Sunday, March 28, 2010

Job Discrimination

I thought companies knew better than to blatantly discriminate, but I guess that doesn't pertain to someone who calls to see if a company is hiring. Someone I know was referred to a company. He was told this business might be hiring now or sometime in the future. He called to see if they were hiring yet.

The manager who answered said they weren't hiring right now, but would probably be doing so in the future. He asked if he could ask some questions of the applicant. Naturally, the person said yes.

Here's what he was asked: 1. Are you black or white? 2. Are you fifty or older? The guy was able to answer no to all of the questions, but he was surprised at them. It was plain discriminatory, but this was over the phone so it would be one person's word against the other.

In an application form, this business would never be able to get away with this type of questioning because it would be too obvious what they were doing. Even this was unbelievable to me.

There is so much discrimination these days that it makes me sick. Where does it stop? I worked for a major airline, and after I was promoted to a job at the overhaul base my yearly evaluation and raise came due. I had an excellent review, but didn't get the same amount of money as the men I worked with. I was a single woman supporting myself, but I was told by the supervisor he had to give the men a larger raise because they were supporting families.

My question for all of you: Have you ever been discriminated against when seeking a job or while working for a company?

Have a great week. See you next Sunday.

Sandy
Buy link for Addiction: http://www.eirelander-publishing.com/addiction.htm
http://www.skaymarshall.com

23 comments:

Rebecca Royce said...

Wow! That really happened. He should report it!

Sandy said...

Thanks, Becca.

He would report it, but he's been out of work this winter, and when this company starts hiring he would like a job.

Also, it would be his word against the other guy.

Christie Craig said...

It's sad that it still exist. Could he report it annoynously?

CC

Carol Ericson said...

Nothing I can prove. A few years ago I applied for a job that was perfect for me. I had all the qualifications the company wanted for this position, and I never even got a call-back. This company is cutting-edge and known for its "youthful" image. I'm pretty sure they didn't call me in for an interview because they calculated my approximate age from my work experience and figured I was too old for them. At my current job, at first I didn't get called back for the 2nd interview. Then they called and said their 1st choice turned down the job. I came in for the 2nd interview and got the job. Later I learned that their 1st choice was younger than I and had a lower salary requirement. So a lot of times I think the "age discrimination" is more of a "salary discrimination." They'd rather pay less for the younger employee! In a way, you can't blame them for that. (P.S. How did your friend answer "no" to black or white? LOL)

K.T. Bishop said...

A no-win situation. It works both ways... I've gotten a job because of my race. But also, I was under the most pressure to prove myself! I've also not moved up where I am and at other companies because of skin pigmentation. Not to sound harsh, it's a bitch!

J Hali Steele said...

When you think about it--every job does it. Most apps I fill out ask your birthdate, most still ask for ethnic background. Both of those could be held against you if the company wants to.

I was told another time that asking for the salary I was requesting that it worked against me with *younger* candidates willing to take less. They said they were being honest and in this market I needed to think about that. Sad thing is: THEY'RE RIGHT!

Jill James said...

Sandy, great post. I had to lie at my first job about being a single mom because they were a family run business. I had to say I was divorced. I laughed all the time because it is hard to be divorced when the slob didn't marry you in the first place. LOL

robynl said...

so not fair!
I was told I had too much education for a job I once applied for and I said to him that it shouldn't matter as I was willing to do a lesser job requirement to have a job. Later I found out the lady they hired was a friend. Go figure.

Sandy said...

Thanks, Christie.

It would be hard for him to report the company unless he knew they had done the same thing to someone else, so they wouldn't actually know who reported them. It's really sad.

Sandy said...

LOL Carol, you caught me. Actually, I had it worded different and then changed, but didn't catch that I needed to change more. I was being careful because I didn't want to get this person in trouble or make him lose a chance for a job.

Some companies would rather hire older people because their work ethics are better and they are more reliable.

Thanks for coming by, Carol.

Sandy said...

LOL K.T., I totally understand.

Thanks for coming by.

Sandy said...

Thanks, J. Hali for coming by.

You and Carol may be right about the salaries. If so it's a shame.

Sandy said...

Thanks for your comment, Jill. So glad to see you here.

Sandy said...

RobynL, so sorry. I hope you were able to find something. It's too bad they weren't honest with you in the first place.

Thanks for your comment.

April Ash said...

Yes...those questions were definitely discriminatory and wouldn't be seen on an application.
Once I applied for a preschool teaching position in my daughter's preschool. The interviewer loved my resume...and then mentioned how a black teacher had applied and how they'd love to add "color" to their school. Guess what? She got the job. I promptly removed my daughter from the school as I felt as if I had been discriminated against. If the interviewer hadn't said anything to me, I never would have felt that way. I taught in all-black schools and my kids have had black teachers. I have no problem with a person's color.
In this case, I was the subject of discrimination.

Linda LaRoque said...

I think job discrimination will always be around. It's unfortunate but companies find ways to get around the rules.

Sandy said...

Goodness, April. Thanks for your comment.

Discrimination is just everywhere. I wonder why it's allowed?

Sandy said...

Hey, Linda, I think you're right. It's unfortunate, but everyone is discriminated against at one time or another.

Thanks for your comment.

Author GE Stills said...

Okay Sandy I agree no discrimination in reguards to race, creed, religious preferences and usually sex. Equal pay for equal work too. I know this is a serious issue and blog subject.
I do have to say that I am old school in regards to some things regarding jobs suitable for men and women and I can't resist a little humor. please excuse me. I was thinking that if I put in an application for a waitress job at Hooters I probably would not get hired. too old and definitely not the right build. lol
Have a great day ladies.

Historical Writer/Editor said...

Hi, Sandy, well, my husband and I got married as teenagers. We decided to have a baby right away. Shortly after our little girl was born, my husband and his father both applied at the same company. He did the same work as his father but got paid far less because he was only 18. It didn't matter that he had a wife and child to support. As young parents, we were discriminated against constantly. This was in the early nineties. He was also discriminated against for his long hair. I was discriminated against at work for being too poor to afford maternity clothes then for being a female with a new baby, but this was years ago. Positive changes have occurred over the years. I'm glad I wasn't born a decade earlier.

Sandy said...

LOL I loved your comment about Hooters, Gary. You're right though. You don't the right equipment for a job as a waitress there.

Sandy said...

Historical Writer/Editor,

I would have thought that kind of discrimination was gone by the ninties. What a shame. I'm sorry to hear that.

Thanks for your comment.

Unknown said...

Hi Sandy, that's just cruel. I have never been discriminated against when I sought jobs out or while I worked with other companies. It's a shame that happened and that companies can get away with these things.