Job Discrimination Hurts Everyone
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 their families.
Lens Contents below:
- Discrimination experienced when applying for a job
- The Woman's Role
- Religious Affiliations
- Should it matter what color your skin is?
- How old are you?
- Sexual Orientation
- Prejudicism
- Children's Feelings
- Imagine the work force without women...
- What if only "white" people remained in our work force?
- Logic should rule!
- Job Discrimination
- What do you enjoy most about your workplace?
- Share your thoughts with me!
- Isle of Squid
- Links of possible interest
Discrimination experienced when applying for a job
The Woman's Role
How it has evolved...
Until recent years, women's roles were to stay home and care for the children and 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. It kills a person's self-image when applying for jobs."
Prejudicism
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!
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?
Fetching blurbs now... please stand byDefinitely!
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?
Freedom to socialize with employees
While continuing to get your work done, you're fre more...1 point
Freedom to share opinions
The freedom to state your thoughts and opinions on more...0 points
Flexibility of scheduled shifts
Sometimes situations arise which prevent you from more...0 points
Flexibility to choose shifts
Your spouse works during the day while you're home more...0 points
Freedom to spend time with family members
You love the fact that, if your family stops by yo more...0 points
Close to home
You don't have to spend much time commuting back a more...0 points
Great benefits
Whether it's the amount of vacation time after a c more...0 points
Share your thoughts with me!
I'd love to hear from you!
JaguarJulie wrote...
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.
Posted September 07, 2008
Isle of Squid
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Links of possible interest
- Federal Laws Preventing Job Discrimination Q&A
- An overview of the policies in effect protecting citizens of different races, religions, ages, genders, physical capabilities, pay structures, and so on.
- Filing a charge
- When discrimination has occurred, there's a protocol to be followed. This link will direct citizens of the United States to the next step they should take.
- The Difference between Job Requirement and Discrimination
- When a job description states that an employee would be required to repair power lines, it would be a waste of time for a person confined to a wheelchair to apply for the position. The job would be granted to someone who can walk and climb becasue it's a requirement of the job, not because of discrimination against the physically-challenged individual.
