PSL launches white papers on anti-age discrimination and interviewing

Assessment specialist PSL has launched two white papers highlighting HR practices for anti age discrimination and best practice guidelines for competency-based interviewing.

Age ainít nothing but a number explains the implications for employers of new legislation, coming into effect in the UK on 1 October 2006, which outlaws workplace discrimination on the grounds of age. It explains the business case against ageism and the myths and negative stereotypes that lead many organisations to adopt discriminatory recruitment and development practices.

All employers must ensure that by 2006 their HR processes are age neutral, said Richard Alberg, Chief Executive of PSL. HR practitioners should conduct a comprehensive audit of the organisational culture and existing processes, to identify and stamp out ageist practices. They must also ensure that ability tests and personality questionnaires, used in recruitment and development, do not adversely impact on different age groups. The focus must be on competence and job-relevance, not age.

The second white paper - called Why donít interviews work? -highlights how organisations can improve the effectiveness of their interviewing and decision-making - by using structured interviews against well chosen competencies to help select the best candidate. It looks at why interviews are so prevalent in recruitment; how to design, conduct and follow-up an interview and the importance of training interviewers in competency-based interviewing techniques.

98% of organisations use interviews as part of their recruitment process, said Richard Alberg. But conducting interviews is not only time-consuming, it can also be an unreliable method of selection, particularly when the outcome is based on the ëgut feelí of the interviewer. This white paper explains how organisations can improve the effectiveness of interviews.

For a free copy of ëAge ainít nothing but a numberí or ëWhy donít interviews work?í, please call 020-8585 2345 or e-mail info@psl.com. The white papers can also be downloaded from the ëlibraryí section of PSLís website: