Recruitment and Selection - Discrimination?

[ClareB]

We're currently recruiting for a management position, and have some excellent CVs in from all over the country.

Since posting the vacancy, I've since learned that there may not be a need for this role after 12 months, and to recruit from a 30 mile radius. Would this count as discrimination, if I fail to interview the other (very well qualified) candidates?

[sjbeale]

Clare

Before advertising which will have cost your company money, you should have really decided what you needed before you did so.

As you now have decided, you could contact the applicants who have applied and advise them of the revised job criteria.

You can say it is now for a fixed term, but placing the requirement for living within a 30 mile radius would really need to be justified. In this day and age it can't really be as many employees will travel to a role and stay in the area where the job is based Mon-Fri (or as required) and going home when not at work. If you place this restriction on the role (and I would question for what purpose) you could lose some good applicants. I would therefore advise the applicants where the role is to be based and let them choose.

If no-one is willing to consider the role under the revised criteria you will have to advertise at extra cost. Just ensure the advert states the true requirements for the role.

Regards

[ClareB]

Thanks for your advice,

I wasn't too happy to find that the requirements of the role had changed since advertising, and I'm still keen to interview candidates and give them as much information so they can make an informed choice.

I will inform all suitable candidates of the change and if needs be, readvertise the vacancy.

[Jonathan Senior]

Hi Clare, what is the significance of 30 miles?

Is it for alarm call out or something similar?