The briefing: 23 July 10

23 July 2010
The briefing: 23 July 10

Don't fall foul of Equality Act

Employers are being urged to withdraw pre-employment health questionnaires ahead of the introduction of the Equality Act, or risk falling foul of the law.

The Equality Act, which comes into force in October, will prohibit employers from questioning candidates about their health other than in limited circumstances, one of which is to check a candidate can perform an "intrinsic function" of the job, for example heavy lifting.

The abolition of pre-employment health questions is a provision designed to reduce disability discrimination in the recruitment process. Employers will only be able to ask health questions upon job offer.

â- Students wary of unpaid work

Concerns about unpaid labour and lack of local opportunities are putting students and graduates off seeking internships and summer placements, according to a poll by the National Council for Work Experience (NCWE).

The survey of 1,165 students and graduates revealed that 82% were not aware of any schemes in their region, and three out of four (74%) were put off applying for placements because of fears they would have to work unpaid amid rising levels of student debt.

Heather Collier, director of the NCWE, said: "Graduates need some work experience to add to their CV to make them a better prospect for employers, and with rising levels of unemployment this is vital. Work experience continues to be valuable, whether it is paid or not. It is down to individuals to ensure that they are not exploited."

The Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development has published a guide for employers looking to create an internship, covering recruitment, payment and duration, treatment, supervision, reference and feedback. Visit www.cipd.co.uk for more details.

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