Advertisement
If you have a new account but are having problems posting or verifying your account, please email us on hello@boards.ie for help. Thanks :)
Hello all! Please ensure that you are posting a new thread or question in the appropriate forum. The Feedback forum is overwhelmed with questions that are having to be moved elsewhere. If you need help to verify your account contact hello@boards.ie
Hi there,
There is an issue with role permissions that is being worked on at the moment.
If you are having trouble with access or permissions on regional forums please post here to get access: https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058365403/you-do-not-have-permission-for-that#latest

How is this relevant?

  • 05-06-2013 9:41pm
    #1
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 169 ✭✭


    Applying for hoot loads of jobs as a graduate. Application form after application form. Applying for an engineering role at Heineken (UK) and I'm greeted with this.

    5nu9sh.png

    Is this seriously relevant?

    Personally I don't see the relevance of this one bit. That said, I'll be completely honest, but I'd imagine many LGBT folk would be thinking whether their answer could in fact jeopardize their application.

    Opinions?


Comments

  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 303 ✭✭manic mailman


    From others I've talked with about this, it seems to be dependent on what type of job you're applying for.

    Can't say I've applied for many jobs with big job applications in a while so perhaps others can shed some light...


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 2,442 ✭✭✭Sulla Felix


    Bit strange. Are you sure Heineken are the ones actually asking the questions though? Could be outsourced and the contractor is taking the opportunity to do a bit of number crunching to sell on. I'd fire off an email to HR, anonymously if need be and ask.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 92 ✭✭Tainor


    My thoughts on this is that based on one of the 6 European directives of employment, no European Union member is allowed to discriminate based on sexual orientation as a ground. I am not entirely sure, whether an employer is allowed to make an implicit enquiry into their employee's sexuality, as this should not effect their work performance.

    This can be a very shady grey area to be viewed from a law perspective. It could imply discrimination based on homosexual/bisexual orientation, since the same questions are not posed to heterosexual orientation, ergo the law forbids any form of sexual discrimination regardless of the orientation.

    Any more verse people with in-depth knowledge in European Employment legislation may comment further, my knowledge stems from one semester in Irish Employment Law.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 169 ✭✭Soldering_Iorn


    It's Heineken UKs website for sure.

    Just reading up a little on it now, seemingly it's all for monitoring purposes. In order to prevent against discrimination. This way the it can be known what % of LGBT apply for roles and somewhat correspond that information to the % of LGBT who are employed - proving they are not discriminating.

    Actually, it does state that an answer is not required in addition to the lack of red star beside the answer box signifying this. I didn't notice this at first.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 2,812 ✭✭✭Vojera


    That's a bit bizarre, the way the questions are phrased ("are you out at work?", essentially).

    I've been asked about my orientation and marital status on an application for UCD before (which I didn't get :'( ), but at the top of the page it expressly stated that the information was for statistical purposes only (to ensure they're an equal opportunities employer or something) and that no one reviewing my application would see that information. Without that caveat, honestly, I don't know if I'd have answered the questions. I feel crap admitting that, but I really wanted the job.


  • Advertisement
  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 41,189 ✭✭✭✭Annasopra


    Its mainly a UK thing. I've never seen equality monitoring done in Ireland.

    They use the questions for equality monitoring

    This document from Stonewall UK explains it

    http://www.stonewall.org.uk/media/current_releases/3491.asp

    It was so much easier to blame it on Them. It was bleakly depressing to think that They were Us. If it was Them, then nothing was anyone's fault. If it was us, what did that make Me? After all, I'm one of Us. I must be. I've certainly never thought of myself as one of Them. No one ever thinks of themselves as one of Them. We're always one of Us. It's Them that do the bad things.

    Terry Pratchet



  • Closed Accounts Posts: 2,285 ✭✭✭BanzaiBk


    When I was applying for a job a few months back in the UK I was a bit WTF when I read that particular question. My gf who is Emglish was utterly nonplussed and claims that any job she applied for since she graduated has had that question on it.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,395 ✭✭✭bikeman1


    I have recently applied for a job with Aer Lingus and one of the questions asked what is your sexuality and what is you birth gender and current preferred gender or something to that effect.

    The question on sexuality was not mandatory and said it was for information and monitoring.

    So it is creeping in here as well.

    All a load of PC crap if you ask me. Employ someone based on their skills and experience, not based on sexuality/colour/religion.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 41,189 ✭✭✭✭Annasopra


    bikeman1 wrote: »

    All a load of PC crap if you ask me. Employ someone based on their skills and experience, not based on sexuality/colour/religion.

    I'm not sure you understand. It is illegal to hire someone based on the equality legislation 9 grounds

    Gender
    Civil status
    Family status
    Sexual orientation
    Religion
    Age (does not apply to a person under 16)
    Disability
    Race
    Membership of the Traveller community.

    It was so much easier to blame it on Them. It was bleakly depressing to think that They were Us. If it was Them, then nothing was anyone's fault. If it was us, what did that make Me? After all, I'm one of Us. I must be. I've certainly never thought of myself as one of Them. No one ever thinks of themselves as one of Them. We're always one of Us. It's Them that do the bad things.

    Terry Pratchet



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 451 ✭✭AndrewJD


    HR departments do it to monitor patterns in certain minorities being selected for or against. Most forms have an option if you'd prefer not to say so you're in no way obliged to reveal your sexual orientation. I don't think there's anything particularly sinister or morally repugnant about it.


  • Advertisement
Advertisement