Body challenges employers' focus on job seekers' qualifications

The importance of academic qualifications for job hunters was challenged today in a new report.

A body set up to tackle discrimination and inequality in the workplace said traditional approaches to recruitment have to change if early school leavers are to secure employment.

The report, prepared under the Equal Community Initiative, revealed that employers which have moved to competency-based recruitment have benefited by hiring people who do not have a Leaving Certificate.

Based on suitability and interest in a job, it resulted in significant commitment and productivity from the employee.

The Government has also given its backing to the scheme, with the Department of Environment and Local Government removing the state exam requirement for local authority clerical officer positions.

Launched by Peter Cassells, of the National Centre for Partnership and Performance, the report – Delivering a More Inclusive Workplace: Innovations from Equal – outlines seven projects set up to influence national policy in the area of inclusive workplaces.

It contains a range of alternative models for recruitment, staff policy and flexible work arrangements which can make the workplace more accessible to people who experience inequality. They include people with disabilities, older workers, women, the long-term unemployed and minority groups.

Mr Cassells said the initiative comes when cases before the Equality Tribunal have reached an all-time high.

“In the first six months of this year the number of complaints before this Tribunal rose by 50% on the same period in 2006,” he said.

“This trend would suggest that – while many workplaces are making huge strides in accommodating diversity and in promoting equality – there is still a significant job of work to be done at a national policy, political and workplace level to ensure that issues like age, gender, race or disability do not prevent someone from getting a job or a promotion.

“Accommodating diversity in the workplace is an economic imperative to meet current demands for labour across a range of sectors. In addition, a culturally diverse workplace can offer global marketing opportunities for businesses.

“Staff morale, customer satisfaction levels and general levels of productivity can also be positively impacted by making the workplace more inclusive.”

Since 2000, some 43 partnership projects have been supported by the European Social Fund which invested 34 million euro in the scheme.

Within an 18-month period, the KWCD Employer Exchange in South West Dublin boasted a 60% increase in the number of job placements involving long-term unemployed people, with employers also working with the newly recruited staff to enhance their skills through training and mentoring.

Meanwhile, in the LIFT project – which centred on promoting women within the trade union movement – Mr Cassells was among the senior officials who provided one-to-one mentoring for women activists to promote their leadership within the movement.

Sinead Jackson, from the Equal Community Initiative, said its aim was to identify and respond to discrimination and inequality in the labour market through the development and implementation of innovative policies and practices.

“The seven projects that have contributed to this report have worked closely together for the past two years to share best practice and experiences,” she said.

“Their models for promoting inclusion in the workplace are working successfully and have proved hugely advantageous to employers and employees. Their work has ensured the success of Equal in achieving its objectives,” she added.