JOB candidates at a local authority will have their names and ages taken off application forms in a bid to beat prejudice, the Sunday National can reveal.
North Lanarkshire Council has voted to bring in name-blind recruitment to stop a candidate’s sex, ethnicity or religion putting them out of a job.
It’s hoped that the shift will also deter other forms of conscious or unconscious bias within the local authority, which is understood to be the first in Scotland to take the step.
Details on applications will be anonymised to allow the CV to speak for itself, with age, place of birth and place of education also taken off.
The change is set to be enacted in the new year and follows a unanimous vote in favour of a motion proposed by SNP councillor Cameron McManus, who represents the Murdostoun ward.
He told the Sunday National the step “will be huge” for an area once known for religious rivalries, saying: “We can all agree that equality for all is the best way forwards.”
Research shows how a person’s age, sex, and socio-economic status impact on their job prospects. Names can give signals about their ethnicity and immigration status, which can influence a hiring manager, while those aged under 25 are often given lower pay offers and others aged over 48 overlooked. Meanwhile, place of education can indicate a candidate’s religion.
Major employers like HSBC and the BBC have already brought in “blind CVs”.
McManus, a former sous chef, says he experienced anti-Catholic prejudice at a previous workplace and consulted anti-sectarianism charity Nil By Mouth before working up the proposal.
He said: “We know from statistics that black, Asian and ethnic minority people need to apply for 30% more jobs before they get an interview. For disabled people, it’s even more. Hopefully this will help to tackle the problem and minimise the impact of unconscious bias whilst hiring or promoting staff.”
The shift comes after the Labour-led local authority adopted other anti-discrimination measures proposed by SNP councillors, including teacher training on racism and colonialism and the set-up of a new working group aimed at changing the culture of the council.
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