A recent story in the NZ Herald highlights a common mistake many employers make when recruiting staff.
An advertisement placed by an Auckland vet clinic suggested that the position was not suitable for someone planning to take long periods of “time off for parenting”. While many employers may feel this way, discrimination when recruiting can get you into hot water.
The textbook example of how not to advertise for staff was the advertisement placed many years ago in a local paper by the proprietor of a petrol station seeking “a keen young Christian man” to work as a forecourt attendant.
The owner was apparently very surprised to learn that in just five words he had discriminated in three different ways!
The Human Rights Act prohibits discrimination on the grounds of:
Sex
Marital status
Religious belief
Ethical belief
Colour
Race
Ethnic or national origins
Disability
Age
Political opinion
Employment status
Family status
Sexual orientation
To avoid a complaint, think about what skills and attributes you want candidates to have, rather than relying on discriminatory characteristics.
The good news is, you can definitely advertise for keen staff!
If you would like advice in relation to recruitment processes or employment agreements, contact our employment law team today.