Adverts

[Jbr]

I'm not sure where to put this but it's work related and it seemed as good a place as any. I've just read an advert my ex-partner emailed to me. He feels a bit put off going for this job. It's just for an assistant at a magazine.

"Previous experience of working in an administrative role is desirable. This job would particularly suit a mum who?s looking to fit work in around childcare commitments."

Can they say that? Isn't it implicit discrimination? He feels a bit put off. I was annoyed at the assumption that you would need to "fit work around childcare commitments" just because you were a woman but thinking about it from Steve's point of view, I'm not surprised he felt put off.

The magazine is a baby magazine and it's all aimed at women. If I saw an advert that suggested that it would "particularly suit" a man, I would feel a bit awkard about applying as well as though it would be a waste of time.

I do know that if companies particularly want someone of a certain sex or certain ethnicity or someone who is disabled for instance, they have to apply for an exemption licence and give good reason.

Jbr - it's probably just a thoughtless phrase, but could mean they are looking for a woman. You're right anyway, companies cannot discriminate. If I were your ex-dp I would apply twice - once in my name and once in a woman's name. If the "woman" gets shortlisted he can sue for descrimination (I heard of a man who makes a living doing this!)

Oh, I never thought of that!

It's tricky though because it could constitute fraud on his part eg changing his name. Also, they would think it was a bit strange having 2 people having the exact same history. Though, not if he set the CV out differently I suppose.

Thanks. He was just looking at it. He's fed up with his current job. He's working 4 nights a week.

I know its not the sort of advert men want to see, but to be honest I'd like to see more like that. So often mums have to bend over backwards to fit in childcare and work so its nice to see at least one employer who is willing to be flexible. I think they probably only did it in this case because the advert was in a parenting magazine.

They could just get round it saying "parent" instead of "mum" maybe? That might also emphasise a shift in the way we/society expects the woman to make their career more flexible when more men might like to do this but aren't often given the opportunity.

I don't know. I agree that "parent" would be better but I don't know if I'm even comfortable with that. I don't know if my ex is going to go for it or not. I won't know for a while. He's off on hols at the moment.

On a similar note there was an advert on an internet radio station I was listening to. They said in the ad "flexible hours for mums". It really astounded me.

Yes, I've come across that phrase too, Jbr, and it makes me cringe. To me it also implies low pay!

I agree JBR, it is annoying when an assumption is made that only would want to apply for "flexible" working hours. Also the assumption that only parents have domestic commitments - what about those looking after elderly and/or unwell parents/aunts/uncles etc..

The best thing to do would be to advertise the job, hours, pay etc and let indivivuals work out whether the hours would suit them.

sorry, the bit in the first line should read "that only mums would be"

Yes and of course, the word "flexible" is higly open to interpretation. Sometimes it means they might want you to be flexible rather than they have flexible shifts!

Tons of people even people without commitments might still fancy working just a couple of days a week. If that's all the money someone needs, they would feel no need to go out 9-5 Monday to Friday, for example. There is the question of ambition as well. If a job I liked came up and it was only 2 days and I could afford it, I would prefer that to a job I hated that paid more money!