Employee selection under anti-discrimination law: implications for multi-criteria group decision support

Abstract

In a legal environment that prohibits discrimination in hiring, employee selection decisions should generally not be discriminatory in either the process or the final choice. Multi-criteria group decision support offers methodology to committees involved in hiring decisions that can improve the chances for non-discriminatory selection processes. The legal requirements for non-discriminatory hiring decisions raise new challenges for both multi-criteria decision aid methodology and the way it is applied in a group setting. We investigate these issues in the context of an actual faculty selection decision at a major university in the USA. Our observations can be generalized to committee-based employee selection decisions where laws apply that forbid discrimination in hiring. Copyright © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.