How to complete preferential and limited hiring
Preferential and limited hiring practices at UVic
A preferential or limited hire is undertaken under the following circumstances:
- when there is serious under-representation of a designated group,
- where increasing representation is part of the departmental equity plan, or
- where the program requires the special expertise of a designated group member.
Defining preferential hiring
A preferential hire job competition gives preference to one or more of the designated groups (Aboriginal peoples, members of visible minorities, persons with disabilities, or women) as defined in the Employment Equity Act and Federal Contractors Program. In a preferential hiring, applications from members of those groups are considered first and only those applicants from designated groups are short-listed and assessed for the vacancy.
The Human Rights Tribunal has not granted approval for any other group to be granted hiring preference.
Defining limited hiring
A limited hiring job competition is limited to one or more of the designated groups and only applications from members of that/those group(s) may be considered.
Approval process for a preferential or limited hire
All preferential or limited hiring proposals—librarians, faculty, limited term, sessional, regular positions and staff—are submitted to the VPAC office for approval before the position can be posted. Requests must include:
- a copy of the unit's equity or service plan
- the current composition of the unit showing the representation of designated groups amongst all employees
- recruitment and selection process used in past competitions in the unit and the result of such competitions
- the reasons the unit is requesting a preferential or limited hiring
- any other relevant information
Where a preferential or limited hiring is requested and the provisions of a collective agreement apply, the request will be referred to the bargaining principals for approval if required. The adviser to the provost on equity and diversity is available to work with the search committee to assist with the proposal and to review selection criteria and questions. The VPAC office will assist in posting the advertisements to equity listservs.
Advertising
Once the limited or preferential hiring has been approved, job ads should include one of the following statements:
Preferential hire: In accordance with the university's equity plan and pursuant to Section 42 of the BC Human Rights code, preference will be given to [members of the following designated groups: Aboriginal peoples, persons with disabilities, members of visible minorities, women]. Candidates from [these groups/this group] who wish to qualify for preferential consideration are encouraged to self-identify.
Limited hire: In accordance with the university's equity plan and pursuant to Section 42 of the BC Human Rights code, the selection will be limited to [members of the following designated groups: Aboriginal peoples, persons with disabilities, members of visible minorities, women.] Candidates from [these groups/this group] are encouraged to self-identify.