What is "Hidden Discrimination" in the Counseling Profession
All counsellors in Canada are protected by Human Rights Law. In particular, members of Counselling Associations who have been kept on "the outside" and have been subject to "hidden discrimination" by some government agencies, some insurance companies and some Employee Assistance Provider's (EAP's).Hidden Discrimination is more difficult to identify due to its less direct or even invisible nature. However, this discriminatory behavior is just as harmful because of the unfair treatment of qualified counsellors. The Nova Scotia Human Rights Act reveals that this discrimination may have happened when the Provincial government recently passed Bill 201. Secretive lobbying and little public consultation by a special interest group professed "public protection," under the hidden agenda of "market share". The result of this lobbying initiative has resulted in the passing of legislation, thankfully, this legislation has not been proclaimed. Similar legislation is being proposed in New Brunswick.
One example of this type of discrimination is when an employer (e.g. government or private employer), insurance company, or EAP demands a certain level of education when the job does not require it. The employer may require a particular counselling association with a particular education level when the job does not require that. These requirements discriminate unfairly against counsellors from counselling associations who may not have a particular education or credential and are qualified for the job. In Nova Scotia and other Provinces the Human Rights Act supports that Counsellors have the right to be free from discrimination if you are a member of another professional association (e.g. the CPCA).
Article submitted by: JG Wright
Sources: Provincial Human Rights Acts, CPCA research
All counsellors in Canada are protected by Human Rights Law. In particular, members of Counselling Associations who have been kept on "the outside" and have been subject to "hidden discrimination" by some government agencies, some insurance companies and some Employee Assistance Provider's (EAP's).Hidden Discrimination is more difficult to identify due to its less direct or even invisible nature. However, this discriminatory behavior is just as harmful because of the unfair treatment of qualified counsellors. The Nova Scotia Human Rights Act reveals that this discrimination may have happened when the Provincial government recently passed Bill 201. Secretive lobbying and little public consultation by a special interest group professed "public protection," under the hidden agenda of "market share". The result of this lobbying initiative has resulted in the passing of legislation, thankfully, this legislation has not been proclaimed. Similar legislation is being proposed in New Brunswick.
One example of this type of discrimination is when an employer (e.g. government or private employer), insurance company, or EAP demands a certain level of education when the job does not require it. The employer may require a particular counselling association with a particular education level when the job does not require that. These requirements discriminate unfairly against counsellors from counselling associations who may not have a particular education or credential and are qualified for the job. In Nova Scotia and other Provinces the Human Rights Act supports that Counsellors have the right to be free from discrimination if you are a member of another professional association (e.g. the CPCA).
Article submitted by: JG Wright
Sources: Provincial Human Rights Acts, CPCA research