CIPD members face investigation over construction staffing ‘blacklist’
4 September 2013
A “small number” of Chartered Institute of Personnel & Development (CIPD) members are being investigated by the organisation over alleged use of employee blacklists in their recruitment processes.
Wed, 4 Sep 2013A “small number” of Chartered Institute of Personnel & Development (CIPD) members are being investigated by the organisation over alleged use of employee blacklists in their recruitment processes.
This is according to CIPD chief executive officer Peter Cheese, speaking to the Scottish Affairs Select Committee’s inquiry into blacklisting in construction industry employment, part of a long-running scandal involving an organisation called The Consulting Association, 40 construction companies and a total of 3,213 workers.
He says that he and the organisation “very much welcome” the inquiry, adding: “We take the issue very seriously. I condemn the practice. The law has now rightly been tightened and it mustn’t happen again.”
Cheese went on to say that it was partly in response to the issue that the CIPD strengthened its Code of Professional Conduct, and investigation and disciplinary procedures, which came into force in July 2012.
And he adds that further “good practice guidance on the wider issue of pre-employment vetting” is currently being developed by the CIPD, which will take into account issues including the potential for would-be recruits’ social media profiles to be accessed.
The CIPD will work with the Recruitment & Employment Confederation as part of this initiative, a spokesperson for the CIPD tells recruiter.co.uk, “so their perspectives will be taken into account”, and will work with other organisations as what will be a “very consultative” process continues.
Investigations into alleged police collusion in the blacklisting were begun by the Metropolitan Police in February, with the Met telling recruiter.co.uk today [4 September] that investigations continue.
Although this blacklisting has been more associated with projects in London, the Scottish Affairs Committee noted in April that it may continue in Scotland, although this was met with surprise by Scottish construction recruiters.
The spokesperson also clarifies that the CIPD members under investigation and the associated alleged activities are not necessarily Scotland-based, but cannot give further details publicly.
This is according to CIPD chief executive officer Peter Cheese, speaking to the Scottish Affairs Select Committee’s inquiry into blacklisting in construction industry employment, part of a long-running scandal involving an organisation called The Consulting Association, 40 construction companies and a total of 3,213 workers.
He says that he and the organisation “very much welcome” the inquiry, adding: “We take the issue very seriously. I condemn the practice. The law has now rightly been tightened and it mustn’t happen again.”
Cheese went on to say that it was partly in response to the issue that the CIPD strengthened its Code of Professional Conduct, and investigation and disciplinary procedures, which came into force in July 2012.
And he adds that further “good practice guidance on the wider issue of pre-employment vetting” is currently being developed by the CIPD, which will take into account issues including the potential for would-be recruits’ social media profiles to be accessed.
The CIPD will work with the Recruitment & Employment Confederation as part of this initiative, a spokesperson for the CIPD tells recruiter.co.uk, “so their perspectives will be taken into account”, and will work with other organisations as what will be a “very consultative” process continues.
Investigations into alleged police collusion in the blacklisting were begun by the Metropolitan Police in February, with the Met telling recruiter.co.uk today [4 September] that investigations continue.
Although this blacklisting has been more associated with projects in London, the Scottish Affairs Committee noted in April that it may continue in Scotland, although this was met with surprise by Scottish construction recruiters.
The spokesperson also clarifies that the CIPD members under investigation and the associated alleged activities are not necessarily Scotland-based, but cannot give further details publicly.
