Perspectives for action and strategies

to reduce stereotyping and discrimination in recruitment & selection processes

Unbiased Selection training programmeFor the best match!

  This publication is sponsored by the PROGRESS programme, the Programme for Employment and Social Solidarity of the European Union.

For more information, see: ec.europa.eu/progress. The contents of this publication is the responsibility of the Netherlands Institute for Human Rights and cannot be interpreted as the viewpoint of the European Commission in any way.

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About the Netherlands Institute for Human Rights

Independent Human rights institute

Principal task: to protect human rights e.g., right to protection against discrimination

Rulings in discrimination cases (cf. courts) concerning pregnancy (gender)and hardness of hearing (disability)

Advice, research and projects Example of project: “Discrimination-free

Recruitment and Selection in Access to Labour Market”

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Module 1: Discrimination and stereotypes What is the nature of stereotypes and how does

stereotyping work? What is the connection between stereotyping and

discrimination? To what extent is discrimination recognised and

acknowledged and how can real-life discrimination be proven?

What does the law say about discrimination in finding employment?

What is the interest for employers and employees in discrimination-free recruitment and selection processes?

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Assignment: who has the ‘X’ factor?

Which stereotypes appear in this video?

Discuss in pairs: can you describe a situation in which you found yourself having stereotypical notions about a group/individual, for which you felt ashamed later on?

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How about your implicit stereotypes?

Internal test Harvard Implicit (IAT) Associating groups with characteristics: measures

the response time of participants If a group is strongly associated with a particular

characteristic, the shorter the response time Time factor indicates implicit stereotypes

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Assignment: Implicit Association Test

After completing the test:

What do you find most striking about your test results? How do you describe your experience with the test?

Would you recommend the test to (future) HR colleagues? Why, or why not?

How can implicit stereotyping influence the recruitment of staff?

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How can discrimination be proven?

Field tests and discrimination cases of the Netherlands Institute for Human Rights demonstrate: discrimination does play a role!

Not easy to prove for every group

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Module 2: Where do stereotypes come from?

How can stereotype thinking be explained by the Cognitive-functional approach, Need for a positive Social identity theory and role expectations?

How does stereotype thinking get activated? What is the effect of stereotypes on the person

who judges and those who get judged? How are stereotypes confirmed and reinforced? How can stereotype thinking be chanced ore

reduced?

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Assignment: in-group versus out-group

Video‘White Dolls Black Dolls’: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ybDa0gSuAcg

Which examples of in-group and out-group stereotypes appear in this video?

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Does discrimination really not play a role?

Employment rates of women, non-Western ethnic (minority) groups, people with a disability, the elderly (55+) and young people are lagging behind

Explanations / causes: Institutional factors (e.g., salary systems) Individual factors (e.g., educational level,

work experience) Stereotyping and discrimination (e.g.,

managers, intermediaries, HR professionals)

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How are stereotypes confirmed?

Mechanisms:

Self-fulfilling prophecy Stereotype threat Incomplete / irrelevant information Sub-typing Role of the media and politics

Module 3: Discrimination-free recruitment & selection

How can you reduce the influence of stereotype thinking, on the recruitment & selection for employment?

What are the risks of new ways of recruitment and selection?

How do you manage resistance from the CEO, colleagues and customers in the in HR practice?

How do build a discrimination free business case for the recruitment & selection procedure?

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Assignment: the Heineken candidate

Which competences do you and don’t you measure in the candidates in this video?

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Assignment: neutral profile?

Module 4: legal framework

What is equal treatment legislation? When do we speak of direct, or indirect

distinction? How is discrimination visible in practice? How do you establish a discrimination free

recruitment and selection procedure? What does a preference policy look like and what

are the implementation criteria?

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Assignment: self-fulfilling prophecy

Self-fulfilling prophecy: ‘Young women are unreliable employees’

How can an employer (unwittingly) contribute to the image that young women are unreliable employees?

How can a woman (unwittingly) contribute to the image that young women are unreliable employees?

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Case of the Institute: discrimination based on disability?

Opinion 2013-75 A hearing-impaired man applies for the position of

metalworker at a company through an employment agency. The agency informs the man in an e-mail that he is rejected for the position: “I asked our client about it, and sadly you are not eligible for the job, because you are hard of hearing. Our client is looking for someone who is able to communicate with customers and that would be difficult for you.

Which stereotypes do you recognise? Is this a case of discrimination? Why or why not?

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Assignment: what is allowed in job vacancy texts?

…sporty and energetic… …old… …age 40 and up … …driving experience… …affinity with young/old target group… …maximum age: 55… …young… …have a specific network… …plenty of life experience… …between ages 20 and 30… …high potential…

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In short…

https://www.mensenrechten.nl/selecteren

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Are there any questions or remarks?