A new law requires that most public companies and universities use a human resources department to make sure they’re hiring the best candidates.
But it also says that if a company decides to go that route, it should also use its own human resources law, a move that could give it legal cover for bias.
The bill, which passed the Senate with unanimous consent and is awaiting a vote in the House, says that any company that has a human resource department must follow a “compliance program” to ensure that the hiring process is fair and transparent.
The law, which takes effect in 2018, was sponsored by Rep. Jared Polis, D-Colo., and was backed by several U.K.-based human resources firms, including the UBS Group, the Deloitte Group, and McKinsey & KPMG.
“Employers must take appropriate steps to ensure they have a human rights compliance program that protects employees from discrimination, and is fair to employees and the public,” Polis said in a statement.
In a statement, Deloitt, the UK-based human resource firm, said the bill is a step in the right direction, adding that it is “encouraging employers to have the strongest human resources practices and practices to ensure the most effective hiring and retention process.”
It said that while the bill does not include a specific requirement that companies hire candidates of color, it does make clear that the companies can’t discriminate against people because of race, gender, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, religion, or any other factor.
The U.k.-based law says that in the event of a complaint by an employee, or if the company determines that a complaint is unfounded, the company must take steps to address the matter, including a “proportionate response” to the alleged discrimination.
Polis added that he was concerned about the “exceptionally narrow scope of the new law” and that “many U.N. resolutions, including its 2008 resolution, recommend that all nations adopt this rule.”
The UBS statement added that “employers must have a clear, objective, and effective compliance program in place to ensure all employees are treated fairly, and to address any potential discrimination.”
The companies involved in the bill, including Deloisses, McKinsey, and UBS, are not the only ones making changes to the hiring and compensation process in the U, but they are the ones with the biggest impact on employees.
The new U.n.
Human Rights Council resolution says that companies must “take measures that are appropriate for the purpose of eliminating or reducing discrimination, including through the establishment of a workplace policy that addresses discrimination and other unlawful activity.”
The human resources companies have been among those most outspoken about their desire to hire more minorities.
“We believe that diversity is a critical factor in our success, and this legislation will ensure that employers take steps that are not just for the sake of hiring more people,” said Delois, the chairman of Deloise.
McKinsey’s statement also said that it supports the legislation because it “will help prevent employers from hiring people who do not meet their standards and may also have a negative impact on their culture and employee experience.”
But Polis was less optimistic about the bill.
“I’m concerned about what this bill says about hiring policies,” he said.
“If you want to hire people of color in the future, you need to hire them in the way that they’re going to be successful in the workforce.”
The legislation has also sparked debate over whether it’s the right way to go about it.
In his statement, Polis also called on companies to do a better job of reporting information about hiring practices, which he said could be more easily collected by a company’s HR department.
The United States is the only nation that doesn’t require companies to have a HR department, so this legislation would provide companies with a new way to report information about their hiring practices.
It’s unclear whether the Ubs or McKinsey will follow suit.
The Human Rights Commission of Canada, the Uppsala University in Sweden, and the University of Texas at Austin also all have human resources departments.