Slaw: Applicants excluded from hiring process when name identified with a racialized group

June 7, 2012 Yosie Saint-Cyr, LL.B. Managing Editor Human Resources, Human Rights, Recruiting and Hiring

According to a recent study conducted by the Quebec Commission des droits de la personne et des droits de la jeunesse (Quebec’s Human Rights Commission), equally skilled and qualified candidates are 60 percent more likely to be invited to a job interview when their family name is of “Québécois origin” (as stated in the study) than if it sounds like a name of African, Arab or Latin-American origin.

The goal of the study was to measure the extent of discriminatory hiring practices existing in Quebec, and revealed a net discrimination rate of 35 percent. Put another way, one in three people whose name identified them with a racialized group was excluded from the interview process.

To find out more on this study, read my latest post on Slaw.

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Yosie Saint-Cyr, LL.B. Managing Editor

Managing Editor at First Reference Inc.

Yosie Saint-Cyr, LL.B., is a trained lawyer called to the Quebec bar in 1988 and is still a member in good standing. She practiced business, employment and labour law until 1999. For over 18 years, Yosie has been the Managing Editor of the following publications, Human Resources Advisor, Human Resources PolicyPro, HRinfodesk and Accessibility Standards PolicyPro from First Reference. Yosie is one of Canada’s best known and most respected HR authors, with an extensive background in employment and labour across the country. Read more