Comments on: Anonymous job applicatons: who's afraid of a bit of evidence?

By: Lynne Featherstone MP

Lynne Featherstone MP — Sun, 05 Jul 2009 18:33:59 +0000

This isn't a panacea for all ills - but it will (in my view) cut out that first subliminal discard that stops so many getting through the first stages of job applications. The name is the most critical as we all read a heck of a lot into names. Yes - there will be employers who look for other pre-quals - but not the vast majority. Anyway - we will see what the experimental work the DWP shows and then take it from there. And why is it that comments that are snide are always from anonymous?

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Sat, 04 Jul 2009 21:54:44 +0000

How will this proposal deal with the prejudice in favour of and previlage of public school educated candidates - like yourself and Harriet Harman?

By: Lynne Featherstone MP

Lynne Featherstone MP — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 08:06:14 +0000

Ian - well I am clearly not in the know and will check this with the DWP at some point. But I am not saying it has to be NI number - that just seemed a simple and existing number that could be used. I am sure not beyond wit of man (or woman) to overcome this hurdle if what you are saying about 'knowing' who are immigrants turns out to be true.

By: Ian

Ian — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 19:56:56 +0000

Interesting comments about national insurance numbers.

Those "in the know" knows which combination of digits are assigned to immigrants who have indefinite leave to remain. You can still filter those out.

By: dreamingspire

dreamingspire — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 08:59:37 +0000

Agree with you now.

By: Lynne Featherstone MP

Lynne Featherstone MP — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 08:44:17 +0000

The point is - that if my idea gets translated into best practise and changes the life chances of those who face this sublimal discrimination on job applications - then that will be fantastic - a real step change. It doesn't have to be legislative if it becomes the norm by other methods - in fact much better. But the way that this has found traction is through being proposed in the Bill. It is very simple and cost free. So let's see what the work the DWP is doing shows. If there continues to be 'significant discrimination' then I would suggest this is a jolly good way to eradicate it in first sift.

By: dreamingspire

dreamingspire — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 06:43:17 +0000

No, I don't see only difficulties. What I do see is no need for legislation in this area, indeed very strong arguments against legislation - the comments posted on Liberal Conspiracy in response to your article there are excellent illustrations of that.
Please keep well away from NuLabour's huge mistake of legislating instead of leading the country. LDs have some great leaders, and all the rest of LD MPs will I hope be always emphasising leadership as the way to good government (although Nick Clegg's response to Brown's statement to the House - answering the Labour election manifesto - was very disappointing, failing to see the essential difference between targets and entitlements).

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 17:48:43 +0000

Personally I'd prefer the government actually jus made sure those doing the same job got the same pay first of all. (see the recent cases in the north east).

Before the government starts interfering with private companies they need to get their house in order first. I.e. equal retirement age and pension benefits (right now rather than sometime in the distant future), equal and transferable paternity/maternity leave and equal pay for everyone (and to stop being so obsessed with gender).

By: Lynne Featherstone MP

Lynne Featherstone MP — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 11:27:58 +0000

Here is an idea that doesn't cost business money and doesn't add effort - and might really change the world for many who suffer rejection after rejection for no good reason. Dreamingspire sees only difficulties - whereas I see real potential and a few issues to resolve. Mark's idea is one possibility - but I am sure there are others - something like the National Insurance number. It is not that difficult.

By: Mark Pack

Mark Pack — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 06:49:43 +0000

Dreamingspire - as Lynne mentioned, some firms do this already, which is pretty good evidence that it's possible to do this.

Here's one possible way: applications require personal details (name etc.) to be on a separate sheet. One person in HR initially processes them, assigning a reference number that is put on the application and also on that separate sheet, which is then kept securely until it is time to contact people to invite them for interviews.