I noticed the follwing post on the Northern Recruiters Network discussion page and thought someone out there may have an opinion/ some thoughts….
“If you had a candidate whom you knew to be on the BNP list and who was interviewing at a client which you knew had an ethnically diverse workforce, would you tell your client that the candidate was, or had been, a member of the BNP? Or is ignorance bliss?”
Also, what are the legal aspects of divulging/ not divulging such information??
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One would assume that an employer will insert appropriate equal opportunities and diversity clauses into the wider contract and policy documents included in an offer. In that sense, the responsibility lies with an employer and a candidate signing their agreement. However, a conscientious recruiter will not want to compromise any involved party (client, candidate or themselves) and so will find a way to mitigate against this.
As you point out, the biggest problem here is surely the legality of discrimination on political grounds. Whilst not at all wanting to endorse any of the BNP’s views or policies, one cannot deny their right to free speech as enshrined in our democracy notwithstanding recent incitement to hatred legislation.
On a lighter but related note – I might not agree with key views that might be strongly held by some of my colleagues and I may even take a stand against those on occasion. Nonetheless, I respect their right to hold any such views and enjoy good working relations with them.
Comment by Tim — Thursday, November 20, 2008 @ 11:39 am
If I was representing someone who were a member of the BNP I would like to think that I would have covered their preferred working environment prior to putting them forward for a role. If they had any reservations with working within a multi-cultural work place they would have not been put forward initially.
If I knew about the candidate and he was interviewing through a competitor, I would have stepped back and not said anything. I wouldn’t think that it was my place to do so. I would also have to consider how it would look if I approached a client and let him know about personal details of a candidate interviewing through a competitor. Apart from the obvious data protection issues, it could be construed as merely bad-mouthing competitors candidates.
Candidates personal views, issues and interests are, in general their own business and unless any of these are illegal, or will directly conflict with our ethical stance towards recruitment, will be kept private. If a candidate or client feels the need to tell me of these issues/interests and would like me to take these into consideration in the recruitment process, then I will, again ensure it coincides with best practice.
Comment by Dan Jones — Thursday, November 20, 2008 @ 1:09 pm
As much as many people will disagree with what the BNP stand for – be this perceived or reality (often hyped by the media – I am not defending their stance by the way)I do not agree with disclosing this information to clients. We would not do this if a candidate was a member of a far left party and surely it is down to individual client equality & diversity policies to deal with any employee who breaches these. If the BNP member keeps their views private and no grievances are raised then we cannot pre-judge what an individual may or may not do once employed. If a candidate breached our internal equality & diversity policy through a comment made in an interview with our business then I would deal with it at that point and the likely outcome being not registering them with our business let alone sending them to a client – fee or no fee!
We do however live in a democracy and as much as I find the BNP views a disgrace the law of the land must deal with it not our individual prejudices or views. Tough to admit but we must deliver short lists based on merit alone otherwise it could be argued we are discriminating too!
Comment by Rory Burke — Thursday, November 20, 2008 @ 3:48 pm
As a freelancer and avid supporter of the BNP I find the above statements offensive, do you know anything the BNP policies? no you belive the media and its hype. As a white Born English man, why shouldnt i fear for OUR culture and our belifes and fight for them? no xmas nativites, no santa, no christmas cards, it go’s on and on, I love England and all it stands for, if it was not for the BNP what would be next? changing the floasg to keep the unwated happy? im now a second class citizen in my own country as are those who fought in 2 world wars to keep us safe.
Comment by Stephen Caree — Thursday, November 27, 2008 @ 7:55 pm
Stephen, I do not slavishly follow the “media hype” but I cannot agree with your views nor many of the BNP’s policies. However, you have a perfect right (and a right I hold dearly) to express those opinions; hence publishing your comment.
Comment by David Colgrave — Monday, December 1, 2008 @ 7:50 pm