Can a faith school advertise and prioritise candidates who practice the same faith for an admin role?
Can a faith school advertise and prioritise candidates who practice the same faith for an admin role?
In reply to Ann Simpson:
Thanks Ann my thoughts exactly. Teaching roles I can understand but office admin roles seems to be stretching the law a bit too much. It’s a colleague of mine that applied and was told although she was the best candidate the other person was a practicing catholic and therefore got the job.In reply to Maria Tonks:
The Equality Act provides that where an employer has an ethos based on religion or belief, they are permitted to rely on the occupational requirement exception if they can show that, having regard to that ethos and the nature or context of the work:In reply to David:
Thanks David it’s strange how you start to question yourself so great to get confirmation of my initial understandingIn reply to Maria Tonks:
Ouch - I think the organisation has exposed itself here. Open to your friend to seek to challege by way of an ET claim (depending on how they feel about that - personally I wouldn't be quick to litigate, but that's because I know how long and intense it can be, as well as expensive) but otherwise, may take the view that this wasn't/isn't the right employer for them, given that recruitment is a fairly 'bread and butter HR practice and if they manage to get it wrong so early, your friend may think 'lucky escape'. Appreciate we don't have the full facts of the situation but as David says, may be a stretch to say that the administrative work requires someone to be of a particular faith in order to do the work in question.Visit the main CIPD website
Empowering people
A place to learn, debate, and connect
© Copyright Chartered Insitute of Personnel and Development 2024, 151 The Broadway, London SW19 1JQ, UK Incorporated by Royal Charter, Registered Charity No. 1079797