Is this age discrimination

buggy_boy

So I came across this job advertisement for HPE, in it under experience it stated:

"· All levels of experience considered, early career an advantage."

Just wondered what others thought? I thought its probably legally ok but probably pushing the boundaries at best.

ReadingTim

Could just mean that that sort of tasks etc that the role will be doing are suited to someone quite junior, which someone more senior might find dull, boring or demeaning.

buggy_boy

ReadingTim wrote: »

Could just mean that that sort of tasks etc that the role will be doing are suited to someone quite junior, which someone more senior might find dull, boring or demeaning.

No given the job this is not the case, its for a systems engineer requiring Batchelors or Masters degree. and its also not a physical job either. It does not have the pay so maybe its indicative of the pay but then the wording suggest that someone at an early point of their career would be more likely to get the job than an identical candidate at a later point. Its clearly a thinly disguised attempt to attract younger job seekers and discourage older.

Comms69

buggy_boy wrote: »

No given the job this is not the case, its for a systems engineer requiring Batchelors or Masters degree. and its also not a physical job either. It does not have the pay so maybe its indicative of the pay but then the wording suggest that someone at an early point of their career would be more likely to get the job than an identical candidate at a later point. Its clearly a thinly disguised attempt to attract younger job seekers and discourage older.

I disagree, the employer can do so without needing to advertise it.

Blatchford

Being "early in your career" doesn't mean "young". There are apprentices in their 50's! I don't see a thing discriminatory about the employers statement, but perhaps your assumption that people who are just starting a particular career must be young could, at a pinch, be considered slightly discriminatory or old-fashioned?

nicechap

buggy_boy wrote: »

No given the job this is not the case, its for a systems engineer requiring Batchelors or Masters degree. and its also not a physical job either. It does not have the pay so maybe its indicative of the pay but then the wording suggest that someone at an early point of their career would be more likely to get the job than an identical candidate at a later point. Its clearly a thinly disguised attempt to attract younger job seekers and discourage older.

Are 'older' people not allowed to train as systems engineers?

Who would they give the post to between a 30 year old with 5 years experience and a 50 year old with 2 years experience?

TELLIT01

As others have said "early career" is not the same as "young". My nephew did an electrical apprenticeship in his late 20's, so although not exactly ancient he was a lot older than most of the others.

ReadingTim

buggy_boy wrote: »

Its clearly a thinly disguised attempt to attract younger job seekers and discourage older.

No mate, it really isn't.

Furthermore, if you don't believe older people can have 2nd careers, Batchelors or Masters degrees, or undertake physical work, then the only one who is being ageist, is you.

theoretica

Possible non-discriminatory translations include:

We're not paying much, but do have training courses and some opportunities that will look great on your CV.

We want someone who will do things our way and not insist they know better.

buggy_boy

Blatchford wrote: »

Being "early in your career" doesn't mean "young". There are apprentices in their 50's! I don't see a thing discriminatory about the employers statement, but perhaps your assumption that people who are just starting a particular career must be young could, at a pinch, be considered slightly discriminatory or old-fashioned?

I take your point however I would argue for example discriminating against single parents has been proven to be sex discrimination because the majority of single parents are female..just because obviously there are some male single parents does not mean its not discrimination

Although there are some older people starting new careers I would argue the vast majority of those that are early in career would be younger. Take a look at the link below, acas say putting 'recent graduate' could be deamed as discriminating on age.. Yes there are older graduates but again the vast majority are younger, how is 'early in career' any different?

https://m.acas.org.uk/index.aspx?articleid=4657

buggy_boy

theoretica wrote: »

Possible non-discriminatory translations include:

We're not paying much, but do have training courses and some opportunities that will look great on your CV.

We want someone who will do things our way and not insist they know better.

If that were the case why not advertise it as a trainee systems engineer? I agree it could mean those things which is why its probably legal however its unusual to word it in that way..