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Job Discrimination: Does It Affect You?

Norma_Budden by Norma_Budden
Last updated: 06/15/2011

Job Discrimination Hurts Everyone

Job discrimination - bah-hum-bug! I can't stand the phrase; it's intolerable. It implies cruelty and inconsideration toward others. It suggests that some people are more deserving than others.

Understandably, if a person is proven to be disloyal and dishonest with a former employer, there are chances the same could be true if hired somewhere else. If a person had been found guilty of arson or attempted murder at a former place of employment, no one wants to take a chance on hiring him/her.

These issues are understandable - as well as some situations which may arise between these two scenarios. However, when I hear about job discrimination, I think of people who are discriminated against unfairly - people who have done nothing wrong yet were turned away from employment for no valid reason.

Job discrimination hurts everyone concerned, whether they are employers or employees. Closed-minded employers lose out on valuable employees, while potential employees who are discriminated against suffer because - though they are human - they cannot get the simplest of jobs to support themselves and/or their families.

Discrimination experienced when applying for a job

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The Woman's Role

How it has evolved...

Until recent years, the woman's role was to stay home and care for the children as well as the household duties associated with raising a family. Educating themselves further seemed to be a futile goal because their roles would forever be in the home.

Needless to say, much has changed since then. A few women hold higher levels of education than many men - in their chosen fields - and in any case, women and men hold equally important positions in many firms and organizations. We know business owners only want the best people to be in each position they employ....right?

Religious Affiliations

Does it affect work ethic?

What about religious affiliation? Since religious talk is not allowed in the workplace, for the most part, does it really matter whether a person is Christian, Catholic, Muslim, or Buddhist? Most people are comfortable around like-minded people but does this mean that a person of another religious affiliation cannot work as efficiently?

Should it matter what color your skin is?

Should the color of your skin matter whether or not you are employed outside of McDonald's? Just because you don't walk around in white skin, does it mean you can't be an educated person - that you can't perform the act of working for pay in a position suited to your education level?

How old are you?

Unless I'm a little child, does it really matter?

Age is an area where one needs to be cautious. One cannot expect an 8-year-old to perform at the level of a 15-year-old - mentally or physically - nor can they expect a 65-year-old to work as quickly and efficiently as a 35-year-old. To expect such situations would be comparable to slavery in that you are employing people who are unable to do the job in comfort.

However, there are jobs older people can do quite comfortably, providing they don't suffer terribly from arthritis and its complications. Just because a woman is 60 doesn't mean she shouldn't apply to be a receptionist at a firm or business. In addition, just because a man is 25, it doesn't mean he can't manage a corporation as well as the previous owner/manager.

Sexual Orientation

Qualified for the job...or not?

How about sexual orientation? I am heterosexual and proud of it. However, I realize it's not the situation for everyone. Does that mean a gay or lesbian person should be shunned from every workplace? Should their suitability to an offered position be overlooked in favor of a person with lesser experience who is straight?

“Discrimination kills morale in the workplace.”

Prejudicial actions

I don't get it!

Prejudicial issues are issues I've always had trouble understanding ever since I can remember. My partner is black and we have a wonderful relationship. He's a Professional Engineer and does his job well. What would his employer have done if he wasn't willing to do such a great job? He works numerous hours of overtime, at home, without even getting paid due to being understaffed in his department. It's dedication you don't often find in employees.

A former employer of mine, whom I counted on to get things done that were beyond my control, was lesbian. She did more for me, at a faster rate (without having a sexual interest in me) than any of the other women and men I've worked for over the years and she also suffers from Cerebral Palsy.

Children's Feelings


How do children feel when their parents continually arrive home without a job?

What do they think about their own future? Does it seem bleak with little hope in sight?

Do they work hard trying to maintain their grades in school, or do they give up?

Hmm!

Important!

Imagine the work force without women...


Business owners/firms need to look beyond what is in front of them and be willing to take a chance on people. They may be pleasantly surprised.

After all, years ago, someone took the first chance in hiring a woman to fill a position. Now, if women suddenly dropped out of the work force, the business world would be in turmoil.

Most men don't want to be nurses, receptionists, cashiers, telemarketers, and so on - yet all of these rolls are important.

What if only "white" people remained in our work force?

I don't want to imagine!

At one point, wherever you turned, there were mostly white people surrounding you, whether at school, work, or during play. Now, if people who were not white decided to quit working and moved their families from the country, our nation would turn upside-down and chaos would reign at every turn.

