Blacklisting definition

Blacklist is to deny a person or group access to a particular resource or service. In an employment context, blacklisting means denying people employment for a particular reason, such as political affiliation, involvement in trade union activity or a history of blowing the whistle. Blacklisting can vary in its scope; states have historically blacklisted individuals, effectively banning them from working in public sector organisations (more serious in communist countries) although it happens more regularly at the company or industry level. In the UK, trade union workers have been historically most at risk of blacklisting.