Thread by @zeno001

1/8 Hi @bbc @BBCCareers

In the Equal Opportunities Monitoring form in your job application, you ask for 'gender', but this is not a protected characteristic under the Equality Act 2010. Sex is a protected characteristic and the only two possibilities are 'female' and 'male' -

2/8 - there is no 'other term preferred'.

'Gender identity' is also not a protected characteristic and 'gender' (whatever you mean by that) is not assigned at birth.

3/8 The Act clearly lays out your duties in terms of discrimination on the grounds of sex.

legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2010/15/…

4/8 If you want to be able to show your compliance, you need to accurately record information on applicants. s.11 of the Act defines the protected characteristic of 'sex'. s.212 gives definitions of 'man' and 'woman'.

5/8 There are no other possibilities here and this also coincides with biology: there are only two sex classes: female and male.

6/8 If you ever need to provide evidence that you have not discriminated to, say, an employment tribunal, you may need to present your evidence that you have not discriminated on the grounds of sex.

7/8 If you have not clearly identified whether applicants are of the female or male sex class, or you have accepted some term preferred by the applicant, you may find it difficult to prove you have not discriminated.

8/8 Will you undertake a review of your processes and documents to ensure they are compliant with the Act and your PSED so that applicants are not misled and are able to access their rights under law?

Please confirm.

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