Chip

Had to phone a works funded legal helpline this morning. As the conversation came to a close the lady I was speaking to asked if she may ask me a few questions. After giving my name, works No, Dept ,Location etc came that common question "Can I just ask you what ethnic origin you are" which I refused to answer.

I did not answer as I do not see any signifigance in someone knowing if a black,white,chinese,Indian or green monster was making enquiries to a legal helpline. So just why do all these people need to know this. On asking her she just said it was company policy. She also said a lot of people were annoyed by the fact that they were asked this question.

Chip.

ProperCharlie

it's because they produce statistics about the ethnic origin of the people they deal with - so they can decide if they are institutionally racist or not

load of b*ll*cks IMO. sometimes i have to fill in forms about the ethnic origin of our workforce, and how many of each enthnic group are supervisors, managers etc. more often than not this is all for some sh*tty little job that's hardly worth tendering for in any case. FFS i can only recruit the people who turn up for interviews. most of them came from the job centre anyway.

john banks

Perhaps they are trying to ensure that all ethnic groups have equal access to their service, in asking they are trying to offer a service which is inclusive for all which has the same quality outcomes regardless of ethnicity.

Cynically you could say they are doing it to collect numbers required to comply with whatever someone told them they had to do.

john banks

Sorry just said the same as Charlie.

Chip

Every employee has access to the service.

If they dont know what colour I am then it shouldnt matter to anyway surely.Its irrelevant. The advice given will not differ or should not differ whether its to a white ora black man . After all aren't the laws in this country the same for all.

Chip,

Dazza01

They didn't give ET a chance did they...





ok im getting my coat and leaving, don't need to ask twice.....

Leslie

Dead right Chip.

Les

TelBoy

Chip, is it possible that their advice could be tailored to be sympathetic to somebody's ethnicity?

A bit like the HSBC adverts running at the moment. There are lots of customs around the world which asking this question might help them to give you a more personal service, no?

David Lock

Just say Martian - that usually does the trick.... D

Funkii Munkii

Its a good job they didnt ask you what your sexual preferance was :P

Scoobydick

Just go for pink - that covers a multitude of skin tones and also sexuality too

brickboy

As Capt. Beefheart observed:

"We're all coloured, or else you wouldn't be able to see anyone"

DRUNKNORGY

LOL, Local knowledge can be useful when running a global business - A bit like sacking their UK workers in their call centres being paid £15k per year, and moving their ops to India where they pay the workers about £9 per week (perhaps thats a bit optomistic )