Fired For Being White?

[mushroom25]

Joh Holmes finds his contract with the BBC is not renewed because the BBC needs to meet a diversity target...

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2016/10/01/bbc-axe-award-winning-comedian-of-18-years-for-being-white-and-m/

http://www.standard.co.uk/news/uk/bbc-presenter-jon-holmes-sparks-diversity-row-after-tweeting-should-i-be-fired-because-i-am-a-white-a3359071.html

although Jon himself says he didn't use the words used in the headline, the BBC did openly tell him why his contract wasn't being renewed. If employers are now openly giving jobs to people based on the colour of their skin (rather than their ability, or anything else), surely that only emphasises just the kind of social division that the equality society is urged to embrace strives to eliminate? or is that totally irrelevant when it comes to meeting diversity targets?

[anotheoldgit]

ummmm

/// And how are we suppose to know who is best for the job? ///

No good you being on any interview panel is it?

[douglas9401]

Any truth in the rumour that, owing to them looking for a funny black person, Stephen K Amos has asked not to have his name put forward?

[ummmm]

As I don't work for the BBC it would be completely pointless, AOG, it's also a pretty daft thing to say.

[-Talbot-]

jno
(Are you "happy" with them having too few non-whites? If not, what do you propose they do about it?)
_______________________________

Colour (unlike some) doesn't bother me, I would much sooner have the right person for the job.

[naomi24]

jackthehat, //how can you assert that he's "the best person for the job"?//

I didn't. I haven't a clue who he is. I simply think it's wrong to employ staff purely on the basis of their gender or ethnicity.

[Togo]

aog @ 11:42

aog some are so focused on looking for foot in mouth they miss tongue in cheek. (^_*)

[andy-hughes]

I think the BBC has handled this clumsily - not for the first time.

They are entitled not to renew a contract for an eomployee if they wish, and this is what they have elected to do - as they do with may employees.

If they had said something along the lines of - "We are refreshing the line-up ..." then no-one would have said anything at all.

They have kicked the hornet's nest by bringing in the 'D' word with all its contexts and provocation.

I am a regular listener to The Now Show and a fan of Mr Holmes, but everyone in entertainment has a shelf-life and a rolling contract is no guarantee of consistent employment.

The fault is with the BBC and their trendy language, instead of simply saying they are looking for new talent, and then quietly going about finding and introducing new people, they have now put instant pressure on whomever comes in to replace Mr Holmes, through no fault of theirs.

The BBC mess up again - no change there.

[andy-hughes]

AOG - //ummmm

/// And how are we suppose to know who is best for the job? ///

No good you being on any interview panel is it? //

If you are looking for someone to screw nuts onto bolts, you can quantify who is the 'best person for the job'.

But this is comedic presentation - the only way to see if someone is a fit for the role is to put them in it and let the audience decide - and you can't do that with an interview panel.

[ludwig]

I agree with andy-hughes. Badly handled. The irony is, diversity probably isn't the main reason anyway. They probably just want to find someone cheaper.

[ludwig]

I agree with andy-hughes. Badly handled. The irony is, diversity probably isn't the main reason anyway. They probably just want to find someone cheaper.