The number of cases where discriminatory hiring is astounding considering the times we are in. You would think after all these years this would no longer be an issue, but it is a bigger problem than you would think. Studies show that 3 in 5 employees have been victim to discrimination when trying to get a job based on race, age, identity or even sexuality. With numbers this high, employers need to find ways to ensure that the hiring process is fair for everyone. Not only will improving their hiring process be beneficial for the job applicants, it would assist the employers in finding the best possible candidate for the job.
According to the article "Employment Discrimination" written on Legal Information Institute, "Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 prohibits discrimination in many more aspects of the employment relationship... prohibits discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex or national origin. Sex includes pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions. It makes it illegal for employers to discriminate in relation to hiring, discharging, compensating, or providing the terms, conditions, and privileges of employment." So rules have been put in place for a while now trying to end unfair hiring, so why is it still so common? There are countless things that could be done to improve this situation and they are all quite simple.
The first of many steps that employers should be taking to ensure that they are not discriminating in their hiring process is by starting off with blind hiring practices. According to "9 Ways to Ensure Fair Hiring Practices At Your Organization" it says that, "Blind hiring reduces bias by allowing interviewers and those responsible for making hiring decisions to put aside any preconceptions and keep their minds open to all hiring possibilities." Looking only at a persons skills and qualifications for the job will eliminate ruling people out for irrelevant reasons such as appearance.
Implementing blind hiring processes would eradicate any discrimination against someones race, gender, age, or identity. The employer would be forced to only evaluate a potential employee based on if their skill set would suit the position they are trying to fill. Blind hiring processes would be a huge step in the right direction.
Another step that employers could take that would improve the situation would be to give interviewers a script. When someone comes into the interview, have very specific questions to ask. By having questions that only apply to the job, you avoid asking ones that would take away from the applicants ability to do the job. Adhering to these questions will keep the focus on things that are relevant the position and would even make it easier for employers to compare applicants to see who would be the more appropriate fit.
One final thing I feel employers should be doing to avoid unfair hiring practices is having a diverse hiring panel. Having people from all different types of backgrounds and life experiences deciding if a person is a good fit for a job. By having a diverse group of people making that decision, it eliminates unconscious bias amongst the group. Studies have also shown that at companies where this technique was used, diversity in their employees went up by over 40%.
While some might argue that these practices will hinder the employers ability to find the best employee, these practices will actually increase their chances of finding exceptional people to fill their positions. By only looking at a persons qualifications and personality, you eliminate the chance of turning someone away that would have done the job and would have done it incredibly well. These practices ensure that an applicants looks, race, gender, or age has nothing to do with them getting hired. Only the people that will be able to do the job will get through the hiring process.
Each of these techniques are not in favor of any one group of people and thats why every company should use them. Not only do they ensure that everyone has an equal chance of getting a certain job if they are qualified for it, it also ensures that employers get the best possible person for that position. There have been countless times when someone was discriminated against where they would have made the perfect fit for the position, if only they had been given a fair chance. Unfortunately people are yet to realize that by using unfair hiring practices, they are not only hurting the potential employees that they turn away for no good reason, they are also hurting themselves by losing a person that could have been a great asset to their business.
Comments
Post a Comment