Logic should rule!

Logic is a key factor when making sound business decisions. Exercising logic will determine that business owners want the best people to fulfill their positions.

That being said, employers who haven't already opened their minds to change need to do so before open-minded employers snatch the prized employees who happen to come in various packages.

Job Discrimination

The Harmful Effects

Have you ever been discriminated against when applying for a job?

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Definitely!

Kylyssa says:

When I was homeless I had a hard time getting a job until I figured out how to fake having an address. I was no more qualified then than I had been before but I got a job right away.

In my area, I had to pretend to be some type of Christian - at least I had that impression because it was entirely common for the managers to ask what church I attended during my interviews. My standard answer was that I hadn't found a good home church - true, but because I wasn't looking.

At one job I worked at I overheard the manager discussing (loudly) with the owner that she wasn't going to hire anyone that hadn't gone to Christian school (which, in my region actually means Christian Reformed, not just Christian) then later, she said right to me that she wouldn't hire homosexuals when I recommended a friend who is an award winning floral designer.

Posted May 03, 2010

crosscreations says:

Yep, been passed over for countless positions I'm overqualified for in favor of the 20 year olds. No one admits it of course, but that is who got hired.

Posted January 11, 2010

Zee7 says:

I haven't been discriminated but a very good friend of mine was..and it was because of her age. they only hired people aged 21-25 and shes obviously older than that by just a few years. I can't understand how an employer can refuse a person who's willing to work and successfully passed their exams only to find out she can't be accepted because of her age. it's so unfair!

Posted July 28, 2008

Michael Ingram says:

Yes! I once applied for a job as a postal worker, adn was PROUD of my country for giving me an extra ten points because I was a retired veteran of the U.S.ARMED FORCES...only to find out that every minority present got 50 points just for signing their name, regardless of their education or training.

Posted May 30, 2008

Not a chance!

Norma_Budden says:

The only time I recall a manager not accepting an application from me was when I was 12. Apparently, laws forbid people to work at that age because they were considered too young, so I can't blame the manager. He was only doing his job.

Posted May 29, 2008

 

What do you enjoy most about your workplace?

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Freedom to socialize with employees

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Great benefits

Whether it's the amount of vacation time after a c more...1 point

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Freedom to share opinions

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Flexibility of scheduled shifts

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Flexibility to choose shifts

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Freedom to spend time with family members

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Close to home

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It pays well

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Job Discrimination Guestbook

I'd love to hear from you!

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  • Reply
    Kylyssa May 3, 2010 @ 12:58 pm | delete
    Thank you for writing on this important subject of job discrimination!
  • Reply
    grannysage Feb 3, 2010 @ 6:29 pm | delete
    Unfortunately, discrimination exists. I've experienced it and then I worked at a call center for the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, taking numerous calls from people who felt they were being discriminated against. There were the obvious ones like, being told you couldn't work the bar because you were female, being fired when you told the boss you were pregnant, etc. And then there were people who were trying to find a someone to blame for their own bad work habits. When I would ask what category they felt they were discriminated against, race, color, age, sex, religion, national origin, or disability, they would tell me to pick one. When I informed them that I couldn't do that, then they would say, "well, then I pick race." But we took their information anyway because everyone has a right to file a complaint of discrimination.

    I think everyone needs to know their rights and be able to speak up for them. I would suggest adding this website to your page. It is the webpage of the EEOC which has a lot fo information. http://www.eeoc.gov

    Great lens on a very important topic.
  • Reply
    crosscreations Jan 11, 2010 @ 3:23 pm | delete
    Great topic and good to get it out in the open where it belongs. Well-done! 5*s!
  • Reply
    Norma_Budden Jan 12, 2010 @ 9:08 pm | delete
    Thank you! It would be nice to read more lenses on this subject. Perhaps you can create one.
  • Reply
    JaguarJulie Sep 7, 2008 @ 8:30 am | delete
    Yes, I believe job discrimination does occur more than people care to admit. And, it can change throughout your life with regards to the reasons. Too young, too old. Not experienced enough, too much experience = want too much. Or, maybe tattoos? 5***** for a topical subject.
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Norma_Budden

I am a person who has great zest for life, regardless of the overwhelming odds a day may present.
I'm a busy mother of three children who ends up spending... more »

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