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Re:Tech's DEI backlash is here by KaiserPro on Thursday December 21, 2023 @04:36PM (#38727332)
> yet its practical effect is giving certain races a favorable edge in the hiring process, independent of merit. Is this not in itself inherently racist?

yes, which is why that kind of thing is illegal in the UK.

Proper DEI is about creating a decent pipeline of people, that includes outreach, or having training programmes for non-traditional juniors.

And, if done properly, its a great way to lower your wage bill, as you hire people at more junior levels and keep them longer. (you need to job hop to get good wage increases.) But that requires a commitment to develop your own team. (regardless of who they are)

Re:Tech's DEI backlash is here by Izkata on Friday December 22, 2023 @01:22PM (#38736923)
It's illegal in the US too, but by giving it a special name and playing on peoples' guilt it slipped under the radar for decades. It's a bit of a relief to finally see so many people saying what I've seen for most of my life.
Re:Tech's DEI backlash is here by nvm0n2 on Saturday December 23, 2023 @02:56AM (#38742472)
It's not illegal in the UK. Go read the Equality Act again. You're allowed to engage in racist and sexist discrimination if you're doing it to achieve affirmative action. That's why executives can say they discriminate against men in parliamentary testimony and nothing happens.
Re:Tech's DEI backlash is here by defrost on Saturday December 23, 2023 @03:01AM (#38742498)
Anybody can say anything in parliamentary testimony and enjoy the protection of parliamentary freedom of speech.

https://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/house-of-lor...

Actions outside of parliamentary testimony are not protected .. but these have to be seperately observed | evidenced as the testimony cannot be used to convict.

Re:Tech's DEI backlash is here by KaiserPro on Saturday December 23, 2023 @11:33AM (#38745447)
Oh you mean:

https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2010/15/part/11/chapter...

Specifically outlaws having a policy of lowering the bar. You can only choose one protected character over another if they are equally qualified.

Specifically the guidance that comes with this says that its legally unwise to do anything past pipeline stage, once you have reached interviewing, its a bad idea. Its certainly something I'm not going to do.

Now, in the uk we do not have "affirmative action" thats an americanism. We do not need to import american racism issues, we have enough of our own.

I have worked in IT long enough, and recruited enough people to know that the people who complain about the "bar" generally are never privy to the actual data.