Afgørelse om Den Europæiske Investeringsbanks svar på bekymringer over, at den er i besiddelse af visse personlige oplysninger om jobansøgere, inden der træffes beslutninger om ansættelse (sag OI/5/2021/PB)
Päätös
Kanteluasia OI/5/2021/PB - Tutkittavaksi otetut kantelut, pvm Maanantaina | 21 kesäkuuta 2021 - Päätökset, pvm Keskiviikkona | 01 joulukuuta 2021 - Toimielin, jota kantelu koskee Euroopan investointipankki ( Toimielin on hyväksynyt ehdotuksen/ehdotukset )
Sagen vedrørte Den Europæiske Investeringsbanks (EIB) praksis med at anmode jobansøgere om at fremlægge visse personlige oplysninger, navnlig vedrørende deres familiemæssige situation, inden EIB's beslutning om ansættelse.
Ombudsmanden anerkendte, at EIB havde indført denne praksis for at gøre sine procedurer så effektive som muligt. Hun udtrykte imidlertid bekymring over, at indsamlingen af personoplysninger var uforholdsmæssig og kunne have en negativ indvirkning på tilliden til EIB's ansættelsesprocedurer. Ikke alle ansøgere ville nødvendigvis være forvisset om, at personoplysningerne under ingen omstændigheder ville spille nogen rolle for deres chancer for at få stillingen.
EIB svarede, at den havde ændret sin praksis for at imødekomme de betænkeligheder, som Ombudsmanden havde givet udtryk for.
Ombudsmanden udtrykte tilfredshed med EIB's konstruktive svar og afsluttede undersøgelsen.
The inquiry
1. The Ombudsman set out the issue in her letter opening the inquiry: the EIB had established a practice whereby it requests certain personal information (such as on household composition and dependants) from job applicants. This practice was related to efficiency concerns. She noted that the EIB had in the meantime changed this practice to make the provision of such information voluntary. This may nonetheless be problematic in practice. If candidates are asked to provide information in the context of a recruitment procedure, they may consider that failing to do so could negatively prejudice their prospects[1].
2. The EIB replied that it had reconsidered its practice and decided not to ask candidates for any information regarding their family situation, including information on dependents - not even on a voluntary basis - before the final candidate is determined. This new procedure is in place since 1 April 2021. As a consequence, applicants are no longer asked to provide information on their family situation during the selection process. Only the selected candidate (i.e. for whom a signed selection note has been sent to Personnel) is asked to provide the personal details regarding their family situation to determine their benefits package. The changes have been formalized in the internal procedures of the EIB[2].
3. The Ombudsman very much welcomes the EIB’s response in this case.
Conclusion
The Ombudsman closes the inquiry with the conclusion that the EIB has given a most constructive response and that the matter is now settled.
Emily O'Reilly
European Ombudsman
Strasbourg, 01/12/2021
[1] The Ombudsman’s full letter is here: https://www.ombudsman.europa.eu/en/doc/correspondence/en/143366
[2] The EIB’s full reply is here: https://www.ombudsman.europa.eu/en/doc/correspondence/en/149856