Is this job description legal?

FunkyT · 5 Apr 2006 at 08:33

"You must also be able to demonstrate a high level of attention to detail, a proven ability to work effectively to short term deadlines and be pro-choice on abortion. Preference will be given to non-smokers." :rolleyes:

VaderDSL · 5 Apr 2006 at 08:34

What job is it for?

FunkyT · 5 Apr 2006 at 08:35

It's an IT Analyst job.

vanandjuanunited · 5 Apr 2006 at 08:36

Wouldnt have thought so. But these days you never know. I would like to think someone has checked it out though otherwise they could be getting sued very quickly.

JollyGreen · 5 Apr 2006 at 08:37

Probably be quite a fair job description for an abortion clinic

gjrc · 5 Apr 2006 at 08:37

the smoking part probably - the abortion part surely not

dymetrie · 5 Apr 2006 at 08:37

Their company, they can put pretty much whatever they want in the JD so long as it doesn't descriminate against Race or Gender...

Funny though

Cueball · 5 Apr 2006 at 08:40

Was done as a joke, methinks.

Murf · 5 Apr 2006 at 08:43

I personally have no problem with a company placing that kind of pre-requisite in a job description, the government will though.

FunkyT · 5 Apr 2006 at 08:59

Cueball said:
Was done as a joke, methinks.

I don't think it's a joke dude.

alexakasloth · 5 Apr 2006 at 09:02

gjrc said:
the smoking part probably - the abortion part surely not

They can discriminate against smokers if they want, hell i'll go out here and agree that they should only employ smokers

Dolph · 5 Apr 2006 at 09:28

Nothing illegal about that description. It doesn't try to discriminate by race or gender, which are the two main legal issues.

Discriminating against people for opinions is still perfectly permissable.

glissando · 5 Apr 2006 at 09:29

JollyGreen said:
Probably be quite a fair job description for an abortion clinic

Was about to say.

FunkyT · 5 Apr 2006 at 09:31

Dolph said:
Nothing illegal about that description. It doesn't try to discriminate by race or gender, which are the two main legal issues.

Discriminating against people for opinions is still perfectly permissable.

I suppose in the same way Nike wouldn't want to employ someone who was anti sweat shops and slave labour?

Dolph · 5 Apr 2006 at 09:34

FunkyT said:
I suppose in the same way Nike wouldn't want to employ someone who was anti sweat shops and slave labour?

Pretty much. Even for (as an example) an IT analyst job, if their biggest client is abortion clinics, they are going to want to ensure they employ someone whose personal beliefs won't get in the way of their job.

Of course, the consequence for the company is that they risk missing out on a section of the workforce that could be perfect for the job role....

Arcade Fire · 5 Apr 2006 at 09:36

Nothing wrong with it; they probably just don't want to employ stupid people

Stretch · 5 Apr 2006 at 09:41

Arcade Fire said:
Nothing wrong with it; they probably just don't want to employ stupid people

Dolly · 5 Apr 2006 at 09:43

Yep, there is nothing wrong with it. The laws at the moment only cover race, sex (which includes married people, those undergoing gender reassignment and pregnant women), religion or belief, disability and sexual orientation. Regulations dealing with age discrimination are due to come in soon I think so there is nothing to prevent an employer discriminating against you because you are a smoker

Dolly · 5 Apr 2006 at 09:47

I suppose the pro-choice on abortion could be regarded as indirectly discriminatory against women if it was argued that significantly more women than men are against abortion. But this is possibly stretching it a bit.

Rotty · 5 Apr 2006 at 09:47

don't see any reason why it would be illegal