Issue - Weak Pre-Employment Practices

Employers in B.C. are allowed to ask job candidates questions pertaining to their race, religion, sex, family and marital status, sexual orientation, their place of origin, disability, etc., at the interview stage of hiring. Allowing this discriminatory practice signals a lack of legislative commitment and a lack of understanding in terms of the barriers that exist for a number of groups in obtaining employment.

Allowing employers to show prejudice is unfair and results in a loss of opportunity to a large segment of B.C.’s population. Questions pertaining to family and marital status, pregnancy, place of origin, where experience or credentials were obtained, age, disabilities or whether you have past WCB claims may influence who gets work in B.C. The questions effect people’s sense of self worth and result in frustration, loss of confidence and a loss of opportunity. Allowing this practice has a disproportionate effect on women, new immigrants, visible minorities, young and old workers and people with disabilities.

Did you know:

Every other Canadian jurisdiction has a section in their human rights legislation that explicitly or implicitly prohibits pre-employment inquiries about characteristics related to a prohibited ground of discrimination.

Strengthened protections will not restrict business from hiring the best candidate for the job. Most forward thinking companies are well beyond employing such a practice but allowing others to show bias and prejudice is unacceptable and sends the wrong message to affected groups.

Those affected - women, new immigrants, visible minorities, people with disabilities, young and old workers – represent a large percentage of B.C.’s labour force.

To learn more about this issue:

A volunteer who worked with our law reform committee in 2005 conducted a research project in relation to this area. A November 2005 newsletter article highlights some of the more signficant findings.

For information and advise about what questions are and are not approrpriate refer to the following documents: