French hotel giant Accor said it will stop hiring staff based on their looks partly by using an anonymous job application process.
The group, which operates the Sofitel, Novotel and Formule 1 chains, has decided to de-personalise CVs by removing applicants; first and last names, nationality, sex, age and e-mail address.
Corinne Winter-ÂRousset, director of the international division art recruitment consultancy Portfolio, said: “Accor is simply being legally compliant with this stance, but I think it will raise more questions than it solves. If you interview them in person and then reject them, will more questions then be raised?”
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She added: “I don’t think a first and last name would colour someone’s view of a candidate. It’s about skills training and experience. And you can’t avoid Âpeople’s opinion after they’ve met someone. But it will be interesting to see how far it goes for them.”
Accor said the decision was made to “ensure that the initial selection of candidates is uniquely based on the applicant’s training, experience and skills” and “provides testimony to Accor’s engagement on the subject of diversity”.
