Awareness campaigns, more testing, implementing social dialogue on the issue, setting up special action groups…such is the range of measures aimed at raising the collective conscience and pulling the French out of denial on the issue of discrimination. Jean-Christophe Sciberras (HRD at Solvay France and Group Industrial relations director), President of the discussion group on combatting discrimination in business (set up by the government last October) outlines for Planet Labor the goals of the government’s prescribed measures, one of which does away the ‘anonymous’ CV and implements an equal opportunities advisor in companies with over 300 employees.
- What are the main conclusions of the discussion group’s* report on discrimination that was delivered on May 19?
Jean-Christophe Sciberras. The report quite clearly affirms the problem of broad-based discrimination, sometimes voluntary but for the most part involuntary and stems from prejudice and stereotyping. The report states that the classic tools for punishing discrimination do not in fact work. We clearly have a problem with moralizing and businesses are in denial of the problem. We have to leave this mentality behind. Resolving this state of affairs is an actual moral obligation. We have to be up to the task, however economic issues are also at stake. Leaving aside candidates at the hiring phase for reasons unrelated to the needs of the job in hand means we many be depriving ourselves of good or even the best candidates.
Do you have information to share with us?