Job advert seeking male applicants only - can I report it? And who to?

Kavanne

Pretty much as above. A local chippy is advertising for a delivery driver and poster in their window says male applicants only. Pretty sure this is not allowed?

WestonDave

Gender preference is allowed in certain circumstances where it would be inappropriate otherwise (male bra fitter?) but this probably isn't one of them.

That said the owner probably isn't trying to do women out of a job, he's probably being a bit old fashioned and doesn't like the idea of sending a lone female out in dark evenings to deliver food and collect cash which might leave them vulnerable to robbery.

He'd probably have been better off leaving that part off the ad, and just making sure when the applicants come in he picks someone that looks like no-one would mess with them!

Whether you report it is up to you, but the practical outcome is likely to be the same - the job will go to a tough looking bloke who won't get robbed. I doubt its malicious sexism, just a lack of knowledge of the ways to work within the rules to still end up with what you need. If the comment wasn't there and he just binned all the female applications the outcome would be the same, just hidden.

HappyMJ

My pizza has been delivered by a female driver late at night. I don't see the problem. Drivers only carry £20 in change...at least that's what we are told.

I'd report the ad to your local Trading Standards. Nothing much will happen. They might have a word...they might not.

jacques_chirac

HappyMJ wrote: »

My pizza has been delivered by a female driver late at night. I don't see the problem. Drivers only carry £20 in change...at least that's what we are told.

I'd report the ad to your local Trading Standards. Nothing much will happen. They might have a word...they might not.

It's not just the risk of theft though is it? Would an employer want to get sued for failing in their duty of care if a female was physically attacked?

I would not report it, trading standards have far more important things to be dealing with.

HappyMJ

jacques_chirac wrote: »

It's not just the risk of theft though is it? Would an employer want to get sued for failing in their duty of care if a female was physically attacked?

I would not report it, trading standards have far more important things to be dealing with.

It's unlikely...and just as likely if not more likely a male would be attacked so wouldn't they also fail in their duty of care if a male was attacked late at night. My opinion but I'd say it's less likely a desperate druggie would attack a woman than a man. When they get caught and are imprisoned for it they'll not be exactly the most respected person on the wing.

Takeaway_Addict

jacques_chirac wrote: »

It's not just the risk of theft though is it? Would an employer want to get sued for failing in their duty of care if a female was physically attacked?

I would not report it, trading standards have far more important things to be dealing with.

Not if they did things correctly and had procedures written out. We can't just prevent women from delivering items late at night.

I wouldn't bother reporting either but I would send a letter detailing the possibility of a case being taken against the employer by a disgruntled applicant.

jacques_chirac

Takeaway_Addict wrote: »

Not if they did things correctly and had procedures written out. We can't just prevent women from delivering items late at night.

I wouldn't bother reporting either but I would send a letter detailing the possibility of a case being taken against the employer by a disgruntled applicant.

What procedure is going to stop a woman being raped, aside from sending a man with them? ;-)

Of course men can be attacked too, but in the given scenario it is far more likely to happen to a woman.

anamenottaken

jacques_chirac wrote: »

What procedure is going to stop a woman being raped, aside from sending a man with them? ;-)

Of course men can be attacked too, but in the given scenario it is far more likely to happen to a woman.

You've not heard that males can be raped, then?

heretolearn_2

So are you saying women should not be allowed to work nights? Or in jobs where they go to customers' premises?

No thanks. I want to make my own decisions as to what type of work I do. How dare you think I should not be allowed to but instead submit to a paternalistic attitude of preventing me working to 'look after little woman'.

There is a duty of care relating to 'lone workers' regardless of their gender. So, for example, the employer should keep a record of where they are/what addresses they are going to. And make sure they are back/call in ok at the end of their shift so they know if something has gone wrong.

I frequently visit clients and complete strangers at their own premises, often in dodgy bits of London or out in very maze-like industrial areas. Often evenings. Often dark. That's my choice as the work I do, and I and my firm have safety procedures in place as above, for EVERYONE who does this.

P.S. Rape can occur at any time of day. Most rapes occur in social situations by men the woman knows, not random attacks. Also, men get raped too. The risk here is really very tiny. Other than Suzy Lamplugh, can you think of a single case of a woman getting raped/murdered when visiting a customer?

(When I was younger I was rejected for a brilliant job as I didn't then have a car and would have to walk to work through an industrial estate. The male owner of the firm said I was the best candidate and he wanted to give me the job, but would be 'worried' about me walking to work from the train. If'd I'd driven, I would have got it. Despite the fact that I was 30 years old, was already walking to work through an industrial estate, and was perfectly happy to continue to do so at the new firm. I'm still annoyed at missing out because of some stupid man who thought he was my Dad and I wasn't allowed to make my own decisions!)

Poppie68

And back to the op....
The advert has most probably been put up niavely by someone you has'nt meant to cause offence. If it's bothering you, have a word with them and ask why they are only looking for men for that particular job.
Muggings and attacks are happening every week against delivery drivers and maybe they thought the job would be better suited to a male..

Poppie68

HappyMJ wrote: »

My pizza has been delivered by a female driver late at night. I don't see the problem. Drivers only carry £20 in change...at least that's what we are told.

I'd report the ad to your local Trading Standards. Nothing much will happen. They might have a word...they might not.

Scum that mug and attack other people to steal from them don't care if it's £1 or £100, they just seem to have an entitlement issue.