Legal experts have warned HR professionals to be careful when considering unusual interview techniques such as B&Q’s “Blame it on the boogie” warm-up.
The DIY chain outraged trade unions when it asked applicants for jobs at its Norwich store to dance before answering formal questions.
The Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) backed the dancing, saying HR staff should think of innovative ways to judge interviewees’ personalities.
Lovells employment lawyer Adam Turner agreed with the CIPD, but insisted employers must take steps to stay on the right side of the law.
“Requiring people to do particularly unusual tests during a job application could give rise to liabilities,” he told Personnel Today. “There could be discrimination issues if people felt unfairly treated.”
B&Q pointed out that it did not force anyone to dance, and that it told applicants their dancing would not influence the recruitment process.
But Turner warned: “Simply saying ‘this will not impact on recruitment decisions’ will not clear you completely from legal ramifications.”
