An End To Bias For 'white-Sounding' Staff, Really?

[anotheoldgit]

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/11953841/Big-employers-agree-to-hide-names-on-graduate-job-applications-to-end-discrimination.html

[Svejk]

Talking of which, it's a mystery that so many black people are 'busting a gut' to reach such a racist country.

[sp1814]

-Talbot-

The part about the Indian restaurant becoming a Pakistani-run establishment is a bit of a non-sequitur.

But whatever - we both agree on the proposals, so there's little more to add.

[sp1814]

Svejk

Most Britons are absolutely not racist.

At least not in my experience.

The problem is racist jerks make the most noise. They embarrass most normal people. I guarantee that if you put one of these morons in a room full of normal folk, and they started spouting off - most Britons would be horrified, and would let them know.

It's these Britons who are the norm.

Not the jerks.

Don't let anyone tell you that Britain is racist. Britain in the 21st century is streets ahead of most countries in its progressive attitudes.

The only problem is that there are a few moronic bigots still wandering around spoiling it for everyone else. And it's because of them that the issue of racism is still a hot topic.

[-Talbot-]

The part about the Indian restaurant becoming a Pakistani-run establishment is a bit of a non-sequitur.


Who said the Indian restaurant became a Pakistani-run establishment?

[Hypognosis]

@sp1814

//Don't know about you, but I would offer the job to my neice first.

I think that most people would be the same.

What would you do in that situation? //

I would certainly *favour* a niece or cousin yet would fear I was committing an offence (nepotism), so I would seek legal advice first. If it is legal then I would probably go ahead.

Now, consider how hard it is to fire anyone.
Then consider how hard it might be to fire someone who is related to you.
Then consider why nepotism can lead to poor customer experiences because the jerks who need to be fired never will be.


//And do you think that it works the other way around? Say a small family run business run by a white family are demonstrating racism if they employ someone from their immediate family? //

What do you mean "the other way around"? That is the same way around as your Cleethorpes restaurant example. Family employing other members of the same family, which is what I'm speaking out against.

[sp1814]

You wouldn't have to worry about breaking any laws. Because there are no laws against nepotism - in the environment we're talking about (small businesses).

Have a look here:

http://www.safeworkers.co.uk/nepotismatwork.html

[sp1814]

AOG

I never heard from you with regards to whether you think these proposals are a good way of levelling the playing field.

I think it is.

Do you?

I mean - imagine how much better it would be if racial and sexual prejudice were taken out of the equation. I know there may still be some people who (as you have explained) may not want to hire black people because of some perceived future issue with them - but generally people that stupid don't tend to make it to a position where they can hire or fire.

Y'know...

...because they're moronic.

[Hypognosis]

@sp1814

Thanks for that link, sp. It's the most singularly depressing thing I've read this year and I'm barely started on the comments section.

As much as I moan on about big corporations, I think they would be my only hope of fair treatment in the workplace. Not that I would necessarily thrive in a meritocracy. My health situation means I wouldn't last long enough for any special qualities I may have to come to the fore.

[ichkeria]

If the discrimination we are talking about is largely subconscious (it may or may not be) then I'd say that it is more likely to occur at the CV stage. It's easy to mentally sideline the Fraz Tajs of this world, but when Fraz Taj appears at an interview and impresses, that "discrimination" is a lot less likely to apply.
Of course if the discrimination is blatant it will indeed ultimately make no difference.

[sp1814]

ichkeria

For what you have just written...hear hear!

Or is it here here? I never know what the right word is.

[Hypognosis]

@ichkeria

I wanted to address that same part of Buenchico's post on page 1 of the thread but went down another tack and never returned to it.

I've just refreshed the thread after reading the OP linked article and found this

"“The introduction of name-blind recruitment processes and school and university-blind interviews will help prevent unconscious bias and ensure that job offers are made on the basis of potential - not ethnicity, gender or past personal circumstance.”"

I think they really should have said will help prevent conscious bias because there is *nothing* unconscious about binning an application because the name sounds middle-eastern or from the subcontinent.

[Hypognosis]

I obviously have far to much tim on my hands..

Found 13 names sound like 'Faraz' in baby names for Boys.
# Name Meaning
1
Faaris
Horseman, Knight
2
Faraj
There have been men with this name
3
Faraz
Ascent, height
4
Farees
Braverer
5
Faris
Horseman, rider, knight
6
Farooq
Comely, One who distinguishes truth from falsehood
7
Farouk
Knowing right from wrong
8
Farrukh
Happy, Auspicious
9
Faruq
One who distinguishes truth from falsehood
10
Feroz
Shinning
11
Firas
Perspicacious
12
Firoz
Gift
13
Furozh
Light

-----

Taj, in Hindi, means Crown.

I guess changing his name, by deed poll, to Mr High Crown would not have improved his chances. Why would someone who sounds like Royalty even be applying for a job?