If it's illegal to ask our age, why does it appear on "Equal Opportunities" forms?

Starlet

After you're offered a job, as part of the paperwork, you're usually given an "Equal Opportunities" form to fill in.

I don't mind disclosing information about nationality, etc. However, I assumed that since it's illegal to ask someone's age at an interview, then why would we have to disclose this information on a form later on down the line?

Some of you might think to yourselves, "What's the problem? If you've been offered the job then it shows that they're not discriminating against you, so just fill it in! Who cares?!" But if someone is 30 years old (but looks 24) then once they find out your age, they might start treating you differently.

Do we have to fill in these forms?

Any feedback or thoughts would be appreciated.

(Oh, and on a sidenote, I havent yet been offered a job - I'm still looking.)

anamenottaken

Starlet wrote: »

After you're offered a job, as part of the paperwork, you're usually given an "Equal Opportunities" form to fill in.

I don't mind disclosing information about nationality, etc. However, I assumed that since it's illegal to ask someone's age at an interview, then why would we have to disclose this information on a form later on down the line?

Some of you might think to yourselves, "What's the problem? If you've been offered the job then it shows that they're not discriminating against you, so just fill it in! Who cares?!" But if someone is 30 years old (but looks 24) then once they find out your age, they might start treating you differently.

Do we have to fill in these forms?

Any feedback or thoughts would be appreciated.

(Oh, and on a sidenote, I havent yet been offered a job - I'm still looking.)

Legal - and one possible reason is so they can monitor their performance on EO matters.

When you become an employee, they should know - eg for insurance purposes, H&S.

If you don't fill in an EO form (which can be provided at application stage too - it's not unlawful to do that but should be separate/separated from the application form before further processing of the application), then you may still be required to give your date of birth and probably provide it when you prove you have the right to work in the UK. If you don't do that they may have a genuine reason not to employ you. .

spidercrab

I was given EO forms to fill in at application stage when I was looking about 6 years ago. Considering I was in my mid forties, I was not happy about this as it seemed like all the jobs I was applying for were aimed at the younger generation. Even on application forms it was difficult to hide your age as many of them wanted to know schools attended and dates - it would not take a genius to work out someone's age by looking at school dates. Also, as I took 'O' levels I was obviously ancient. In fact at one interview I went to, one of the ladies that interviewed me said I was "getting on a bit." Needless to say, I did not get that job. I suppose I could have reported her for age discrimination but I actually thought it was quite amusing.

tizerbelle

Starlet wrote: »

I don't mind disclosing information about nationality, etc. However, I assumed that since it's illegal to ask someone's age at an interview, then why would we have to disclose this information on a form later on down the line?

Firstly, its not illegal to ask for an applicant's age. It is unlawful to discriminate against someone because of age but it is not unlawful to ask.

If you're being interviewed (unless the interviewer is blind-folded) then they are going to have a pretty good idea of how old you are and aren't going to need the answers on an EO form to tell them.

Before you even get to the interview, interviewers have a pretty good idea what sort of age bracket you fall into anyway - education, type of qualifications gained, how much work history you have etc etc.

If theres an EO form with an application (so you've not even applied yet) then usually the recruiting manager doesn't even see them - they get hived off by HR.

All applicants should have their right to work in the UK verified before they are even offered a job - so they'll have your DOB then from passport / birth certificate etc

If they are lax and don't do the above, they'll usually ask as part of setting up your personnel record anyway.

makeyourdaddyproud

As the poster above suggested - trying to conceal one's age via elusive and vague correspondence simply makes one look like an idiot, and would be the overriding reason not to shortlist you.


Just be honest and say it! You will end up having to tell them anyway.

dseventy

I employ many people and have lots of contracts. These vary from the public sector (NHS, government) to blue chip and tech (insert house hold names here).

Some of my clients and customers require (as part of the contract) that I collate anonymous information on my workforce (who work for them). As a result i have to ask for it. I have even have to ask others who may cover for them.

I employ based on merit, experience and qualifications. If you are being a bit weird about giving me this basic information (that my well paying client want) then we're probably not suited to each other, and we should part company.

D70

elsien

Two separate systems in our place.
The application form comes to us recruiters to shortlist etc. It doesn't have age etc on it, theoretically to remove discrimination, although in practice you can work out someone's age anyway from the dates they were at school/university, if you're so inclined.
The equal opps form goes directly to HR so the organisation can monitor its recruitment overall in terms of the groups it's attacting and offering employment to.
You don't have to fill it in, but it's not going to make any odds to you getting the job whether you do or not.

noelphobic

I've had to email EO forms separately for some of the jobs I've applied for. They don't always ask for your name so they can tell who's applying but they can't tell who got the job, unless they also keep a record of the email address it was sent from. That seems a bit pointless to me!

I have also been asked to produce exam certificates and most of mine say my date of birth on them.