What is Ethical Recruitment?
The World Employment Confederation defines ethical recruitment practices as ‘respecting legislation covering health and safety, non-discrimination, worker’s rights, confidentiality, quality of service and fair competition’.
For business leaders, ethical recruitment means providing workers with accurate details of working conditions including pay and working hours. Ethical recruitment processes ban charging any recruitment fees or costs to workers, and protect workers from any abuse or mistreatment.
The International Labour Organization estimates that 40.3 million people are currently in modern slavery and 24.9 million people are in forced labour – largely due to unethical recruitment practices.
Why is Ethical Recruitment Important for Businesses?
In addition to improving the lives of workers around the world, ethical recruitment has many business benefits:
- Financial Growth – The stock prices of Fortune’s ‘100 Best Companies to Work For’ rose 14% annually over seven years
- Business Efficiencies – 71% of businesses that prioritise ethical recruitment report higher worker morale and efficiencies
- Productivity – The Indian Staffing Federation reports 57% of businesses with ethical processes see improved business performance and 2 in 5 see greater productivity
- Reduced Staff Costs – Unethical recruitment increases staff turnover. The average cost of replacing an employee is over £30,000, and turnover is at its highest for 10 years
Ethical recruitment practices also prevent heavy fines and legal challenges. Businesses with unethical practices face £multi-million fines and possible prosecution under UK and US anti-slavery laws; exploiting workers through modern slavery carries a 14-year prison sentence.
How to Create Ethical Recruitment Practices
With strict requirements and even stricter penalties, how can senior leaders protect their business and their employees?
‘We have worked with multiple large companies around the world who have made their recruitment processes more ethical’, says Adrian Mansfield, Divisional Director of Middle East Recruitment at VHR.
‘The first step in creating an ethical recruitment process is to look at other businesses operating in your sector and country, to identify the problems they have encountered and how they have overcome them. By learning from other industry leaders, businesses can operate transparent recruitment processes that benefit the business and all its workers.’
Adrian’s 5 Tips for Ethical Recruitment Processes:
- Ask questions, both of your candidates and your recruitment agency
- Monitor as far down the supply chain as you can to ensure ethical practices are established by all suppliers
- Speak to staff when they first arrive in the country to ensure they have not paid fees
- Visit any accommodation that is provided to your staff to ensure it meets your standards
- Use a reputable and licenced agency.
Is your business truly practicing ethical recruitment processes? Partner with an ethical recruitment agency to find out.
Find an Ethical Recruitment Partner
VHR are proud to partner businesses all over the world, providing support and guidance on ethical recruitment practices and end-to-end recruitment services.
VHR are prominent supporters of ethical recruitment. Our services are built on the Dhaka Principles: a set of human rights-based guidelines on the rights of migrant workers throughout overseas employment. To protect our candidates, VHR works within the countries where we recruit and we ensure candidates are supported and treated ethically.
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By Adrian Mansfield
Adrian Mansfield is the Divisional Director at VHR. VHR is a global technical recruitment consultancy that serves the Aerospace & Aviation, F1 & Automotive, Engineering & Defence and Marine industries across 45 countries. In April 2018 VHR received the Queen’s Award for Enterprise: International Trade in recognition of 15 years of sustainable global business growth.
To discuss how your business can build ethical recruitment practices, contact Adrian on Adrian.Mansfield@v-hr.com or call the team on +44 (0) 207 500 7980.
