Equal opportunity in employment

Filipinos believe in democracy. We unkindly speak against those who tend to rob us of it and even choose death in defense of it. But in the world of human resource acquisition, especially in this country, democracy is but just a mere fable etched on prominent brass plates ubiquitous at the reception lounges or what is touted as their “corporate statements.”

One such kind I found recently says, “Our human resource is our best asset…We believe Integrity and Fairness…” Ironically, their job posting reads, “We are in need of a Front Office Assistant, 21-25 years old, female, single and must have a pleasing personality.” I do not see the wisdom or much less the logic why having such qualities would make a front office assistant become a company’s best asset much less if such qualification meets the standards of fairness at all.

Democracy as a concept is highly misunderstood especially in terms of its application in business and human resource acquisition. Democracy is not just voting rights of stakeholders in a corporation or the rights of the latter to hire persons on the basis of its “own” standards. Democracy is not just the exercise of rights alone. It is a principle of exercising what is right, what is politically correct and what is socially just.

In the above case, while it is a right of a company to determine the qualifications of a front office assistant, but the qualifications being set forth are unrightful, discriminatory (to gender, age, civil status, physical features) and or contrary to the ethos and principles of equal opportunity in employment. Equal opportunity in employment (EOE) is regrettably the most overlooked part in the hiring process. The Sunday posts are a glaring sight of the blunders of many Filipino human resource departments where you get to read a flood of job advertisings bearing the signature of discrimination in them. Joining the frenzy are Korean language schools hiring only females who are in their twenties. These, and in spite of our labor laws that the government shall protect labor, promote full employment, provide equal work opportunity regardless of gender, race, or creed.

Discrimination aggravates the brain drain of highly productive Filipinos. My cousin, who is on his forties, left the country last year after having been turned down by local companies for his age despite his very good employment history and skills. The same is true for others who have the qualifications but are hampered by such intrusive requirements like religious convictions, personal tastes or lifestyles (like being in the third sex) which all have nothing to do with performance or productivity.

I tend to theorize that companies that are averse to adopting EOE may have been motivated by the fact that to hire young people is more convenient to economize on wages. Second, companies that seek “pleasing personality” types might have suffered that lack of confidence in their products or services that a knockout look is necessary to hide their inadequacies.

EOE is founded upon the essence of a democratic principle that all men are created equal and that a democratic society is made up of equal individuals. Age, sex, creed, race, looks and lifestyles are mere differences in persons than work attributes. They are not distinct edges or qualifications specially on matters of occupation nor they contribute to efficiency at work.

EOE, thus, is about leveling the playing field in the acquisition of human resource – of opening careers for the healthy competition of individuals who possess the attributes relevant for the performance of the duties. In other words, the criteria to which a potential candidate must be assessed or considered for employment should be the value proposition which he or she can offer.

In a free-market economy, EOE promotes the interests of individuals and of the company where the essentials to production and delivery of the job description is given more weight. It is a system of open competition and selection grounded on competence and skill to satisfy both equity and efficiency. In an EOE environment, every individual has the fair chance to realize his or her potential regardless of who he is as a person – rich, poor, male or female, Muslim or Christian, twenty or forty, looker or not. He who can bring in the most bacon should get the job. That’s what really matters.

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