Exam 3: Foundations of Recruitment and Selection II

Scenario 3.4 You are the HR manager for a Canadian university located in Ontario. An Asian university business professor has worked at that Canadian university for 15 years. He was denied a tenure position on several occasions. Three other faculty (all white) with less education and experience received tenure positions in the past two years. -Refer to Scenario 3.4. There are many actions the HR manager can take. What would be an important initial step to deal with this situation?

Which of the following is a prohibited ground of discrimination?

Scenario 3.5 TS Inc. is a small Canadian aviation company located in Sydney, BC. The company has over 30 employees, primarily pilots and aircraft maintenance engineers. The CEO informs you that you should come up with a recruitment and selection system that will screen out pro-union attitudes and to keep this information confidential. John, a Seventh Day Adventist, applied in person for an aircraft maintenance engineer position, in response to a newspaper advertisement that listed two years of experience and industry certification. He was not contacted by TS Inc. even though he had over eight years of experience. His ex-wife, who was close friends with the CEO, told John that she had been contacted for a reference. Four months later he learned that the recent hirees had less than two years of experience. -Refer to Scenario 3.5. What legally protected ground seems to be violated in this situation?

Scenario 3.3 You have recently been hired as the HR manager for KM Contracting, a medium-sized construction company with offices throughout Canada. Many of the company's trades employees are unionized, and one of the company's largest contracts is with the federal government. It has come to your attention that Ms. Jones, an elderly woman who works as an office clerk, has been humiliated and treated disrespectfully about her obesity for 11 years. She has been called offensive names and heard comments about the way she "waddles." During this time, her manager criticized her work performance and stated that "women are best working at home in the kitchen." She has been passed over for promotions and no longer applies for other positions because of her low self-esteem resulting from the intimidating workplace environment. The company's discrimination policy states that it promotes a work environment that is free from discrimination. Managers have stated that they cannot always distinguish between inappropriate or illegal discrimination behaviours. The CEO has asked you to educate all levels of management about the legal requirements that must be met in recruitment and selection. He also wants you to develop some practical nondiscriminatory recruitment and selection guidelines for all employees. -Refer to Scenario 3.3. As the HR manager, how would you best define discrimination to the managers?

Which of the following is an example of indirect discrimination?

Scenario 3.1 Bill, who has an arthritic condition, applied for a position as a private bus driver. He met all the conditions of the selection process but was rejected for employment by the company on the advice of the medical doctor who performed the mandatory medical examination. -In order to NOT be accused of discrimination, what should the employer have established prior to conducting medical exams on bus drivers?

Ann, who is four feet five inches tall, met with the manager of a liquor store to discuss employment as a cashier. The manager seemed receptive, and Ann left the store with the impression that the manager would call to arrange training. However, the manager hired someone else. When Ann asked, the manager said Ann was too short to do the job. What protection does Ann have under human rights law in this situation?

Scenario 3.4 You are the HR manager for a Canadian university located in Ontario. An Asian university business professor has worked at that Canadian university for 15 years. He was denied a tenure position on several occasions. Three other faculty (all white) with less education and experience received tenure positions in the past two years. -Refer to Scenario 3.4. What legally protected ground seems to be violated in this situation?

Which one of the following questions can be asked of a potential candidate?

Scenario 3.5 TS Inc. is a small Canadian aviation company located in Sydney, BC. The company has over 30 employees, primarily pilots and aircraft maintenance engineers. The CEO informs you that you should come up with a recruitment and selection system that will screen out pro-union attitudes and to keep this information confidential. John, a Seventh Day Adventist, applied in person for an aircraft maintenance engineer position, in response to a newspaper advertisement that listed two years of experience and industry certification. He was not contacted by TS Inc. even though he had over eight years of experience. His ex-wife, who was close friends with the CEO, told John that she had been contacted for a reference. Four months later he learned that the recent hirees had less than two years of experience. -Refer to Scenario 3.5. What human rights legal concept has emerged in this situation?

