Employment law

Sir, Dr Susan Shaw’s job-seeking experience (letters, Feb 4) endorses a wider belief that Members of Parliament pass laws that they neither observe nor understand.

As an employer, my advisers made it clear that vacant posts should be publicly advertised and a fair selection and employment process be introduced such that I could explain and justify the recruitment and promotion processes with regard to considerations of race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, disability and other relevant criteria, if necessary to an employment tribunal. Annual, documented staff performance reviews were recommended for the same reasons.

I bet there are now many MPs sweating their way to an understanding of their duties as an employer under the laws they themselves introduced.

I wonder if Dr Shaw realises that she may have a case for compensation along with many other suitably qualified people who missed out when MPs gave jobs to their friends and family in complete disregard of UK employment law.