Football club advertises job but tells applicants not to bother applying if they ‘want a work life balance and have to pick kids up from school twice a week at 3.30’
- Lancashire-based AFC Fylde spark uproar after sharing ‘discriminatory’ job post
- The non-league football club shared a general manager role but told applicants not to apply if they want ‘work-life balance or have to pick kids up from school’
- Job advert provoked fury online, with several asking if the move would be legal
- Tweet has since been pulled after hundreds of people slammed the club
A non-league football club sparked a social media backlash after posting a ‘discriminatory’ job advert that told applicants not to bother applying ‘if they have to pick the kids up from school twice a week at 3.30’.
AFC Fylde, based in Wesham in Lancashire, prompted fury from online commenters after sharing news of a role to replace outgoing chief executive Jonty Castle.
On Tuesday, the club – who play in the National League North – posted an advert for a new general manager role, and warned applicants not to apply if they were looking for ‘a work life balance’.
The posting read in full: ‘We work hard at Fylde, so again don’t apply if you are looking for a “work-life balance” or have to pick the kids up from school twice a week at 3.30.’
‘This is a “hands on role” and requires hands on leadership from the front so “delegators” and “office dwellers” please don’t apply.’
The advert has since been pulled after hundreds of people questioned the club’s controversial post, with some people pointing out potentially excluding parents may not be legal under employment and discrimination law.
Others said they would consider reporting the club’s conduct to the heads of the Vanarama Football League.
AFC Fylde, based in Wesham in Lancashire, prompted fury from online commenters after sharing a new general manager role
On Tuesday, the club – who play in the National League North – posted an advert for a new general manager role, and warned applicants not to apply if they were looking for ‘a work life balance’
After posting the job advert on Twitter on Tuesday, AFC Fylde received hundreds of furious replies. By Wednesday morning, their tweet had been deleted from their page.
Successful applicants would report ‘directly into the Chairman’ and work towards improving ‘the Fylde brand’.
Football fans blasted the club online, with some pointing to potential ‘discrimination’ against parents and others slamming the post as ‘disgusting’.
One person wrote on Twitter: ‘Nice discrimination by @AFCFylde for this job role! Basically rules parents and others out. Maybe the person that wrote the advert needs an attitude change.’
Sharing a picture of the job advert, Connor Shaw said: ‘This is disgraceful.’
Another user said: ‘Fairly sure employment law prevents employers from discriminating against people for having kids. Sounds like a rum bunch to me.’
A further person said: ‘It’s quite unnerving to think that whoever wrote that obviously believed that it was an acceptable thing to say.
‘The fact that the job site deemed it “ok” to post also is rather distressing. Disgusting from both sides.’
‘So basically anyone who wants life balance or has children isn’t capable of working hard in the modern workplace.’
After posting the job advert on Twitter on Tuesday, AFC Fylde received hundreds of furious replies. By Wednesday morning, their tweet had been deleted from their page
AFC Fylde has been contacted to provide comment.
The news comes after an estate agent was awarded more than £180,000 after her boss refused to let her leave early to pick her daughter up from nursery.
Sales manager Alice Thompson wanted to work for four days a week and finish at 5pm rather than six o’clock when her childcare finished.
But company director Paul Sellar rejected her request claiming the business couldn’t afford for her to go part time and she resigned.
Mrs Thompson took London-based agency Manors to an employment tribunal claiming sex discrimination in a bid to ensure her daughter does not have ‘the same experience’ when she is older.
Now she has been awarded £184,961.32 as compensation after a panel found that making her work until 6pm – when nurseries ordinarily close – placed her at a ‘disadvantage’.