Has anyone seen this on a job application

dave1982

I was amazed to see a condition of getting a job :eek:

Webpage won't allow me copy and paste

http://cobhedition.com/?p=22715


Is that discrimination?

NoQuarter

Accent is not a ground for discrmination, dont be so silly!

peter_dublin

Whats the issue ? Non smoker, no strong accents..

dave1982

NoQuarter wrote: »

Accent is not a ground for discrmination, dont be so silly!

So if you apply for job in cork and I said No you're not getting the job because I don't like your accent, thats acceptable?

The Big Red Button

It's not discrimination - however she'd have probably been better to judge for herself over the phone, rather than mentioning it in the ad.

Agent Smith

dave1982 wrote: »

So if you apply for job in cork and I said No you're not getting the job because I don't like your accent, thats acceptable?

Its akin to having "Must have fluent English"

ResearchWill

NoQuarter wrote: »

Accent is not a ground for discrmination, dont be so silly!

It would depend, if the advertisement was aimed at all accents then more than likely ok. But it the issue is aimed at non irish accents then it would be covered under equality legislation.

mikemac1

No feens or beoirs allowed apply so

peter_dublin

dave1982 wrote: »

So if you apply for job in cork and I said No you're not getting the job because I don't like your accent, thats acceptable?

What is wrong with requiring someone without a strong accent for a role, Stop looking for offence where non exists, if I go to a hotel the last thing I want is to find myself trying to understand someone with a very thick Kerry or Cork accent, same for some of the northern accents or a strong Dublin Inner City accent, it's at times nearly a different language they speak and I'm Irish never mind someone from Europe for whom it's a second language.

Agent Smith wrote: »

Its akin to having "Must have fluent English"

Again what is wrong with requiring fluent english for a role, there is nothing wrong with it, I know lots of non nationals from Europe and beyond in our organisation whom speak fluent English. This is a role for a public facing role interfacing with tourists whom may or may not be Irish, the last thing it needs is an Irish, Polish or any other person with an accent that is difficult for people to understand.

In fact at times like this a person with poor english can be better with non fluent English speaking nationals as they speak slowly to each other and it was a tatic we used in an international service centre where some "Irish" staff could not /would not grasp the concept of speak slowly and clearly and that not everyone knows the meaning of mighty.

greendom

sounds a little dodgy too me - not the sort of thing you should see on a job advert

dave1982

peter_dublin wrote: »

No it's not and even if it was, what is wrong with requiring fluent English for a role, plenty of foreign Nationals I work with have fluent English, unless you really mean it's trying to say "Irish only" or perhaps "None of you foriegners apply" Stop looking for offence where non exists, if I go to a hotel the last thing I want it trying to understand someone with a very thick Kerry or Cork accent, same for some of the northern accents or a strong Dublin Inner City accent, it's at times nearly a different language they speak and i'm Irish never mind someone from Europe for whom it's a second langauge.

With the Poles etc they tend to speak slowely as they are not 100% fluent in English and may lack some confidence.

Certain parts of Cork have stronger accents that others namely North side of the city, thats excluding a portion of people because where they live.


I have never seen a job where they mention accents.

As a poster said above it would be better if she decided for herself over phone or interview.

dave1982

peter_dublin wrote: »

What is wrong with requiring someone without a strong accent for a role, Stop looking for offence where non exists, if I go to a hotel the last thing I want it trying to understand someone with a very thick Kerry or Cork accent, same for some of the northern accents or a strong Dublin Inner City accent, it's at times nearly a different language they speak and i'm Irish never mind someone from Europe for whom it's a second langauge.

Same could be said so for shops or any business.

peter_dublin

dave1982 wrote: »

Same could be said so for shops or any business.

Of course it could be, and it's acceptable, perhaps it doesn't belong on the add but the fact is it's a public service role and that at times the last thing needed is a very strong regional accent, Irish or not, fluent English or not, a "very" strong accent can make it some people impossible at times to understand.

Mrs OBumble

dave1982 wrote: »

Certain parts of Cork have stronger accents that others namely North side of the city, thats excluding a portion of people because where they live.

And provided where they live isn't being used as a proxy form membership of the Travelling community or being an immigrant, then it's perfectly acceptable.

I actually see it as less onerous than "fluent English", which I've seen plenty of times: the person just needs to be clear in what English they have.

Back to the original question, it's not something that I've seen before. But I don't see a problem with it.

greendom

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1571946/No-accent-too-thick-for-a-UK-job-says-minister.html

Seems like the law believes it to be ok as long as "accent" is not being used as a "proxy for race"

P_1

Isn't the phrase 'must have strong communication skills' basically HR for this?

Jim2007

dave1982 wrote: »

So if you apply for job in cork and I said No you're not getting the job because I don't like your accent, thats acceptable?

That is what is going to happen anyway! Discriminating between individuals is how you decide who gets the job or haven't you noticed? Do you seriously think that if the employer does not like your face, she is going to offer you the job?

Foreign tourists would find it very hard to understand someone with a strong accent, so it would clearly not be a very good business decision to employ someone that is going to cause them issues right from the get to.

I'd prefer to know up front what the employer is looking for, so that I don't waste my time applying jobs that I will never be in the running for.

Bandana boy

As long as your accent could be considered part of your skill (like a newscaster,telesales person etc) then you are discriminating on talent which is allowed. Imo Would be discrimination if this was in a non customer facing role.

Eoin

The advert could possibly have been worded better, but it doesn't sound like something to get worked up about.

P_1 wrote: »

Isn't the phrase 'must have strong communication skills' basically HR for this?

That generally means what it sounds like, and tends to cover a lot more than just the accent.

Tails142

I remember watching a news piece about a call centre in Newcastle, the call centre had carried out research which showed that customers responded more favourably to people with northern UK accents as they were perceived to be more approachable resulting in better handling of sales/complaints.

It makes sense to me, if you got someone with an accent which forms a vision in your head of some snooty pencil pusher you might be less likely to drop your complaint or commit to a sale whereas a cheerful 'working class' type accent might bring you along.

Not sure where a strong Cork accent falls on the pro/con though