application form questions re religion and sexual orientation

Desperate_Housewife_2-2

I am applying for a job and one of the questions asks for my sexual orientation and religion. I feel that these are very personal and totally unnecessary to ask. Is this nanny state Britain gone mad? I don't want to answer them but will it affect my job chances? Why would anyone care anyway? Does this type of questioning really create equality and diversity or is it just a way of monitoring people? I personally feel that people should be accepted for the content of their character not their race/ sexual orientation and religion.

Is it just me?

Gingernutmeg

Most jobs I've ever applied for have these sorts of questions in them somewhere, although they're usually on a separate sheet that goes to HR and is not given to the interviewers. They definitely won't (or definitely shouldn't, at least) use the answers when deciding whether to employ you or not. It's usually just so that they tick diversity boxes and there's generally an option not to fill these questions in if you don't want to.

maninthestreet

Desperate_Housewife wrote: »

I am applying for a job and one of the questions asks for my sexual orientation and religion. I feel that these are very personal and totally unnecessary to ask. Is this nanny state Britain gone mad? I don't want to answer them but will it affect my job chances? Why would anyone care anyway? Does this type of questioning really create equality and diversity or is it just a way of monitoring people? I personally feel that people should be accepted for the content of their character not their race/ sexual orientation and religion.

Is it just me?

No it's not just you. These are exactly the questions that the Nazis demanded answers from their own population and populations of countries they subjugated.

olly300

Easy (as long as they have an "other" box):
Religion - Jedi
Sexual Orientation - Yes please

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/glasgow_and_west/8003067.stm

Oh and one company I applied to work at didn't give you a form with the application they got the receptionist to make you fill it in, in reception before you could be interviewed.

AJ1982

Put down you are outrageously homo-sexual and that you are from an obscure minority religion. I guarantee you will be employed, as they will to scared you will do them for discrimination.

Desperate_Housewife_2-2

Thanks for your answers guys, I agree with the one about the nazis as thats how it makes me feel.

They can b*gger off then and I'll decline to answer

Savvy_Sue

We ask these questions, but on a separate form which doesn't have a space for your name and is not seen by the selection panel. We also give you a separate envelope to return this form in.

The information is often asked for by grant making bodies - we're a charity.

GrammarGirl

Lots of people get very angry about these questions. I used to work in an adult education centre and had to ask (over the phone and in person) 'how would you describe your nationality?' Most popular answers were 10 minute rants about 'this nanny state' and 'big brother is watching your every move' or 'what does that mean?'

Debt_Free_Chick

Desperate_Housewife wrote: »

I am applying for a job and one of the questions asks for my sexual orientation and religion. I feel that these are very personal and totally unnecessary to ask. Is this nanny state Britain gone mad? I don't want to answer them but will it affect my job chances? Why would anyone care anyway? Does this type of questioning really create equality and diversity or is it just a way of monitoring people?

It's a way of monitoring employers, so that if anyone accused them of not being "diverse" they can demonstrate that they have considered applicants of an x, y, z background.

Employers don't like it either, but have no choice. How else do they prove that "person A" was not considered because they were "not white, anglo saxon, protestant males"?

rednose66

Sexual Orientation = Missionary / Doggy / Solo / BnD etc

Thats likely to give them something to think about!

wishface

Debt_Free_Chick wrote: »

It's a way of monitoring employers, so that if anyone accused them of not being "diverse" they can demonstrate that they have considered applicants of an x, y, z background.

Employers don't like it either, but have no choice. How else do they prove that "person A" was not considered because they were "not white, anglo saxon, protestant males"?

if a person is filling in a form then not revealing their race, or sex or whatever then there can be no potential for such discrimination. So why ask? No employer should ever have the right to ask for someone's sexuality and i'd walk if any ever did. It's beyond the pale.