

Place is plagued with them

No, I would be happy to work somewhere that valued everyone

Don't worry. My employer put this on their website. They still discriminated against me for a protected characteristic. Apply. They're probably still sexist, homophobic arseholes.

All companies have this now - the decent ones anyway. Would you rather work somewhere ‘traditional’ we’re they still strive to keep the gays, black people and women at bay????

topcat2014

Mind you, as a middle aged white man I would assume I could be in with a lesser chance than other groups.‘

I wouldn’t worry, it’ll be decades possible centuries, possibly never before straight white men have to share anything with the rest of us.

are you assuming they only want diverse applicants?

Try being in the position where they only want white / non disabled / english / male applicants!

eye roll

No, it would make me think more positively of them as a potential employer.

I'd apply if I thought I'd like the job. It would be illegal for them to discriminate against me due to my ethnicity (or so I am repeatedly told in our annual training).

*Ohtherewearethen

I think OP is wondering whether it means they are actively trying to recruit from a minority and so as part of a majority is it worth applying. Not that she only wants to work for homophobic, sexist, racist, ableist emoloyers*

Yes, this. Sorry if anyone thought I meant otherwise. Thanks for your replies. I know it sounds defeatist, but my response of 'theres no point applying' was my initial reaction. I've only seen the statement on a handful of actual job advertisements. Sorry if I automatically thought it would make an application from a non minority (for want of a better phrase.....) less likely to get an interview. I'm not normally so pessimistic!

Unless they have a very good reason, everyone who meets the shortlist criteria should get an interview. Interviews should be standard (same questions to everyone) and top scorer should be offered the job. I've always considered these statements as an encouragement to widen the pool to choose from, not positive discrimination. As above, in practice it doesn't actually mean anything. An employer can have lovely sounding policy and still be staffed with bigots/sexist/homophobes etc.

OP we have this at work (Public sector).

It doesn’t give anyone an advantage as the sexuality race etc of applicants do not come through the short list/interview panel.
We don’t even get the applicants name until we have the interview shortlist.

The purpose of the statement is to encourage applicants from protected groups and that’s it.

Posted to soon - do apply!

Good luck.

Sigh. too soon.

Why would it put you off though?

It doesn't say they're more likely to appoint someone from an underrepresented group, just that they would like them to apply.