UK works toward societal fairness. We'll be next.

Employer told not to post advert for 'reliable' workers because it discriminates against 'unreliable' applicants

By Daily Mail Reporter

A job centre has been slammed for refusing to display an advert for a 'reliable workers' - because it discriminated against unreliable applicants.

Recruitment boss Nicole Mamo, 48, tried to post an advert for a £5.80-an-hour domestic cleaner on her local Jobcentre Plus website.

She ended the job offer by saying that any applicants for the post 'must be very reliable and hard-working'.

But when Ms Mamo called the Jobcentre Plus in Thetford, Norfolk, the following day she was told that her advert would not be displayed.

Nicole Mamo

Nicole Mamo, director of Devonwood Recruitment was stunned when a job centre in Thetford, Norfolk, said she could not include the phrase 'reliable and hard working' in her advert
A Jobcentre Plus worker claimed that the word 'reliable' meant they could be sued for discriminating against unreliable workers.

The mother-of-two from Hertfordshire today slammed the situation as 'ridiculous'.

She said: 'I placed the advert on the website and when I phoned up to check I was told it hadn't been displayed in the job centre itself.

The Job Centre in Thetford, Norfolk, said the advert discriminated against unreliable people.

'She said "oh we can't put that advert on the job points".

'She said it was because they could have cases against them for discriminating against unreliable people.

'I laughed because I thought that was crazy. We supply the NHS with staff so it's very important for the patients that we have reliable workers.

'We find jobs for hundreds of temporary staff every week and are proud of our workers but our reputation is at stake if they aren't reliable.

'We are taking people off the dole and finding them jobs so not displaying the advert just seems absolutely ridiculous to me.'

Nicole, who runs Devonwood recruitment agency and employs eight people, placed her advert on the Thetford Jobcentre Plus website on January 21 this year.

The job offer, which cost nothing to display, read: 'Domestic cleaner required immediately. A variety of different shifts available. Must be fluent in written and spoken English for health and safety reasons. Previous experience preferred. Training will be provided. Must be very reliable and hard-working.'

The following day Nicole phoned Thetford Jobcentre Plus and was told by a woman that her advert could not be displayed.

The 'offensive' advert which Job Centre Plus allowed on the website but not on the instore display

She claimed that the job centre could be sued by unreliable people if they placed the advert on their 'job points' but told Nicole it will remain on their website.

(More...)