Businesses across the UK could face legal action because they are not ensuring their recruitment processes are complying with employment laws.

Business thinktank The Work Foundation said a third of failed to keep checks on the gender, ethnic background or disability status of external job applicants and this could result in them facing a tribunal and a fine.

It is illegal for employers to discriminate against applicants on the basis of sex, disability or race and it will soon also become illegal to discriminate on the grounds of age, sexual orientation and religion.

Some 27 per cent of respondents said they encouraged employees to recommend friends.

Thursday March 13 2003