NEWS & EVENTS

The proposals were put forward by Liberal democrat MP Lynne Featherstone, who suggested that by removing the names from job applications, discrimination at selection stage would be avoided.  She tabled the amendments to the recently published Equality Bill, which aims to eradicate discrimination in the workplace, by introducing measures such as making employers publish details of any pay differentials between male and female employees.

But Phil Cookson, employment law Partner with city based Roythorne Christmas Solicitors said that whilst the principle of the proposals is sound, the practical implementations may be too complex for many employers to manage:

There is no doubt that employers should not discriminate at any stage in the recruitment process, any anything which helps employers make a fairer judgement has to be welcomed.  We do think however that resources could be better spent in training front line recruiters in the regulations and guide lines which already exist rather than add another layer of bureaucracy to the recruitment process.  I also wonder how practical it would be to have anonymous CVs as there is no doubt at some stage there would be a mix up which could have serious consequences.

Most employer know that they should not discriminate at any other time.  Introducing this system would be suggesting that large scale discrimination is taking place, which we think is simply not the case.  There is a danger that if the regulations become too onerous they simply will not happen and they will become unworkable.

The suggestion of nameless CVs will be considered at the equality Bills Committee stage which is due to take place at some time in the future.