outlawing age discrimination

[flammableBen]

I thought it was just advising people what to do, rather than flat out ordering them

Nope. It does what Ash says.

[Bogus Dave]

what, the government wont do you if you choose a woman other than a man?

[Bushey Boy]

edited! was emailing at same time! I might start concentrating on here instead of working so I get my posts right.

[Reg Smeeton]

what, the government wont do you if you choose a woman other than a man?

  I read in the Daily Mail, that the government are making homosexuality compulsory....they will do you if you choose a woman over a man...it's an EU regulation, like the straight cucumber.

[Bogus Dave]

Is it currently illegal to appoint a man over an equally adept woman then?

It changes nothing really does it. Just some media hysteria

[Colin Todd]

What I dont get about this at all is the point behind it - that workplaces should be "diverse"

I dont see how having a diverse workforce is benifical to a business at all. The police maybe , fair enough but what about a mobile phone company? a garage?

Having a workforce made up of the most varied cross section of society adds no value to the business whatsover.  I'm not saying straight white men only or anything daft like that, but diversity should just be one of those thing that happens naturally, through various candidates being the best for their jobs. If they are asian / lesbian / hindu, then whatever. It dosnt matter, it adds no more value than employing a white middle aged man.

[flammableBen]

What I dont get about this at all is the point behind it - that workplaces should be "diverse"

I dont see how having a diverse workforce is benifical to a business at all. The police maybe , fair enough but what about a mobile phone company? a garage?

Having a workforce made up of the most varied cross section of society adds no value to the business whatsover.  I'm not saying straight white men only or anything daft like that, but diversity should just be one of those thing that happens naturally, through various candidates being the best for their jobs. If they are asian / lesbian / hindu, then whatever. It dosnt matter, it adds no more value than employing a white middle aged man.

Anti-discrimination laws should encourage people to choose the best candidate, making it illegal to discriminate on grounds not related to the ability to do the job. Not just to get diversity for the point of it. ie. If I'm a black lady who's the best candidate for a job, it's in both business and my interests that my potential employer doesn't discriminate against me on race/gender issues.

The diversity thing is more in the realm of positive discrimination. This tends to come about (rightly or wrongly) when statistics show that there's still a certain amount of underlying discrimination going on which is difficult to pin down with anti-discrimination legislation. So you redress the balance by allowing certain forms of discrimination, usually against the current "winners", normally the majority.

[herthab]

This was rolled out in my firm last year.

I don't see the problem with the age part, as it is only protecting you.

If you apply for a job, you should get it, or not, based solely on your ability, not the fact that your in your 20's, or 30's, or 40's, etc.

It also protects you from being thrown on the scrapheap once you reach an arbitary age. Lets face it, pensions for most people will be virtually worthless when they reach 65, so if you can still carry out your job role you should be allowed to continue if you wish.

[Colin Todd]

Double post

[Colin Todd]

What I dont get about this at all is the point behind it - that workplaces should be "diverse"

I dont see how having a diverse workforce is benifical to a business at all. The police maybe , fair enough but what about a mobile phone company? a garage?

Having a workforce made up of the most varied cross section of society adds no value to the business whatsover.  I'm not saying straight white men only or anything daft like that, but diversity should just be one of those thing that happens naturally, through various candidates being the best for their jobs. If they are asian / lesbian / hindu, then whatever. It dosnt matter, it adds no more value than employing a white middle aged man.

Anti-discrimination laws should encourage people to choose the best candidate, making it illegal to discriminate on grounds not related to the ability to do the job. Not just to get diversity for the point of it. ie. If I'm a black lady who's the best candidate for a job, it's in both business and my interests that my potential employer doesn't discriminate against me on race/gender issues.

The diversity thing is more in the realm of positive discrimination. This tends to come about (rightly or wrongly) when statistics show that there's still a certain amount of underlying discrimination going on which is difficult to pin down with anti-discrimination legislation. So you redress the balance by allowing certain forms of discrimination, usually against the current "winners", normally the majority.

Errrr, yeah that was pretty much my point.  

What annoys me is that diversity is seen as a goal, a positive outcome, whereas it should be considered something that just happens. It infers that a small company who only employ white male salesmen for example are in the wrong. that somehow it would be better for the business to employ someone who does not fit that profile.

It  boils down to the stupid situation of solving discrimination by discriminating.

Although some of it is still left in the hands of the employer. If I had interviewed 2 identical candiates I wouldnt employ one of them to increase the percentage of lesbian hindus with 1 leg within my business as it makes fuck all difference to anything. I'd find another way. (i.e employ the white man obviously )

[Ardiles]

what, the government wont do you if you choose a woman other than a man?

 I read in the Daily Mail, that the government are making homosexuality compulsory....they will do you if you choose a woman over a man...it's an EU regulation, like the straight cucumber.

Disappointed with you, Reg.

[flammableBen]

Errrr, yeah that was pretty much my point.  

What annoys me is that diversity is seen as a goal, a positive outcome, whereas it should be considered something that just happens. It infers that a small company who only employ white male salesmen for example are in the wrong. that somehow it would be better for the business to employ someone who does not fit that profile.

It  boils down to the stupid situation of solving discrimination by discriminating.

Although some of it is still left in the hands of the employer. If I had interviewed 2 identical candiates I wouldnt employ one of them to increase the percentage of lesbian hindus with 1 leg within my business as it makes fuck all difference to anything. I'd find another way. (i.e employ the white man obviously )

I think that's where we disagree, well sort of. If a small company who only employs white sales men because they are white, ignoring better non-white candidates, then they are in the wrong. If they have only employed white sales men because everytime they've recruited the best person for the job has been white, then that's fine.

None of the anti-discrimination laws have a problem with the later. There's nothing that says that x% of your employees have to be from minorities, not even the newer positive discrimination style law says that.

[Reg Smeeton]

what, the government wont do you if you choose a woman other than a man?

 I read in the Daily Mail, that the government are making homosexuality compulsory....they will do you if you choose a woman over a man...it's an EU regulation, like the straight cucumber.

Disappointed with you, Reg.

  You've got to read something in the dentist's waiting room.....besides it's the only way I can find out where loads on here get their views.

[flammableBen]

I like the Daily Mail, it's like a black comedy. Funny, but with a sinister undertone of a large circulation who take its articles as fact.

[A Gent Orange]

The Mail can be amusing for that reason but the Express just scares the shit out of me.

Although their work did result in a great Bad Science this week...
http://www.badscience.net/