To which of the following designated groups does employment equity apply?

Which interview question is legally valid?

Describe some practical guidelines for HR managers to ensure that recruitment and selection practices are nondiscriminatory.

Scenario 3.3 You have recently been hired as the HR manager for KM Contracting, a medium-sized construction company with offices throughout Canada. Many of the company's trades employees are unionized, and one of the company's largest contracts is with the federal government. It has come to your attention that Ms. Jones, an elderly woman who works as an office clerk, has been humiliated and treated disrespectfully about her obesity for 11 years. She has been called offensive names and heard comments about the way she "waddles." During this time, her manager criticized her work performance and stated that "women are best working at home in the kitchen." She has been passed over for promotions and no longer applies for other positions because of her low self-esteem resulting from the intimidating workplace environment. The company's discrimination policy states that it promotes a work environment that is free from discrimination. Managers have stated that they cannot always distinguish between inappropriate or illegal discrimination behaviours. The CEO has asked you to educate all levels of management about the legal requirements that must be met in recruitment and selection. He also wants you to develop some practical nondiscriminatory recruitment and selection guidelines for all employees. -Refer to Scenario 3.3. In Ms. Jones's situation, what factors would help management define whether the behaviours are discrimination?

The Canadian Human Rights Commission received 889 complaints in 2009. What percentage of these complaints were related to discrimination of the disabled?

Scenario 3.2 Mr. Smith, a public elementary school custodian, is a Seventh Day Adventist. His religious beliefs prevent him from working from sundown Friday to sundown Saturday. The work schedule, which requires him to work a Friday shift from 3 p.m. to 11 p.m., is set out in the collective agreement between his employer and his union. Accommodating Mr. Smith's religious beliefs would require allowing him to work hours different from those specified. The employer and the union can't agree on a means of accommodating Mr. Smith. As a result, he is dismissed from his job. -Refer to Scenario 3.2. What human rights legal concept has emerged in this situation?

Scenario 3.5 TS Inc. is a small Canadian aviation company located in Sydney, BC. The company has over 30 employees, primarily pilots and aircraft maintenance engineers. The CEO informs you that you should come up with a recruitment and selection system that will screen out pro-union attitudes and to keep this information confidential. John, a Seventh Day Adventist, applied in person for an aircraft maintenance engineer position, in response to a newspaper advertisement that listed two years of experience and industry certification. He was not contacted by TS Inc. even though he had over eight years of experience. His ex-wife, who was close friends with the CEO, told John that she had been contacted for a reference. Four months later he learned that the recent hirees had less than two years of experience. -Refer to Scenario 3.5. What legal sources are relevant to this situation?

Which of the following is an example of effective practices for nondiscriminatory recruiting?

Scenario 3.3 You have recently been hired as the HR manager for KM Contracting, a medium-sized construction company with offices throughout Canada. Many of the company's trades employees are unionized, and one of the company's largest contracts is with the federal government. It has come to your attention that Ms. Jones, an elderly woman who works as an office clerk, has been humiliated and treated disrespectfully about her obesity for 11 years. She has been called offensive names and heard comments about the way she "waddles." During this time, her manager criticized her work performance and stated that "women are best working at home in the kitchen." She has been passed over for promotions and no longer applies for other positions because of her low self-esteem resulting from the intimidating workplace environment. The company's discrimination policy states that it promotes a work environment that is free from discrimination. Managers have stated that they cannot always distinguish between inappropriate or illegal discrimination behaviours. The CEO has asked you to educate all levels of management about the legal requirements that must be met in recruitment and selection. He also wants you to develop some practical nondiscriminatory recruitment and selection guidelines for all employees. -Refer to Scenario 3.3. What are the four legal sources that affect KM Contracting's employment practices in recruitment and selection?

Define discrimination and describe some of the areas in recruitment and selection that can be discriminatory.