Job discrimination on the basis of current employment

[paper-folder]

I know of someone looking for work at the moment due to recent redundancy. HSE are recruiting for a particular IT role at the moment (multiple positions available) with the job being advertised and promoted on social media including LinkedIn.

Friend had been working in private sector and is well qualified and experienced enough to apply for the role based on the job spec and qualifications with the exception that the “campaign is confined to staff who are currently employed by the HSE, TUSLA, other statutory health agencies”.

I appreciate that 'current employment' is not one of the nine recognised grounds for discrimination under equality legislation, but this restrictive practice appears to me to be significant and unwarranted discrimination. The job is highly specialised in nature and I imagine the cohort who are eligible to apply on the basis of both their qualifications and current employment will be very small indeed.

Does it seem at least unfair that a public body can dictate eligibility in such a fashion? Is it not poor management practice on their part to restrict candidates in this way and not benefit from the wider pool of talent available in the general work-force?

Has anyone come across similar before and is there any way around it other than to try for a very basic position and wait for an opportunity like this to come up again? Thanks for your thoughts.

 

[Zobeda]

“all normal/routine recruitment at Grade VII and higher is temporarily paused”.

Above is from an Irish Times article published on 20/6.

Numerous roles, including in IT, had been openly advertised but cannot now be filled until further notice.

It's likely that for now these roles can only be filled from within.

 

[becky]

It's a union agreement but I'm surprised it's being applied to ICT as they use to be exempt.

If they fail to fill from within they can advertise externally.

I had a look at the HSE and saw ICT or ehealth posts which are open to external candidates from what I could see.

 

[becky]

“all normal/routine recruitment at Grade VII and higher is temporarily paused”.

Above is from an Irish Times article published on 20/6.

Numerous roles, including in IT, had been openly advertised but cannot now be filled until further notice.

It's likely that for now these roles can only be filled from within.

Fairly sure it was grade VIII and above. Exceptions can be applied for. New HSE boss has to get on top of costs so has paused Grade 8s but I've already see recent adverts.

 

[thedaddyman]

I can't comment on the HSE but my experience of Govt quangos is that most IT roles are being filled by contractors or staff from 3 party suppliers. If he has a good skill set, he should be reaching out to the big consultancy companies as they usually have the body shop agreements with those bodies

 

[Leo]

I appreciate that 'current employment' is not one of the nine recognised grounds for discrimination under equality legislation, but this restrictive practice appears to me to be significant and unwarranted discrimination.

Any employer is free to only open roles to existing staff or staff working in related companies, it's a way of trying to redistribute from over-staffed areas and preferential to redundancies.

 

[paper-folder]

I had a look at the HSE and saw ICT or ehealth posts which are open to external candidates from what I could see.

Thanks, yes, I can see that most posts are identified as external. Just the particular set of posts that might suit my friend is internal only at the moment.