Equality Interview Question

Flyonthewall

A while ago I had an interview where they asked me about equality and diversity. I noticed there's another thread on here about it, which made me think of it, but I was just wondering what you would answer in an interview if asked what your understanding of it is?

For some reason in my interview they kept forcing the issue and trying to get me to answer more and I didn't have a clue what to say! When asked I basically said everyone is equal regardless of who they are... I might have said regardless of gender or disability etc. Something along them lines.

They weren't happy with that and asked what issues I'd come across regarding equality. To which I could only say none. I've always worked and been to school/college with people who treat everyone equally. They kept pushing it though as if I could just magic up a moment from my past where it had been a problem.

So then they tried a new way, asking if someone in a wheel chair should be treated the same as everyone else. When I said yes, of course thinking they shouldn't be bullied or left out of things and so on because they're in a wheel chair, they pointed out an example. I can't quite remember what it was, something along the lines of they couldn't get upstairs in a wheel chair and so they can't be treated like everyone else because you can't expect them to walk up the stairs.

However, if I was walking along with someone next to me in a wheel chair I'd be talking and acting the same as I do with anyone else. I wouldn't think twice about that because I wouldn't consider them any different to anyone else and I would probably say about going upstairs without thinking about it.

I didn't really get to say much else as one interviewer said everyone should be treated as an indivdual and finally moved on to something else.

Obviously everyone should be treated as an individual, but I don't think that answers the question myself. I don't think making a point of how they can't walk is treating them as equal, it's pointing out differences.

I'm sure the conversation didn't last quite as long as I felt it did, but it was certainly took up a fair amount of the interview time and I don't feel like we actually got anywhere with that question.

So what is the best way to answer that question?

Takeaway_Addict

I believe they were angling for a response along the lines of reasonable adjustments under the equality act 2010.

If a company can make reasonable adjustments for someone protected under the law then they should, however somethings that they could do may not be reasonable and as such the employer can treat employees differently.

jacques_chirac

I agree with Takeaway_Addict. Equality is not about treating everyone the same, it is about everyone getting equality of opportunity, so removing barriers (where possible) to put everyone on a level playing field. Sometimes that means treating some more favourably than others.

Flyonthewall

Takeaway_Addict wrote: »

I believe they were angling for a response along the lines of reasonable adjustments under the equality act 2010.

If a company can make reasonable adjustments for someone protected under the law then they should, however somethings that they could do may not be reasonable and as such the employer can treat employees differently.

I see, thanks. I'll remember that. Still can't understand why they tried to push past non-existing issues though Or why the interviewer at the end seemed to act like she was answering the question when it didn't really cover it.

jacques_chirac

Flyonthewall wrote: »

I see, thanks. I'll remember that. Still can't understand why they tried to push past non-existing issues though Or why the interviewer at the end seemed to act like she was answering the question when it didn't really cover it.

Because not everyone is equal, and because there are issues to be considered in the given scenarios. If I was walking with a person in a wheelchair I would be thinking ahead about what barriers we may face on our journey - do we need to turn left for the lift rather than going straight on where there are stairs, do I need to open the door for them and so on.

Flyonthewall

jacques_chirac wrote: »

I agree with Takeaway_Addict. Equality is not about treating everyone the same, it is about everyone getting equality of opportunity, so removing barriers (where possible) to put everyone on a level playing field. Sometimes that means treating some more favourably than others.

Yeah. I was trying to get that point across to them, but I didn't word it well to start with and then, well, you can see how it went lol. I was a bit lost as to what to say.

Flyonthewall

jacques_chirac wrote: »

Because not everyone is equal, and because there are issues to be considered in the given scenarios. If I was walking with a person in a wheelchair I would be thinking ahead about what barriers we may face on our journey - do we need to turn left for the lift rather than going straight on where there are stairs, do I need to open the door for them and so on.

I know that there would be barriers, but I honestly wouldn't think of them. I don't go around thinking about how someones differences may cause difficulties, I'd be talking and acting the same with them as anyone else. I generally take the lift and open doors for people anyway so...I wouldn't be thinking why I'm doing it.

jacques_chirac

Flyonthewall wrote: »

I know that there would be barriers, but I honestly wouldn't think of them. I don't go around thinking about how someones differences may cause difficulties, I'd be talking and acting the same with them as anyone else. I generally take the lift and open doors for people anyway so...I wouldn't be thinking why I'm doing it.

In an interview situation you need to be explicit about the things you would normally do without thinking

Flyonthewall

jacques_chirac wrote: »

In an interview situation you need to be explicit about the things you would normally do without thinking

Not that easiest thing to do, especially in an interview situation. I know you're supposed to be prepared, but when I'm there all my answers fly out the window

Chunters_a_lot

As above really if you respond along the lines of 'treating everyone equally / the same' it may look like you have not thought about the difficulties some people may have accessing / using services. For example when sending out a letter to customers you can not treat everyone the same and send them the same letter. How would a visually impaired person be able to read it? What about people for whom English is a second language? People who have poor literacy skills? You need to treat these groups differently to ensure that they have an equal opportunity to access the content of the letter and if necessary act on the contents.

I worked in Housing Repairs for a long time. A broken toilet seat would not cause a massive problem for most young, fit and mobile people. However if the broken toilet seat was on the only toilet in the home of a 95 year old who used mobility aids get around then it could be the cause of a horrible accident. I send the repair men to their house first! I've treated them differently because of their age / disability.

Hope this helps. In an interview research the client group / customers of the company and I am sure you will be able to come up with examples specific to them.

Flyonthewall

Chunters_a_lot wrote: »

As above really if you respond along the lines of 'treating everyone equally / the same' it may look like you have not thought about the difficulties some people may have accessing / using services. For example when sending out a letter to customers you can not treat everyone the same and send them the same letter. How would a visually impaired person be able to read it? What about people for whom English is a second language? People who have poor literacy skills? You need to treat these groups differently to ensure that they have an equal opportunity to access the content of the letter and if necessary act on the contents.

I worked in Housing Repairs for a long time. A broken toilet seat would not cause a massive problem for most young, fit and mobile people. However if the broken toilet seat was on the only toilet in the home of a 95 year old who used mobility aids get around then it could be the cause of a horrible accident. I send the repair men to their house first! I've treated them differently because of their age / disability.

Hope this helps. In an interview research the client group / customers of the company and I am sure you will be able to come up with examples specific to them.

True, but I was saying about treating people all equally in the sense of not being horrible to someone because of their race, religion, gender etc. That was my first thought and one they seemed to follow on from by asking about past experiences.

They really kept pushing with the past experience, but I really have no experience of that in any sense so I don't know what they expected and it rather put me off Then they went back to asking in that sense (equality with disabilities).

I did try and say that you'd have to cater to their needs, but still treat them like you would anyone else (as in being nice, not bullying, excluding them and so on).

They kept cutting in with their own little points/statements and questions though that weren't always about the thing I'd just said. I'm not sure both interviewers were expecting the same answer and there was a third person just sat in front of me not saying anything at all.