Great Britain: amendment to Equality Bill to banish health questionnaires from recruitment procedures

Government proposals. Currently, employers are allowed to ask applicants if they are disabled, take medication or have health problems – even though it isn’t connected with the job for which they’re applying. To avoid discrimination, the government added to its Equality Bill (see our dispatch No. 090474) a provision encouraging businesses to not ask these questions, although they are still not illegal. Thus, article 60 provides that: “An employer should not ask whether a job applicant is disabled until that person has been able to successfully pass an interview” except in the following situations: 1/ for “making reasonable adjustments to enable the disabled person to participate in the recruitment process;” 2/ “monitoring diversity in applications for jobs;” 3/ “supporting positive action in employment for disabled people….” The same article provides that when an employer questions an applicant in situations other than those abovementioned, he will have to prove that there was no discrimination if the rejected candidate presses charges. Please note tat employers who gather information about applicants who accepted the offer will have to make “reasonable adjustments” of the workstation if the employee isn’t fit for it, or refuse to hire him with valid reasons justified by the company’s activity.
Enjoy this article for free while you’re in your trial period
You have access to our content for 1 month.

d, he will have to prove that there was no discrimination if the rejected candidate presses charges. Please note tat employers who gather information about applicants who accepted the offer will have to make “reasonable adjustments” of the workstation if the employee isn’t fit for it, or refuse to hire him with valid reasons justified by the company’s activity.

Clause strengthened by amendments. The Lords added several amendments to this article 60. First, an employer will be entitled to ask que

Do you have information to share with us?
What you absolutely must read this week
The essential content of the week selected by the editorial team.
See all
United Kingdom largely retained within scope of EWCs despite Brexit, study shows
A study published this month by the Institute for Economic and Social Research, the French trade union research organisation, examined how the involvement of British representatives in European...
Spain: government approves creation of ‘intern status’
The Spanish government has paved the way for the creation of a new status for "persons undergoing non-professional practical training in companies, institutions or public or private organisations...
Luxembourg: two pension reform bills submitted to parliament
After lengthy negotiations with the social partners, in mid-October the Luxembourg government submitted two bills to parliament aimed at reforming the pension system to ensure its long-term...
Germany: pensioners in work already common practice, study shows
As the German government steps up measures to encourage people to stay in work beyond the legal retirement age, a new study by the Institute of Economic and Social Research (WSI) – an independent...
Most viewed articles of the month on mind HR
What readers clicked on the most last month.
What readers clicked on the most last month.
1
Germany: pensioners in work already common practice, study shows
As the German government steps up measures to encourage people to stay in work beyond the legal retirement age, a new study by the Institute of Economic and Social Research (WSI) – an independent...
2
Spain: government approves creation of ‘intern status’
The Spanish government has paved the way for the creation of a new status for "persons undergoing non-professional practical training in companies, institutions or public or private organisations...
3
France: social conference on labour and pensions to proceed without main employers’ group
The preparatory meeting ahead of the social conference on labour and pensions, which is set to decide on the pension system model and the funding thereof, was held on 4 November at France's labour...
4
Luxembourg: two pension reform bills submitted to parliament
After lengthy negotiations with the social partners, in mid-October the Luxembourg government submitted two bills to parliament aimed at reforming the pension system to ensure its long-term...
5
Candice Guillot (Talan): “Our recruiters save just over 80 hours per year on administrative tasks thanks to AI”
Candice Guillot, group director of employee experience and HR performance at Talan (7,000 employees), outlines for mind RH her vision and strategy for introducing artificial intelligence at the...