'Slightly OCD' job advert on Twitter causes outrage

HR leaders and recruitment professionals should understand the importance of a well-crafted job advert, and the essentialness of using balanced and moderated language.

A recent job advert looking for “slightly OCD” employees has missed the mark, and unintentionally caused offense.

Fairyhill in Reynoldston, a wedding venue, tweeted images of disarrayed napkins with the heading “Slightly OCD? Then we’d like to hear from you.”

The venue has since apologized for the incident, after the advert drew ire from the public – including Ashley Fulwood, chief executive of charity OCD-UK.

On Twitter, Fulwood wrote: "Are you aware that OCD is absolutely nothing to do with being a perfectionist?

"Did you know that someone who likes things a certain way, let's say neat and tidy, is compelled to arrange things that way because of an unwanted, aggressive, intrusive thought?

In a statement from Fairyhill, a spokesperson said: “We meant no harm and truly appreciate that in today's politically correct society we should have been more conscious.

"OCD is such an overused term in public discourse and is too often trivialized.

"In hindsight we did not understand the true meaning of the condition and how it deeply affects those who suffer. A positive from this judgement error is that we've raised awareness and hope others will follow suit and not misuse the term in daily conversation."

Employers should be mindful of how they come across to the general public and their internal staff.

One such employer who didn’t seem to get the memo is this boss, who chided her employee for getting pregnant ‘before her turn’.