The 'EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES MONITORING' section of your job application talks about 'equality of opportunity' and 'unlawful...discrimination' and has sex in what appears...
...to be a list of protected characteristics under the Equality Act 2010.
2/15
As it is a part of your job application process, I assume its purpose is to help you to ensure that you are recruiting without unlawfully discriminating under the Equality Act 2010.
It's good to see you list sex as one of the protected characteristics under the Act but you then go on to ask for the 'gender' of the applicant, with options:
FEMALE
MALE
OTHER
5/15
'Gender' is not a protected characteristic under the Equality Act 2010 and is not defined in the Act.
Sex is the protected characteristic and the only two possible options for sex are 'Female' and 'Male' as defined in the Act and consistent with biology, but you don't ask for that. 'Other' is not a valid option.
'Gender' and similar terms rely on demeaning, regressive stereotypical notions of societal roles for the two sexes, concepts with which I'm sure you would not wish to be associated.
8/15
Asking about a personal characteristic such as 'gender' that is not a protected characteristic under the Act, may be in breach of the GDPR by processing personal - and potentially Special Category - data without a lawful basis.
9/15
The Government provides a list of the personal data an employer may hold about an employee without their permission that you might also find useful. 'Gender' does not appear on that list, but sex does.
If you choose not to gather data on specific protected characteristics (such as sex), you cannot have the information required to ascertain whether or not you could be discriminating on protected characteristics in recruitment. This could be vital in an employment tribunal
11/15
If you choose to discriminate on characteristics (such as 'gender') that are not protected characteristics under the Act, you may inadvertently indirectly discriminate on protected characteristics.
12/15
I also note your Equal Opportunities Policy also has what appears to be a list of the protected characteristics under the Act. However, it lists 'gender' but does not mention sex.
Language and meaning of words are important and proper use & understanding of terms is vital so that the public is aware of what rights they have and what your duties are. Any confusion or inconsistency over meaning may prevent people from accessing their rights in law.
14/15
Will you undertake to correct these errors and to review all your other policies, documents, reports, etc to ensure compliance?
The purpose of this form is not entirely clear but as it is a part of your job application process, I assume its purpose is to help you to ensure that you are recruiting without unlawfully discriminating under the Equality Act 2010.
I note your 'EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES FORM' talks about the promotion of 'equality and diversity' and correctly includes sex as one of the protected characteristics...
As it is a part of your job application process, I assume its purpose is to help you to ensure that you are recruiting without unlawfully discriminating under the Equality Act 2010.
Given the role. it is understandable you state: "You must be a woman" so I assume you are declaring that it is an occupational requirement that appointees be of the female sex (and you therefore exclude males) as permitted under Schedule 9, Part 1 of the Equality Act 2010.
2/6
However, I note you go on to define what you mean by the term woman: "(cisgender, transwoman, gender non-binary or gender non-fluid person)"
The 'Equal Opportunities' section of your job application mentions your statutory duties and has a partial list of the protected characteristics of the Equality Act 2010, but doesn't list sex
1/18
The purpose of this form is not entirely clear but as it is a part of your job application process, I assume its purpose is to help you to ensure that you are recruiting without unlawfully discriminating under the Equality Act 2010.
I note the 'Diversity' section of your job application talks about your public sector equality duty, about being inclusive and promoting diversity.
1/16
The purpose of this form is not entirely clear but as it is a part of your job application process, I assume its purpose is to help you to ensure that you are recruiting without unlawfully discriminating under the Equality Act 2010.
However, the 'Equal Opportunity Monitoring Information' section talks about your "commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion".
2/16
The purpose of this form is not entirely clear but as it is a part of your job application process, I assume its purpose is to help you to ensure that you are recruiting without unlawfully discriminating under the Equality Act 2010.