Discrimination in the work place

[MavMin]

I was on a Geek board where they were discussing what questions not to ask or answer when you are involved in a job interview. I have had some interesting experiences and this was my comment on the subject.


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Man, I was once asked, "How do you handle controversial issues?" by the third interviewer because my resume had that I was a Bible college graduate. The phone rang and I never got to answer the question as he merely said we will get back to you and that was that. The first two found it admirable that I would consider another career. Nothing admirable about it as I had a wife and two children that liked to eat and frowned on living under a bridge plus my debtors were appreciative of my prayers for them but still required currency.

Another lad was actually apologizing for the salary being so low, though he was $5,000 over the minimum that I had told my wife I would take as I walked out the door that morning, UNTIL he got further down in my resume and saw that degree. After that it was "We don't need literature all over the place and I am not hiring you to preach." I assured him that I was there to work but I didn't get the job.

Others made comments that made me realize that they were only interested in or needed a minority or woman but had to at least interview me. Some I checked back with and met the person they hired and I was correct in my assumption.

Could I have fought to get those jobs? Sure, but who wants a job with someone that doesn't want you? They will only find a way to legally get rid of you at the earliest date.

I eventually changed the name of my college dropping the Bible out of the title and Religious out of my degree to prevent such blatant discrimination. I got more interviews and eventually a job. In the end, it was their loss and my gain as the career that I can soon retire from is far better than they could have ever given me. Divine intervention? I believe so.

Now, it is an age thing. I am nearing 56 and too long in the tooth for most corporations so even if I retire young enough for another career it is a real long shot that I could find someone to hire me.

Sadly, I saw a church in the area that was advertising for a pastor that MUST be under 50. Needless to say, I wrote a note to them chastising them for such a thing and of course they never responded. ;-)

The bottom line is that even if they don't ask the blatant questions or even make comments they can discriminate against you and will if they want to do so by what is on your resume or your appearance.

One lady was going by the first name of Mary because she said no one could pronounce her real name and she suffered discrimination under that name. I hated to tell her that her face gave away her national origin or at least regional origin. She could change her name to Betty Jane Gump and she would still suffer prejudice.

I am of German heritage but I have been asked several times in the last few years if I am Jewish. I said as far as I know from the recent branches no, but my family has always been right friendly so there may be a few in the tree. I'm Baptist, but if I look Jewish to an interviewer that is anti-Semitic he won't ask but go by my appearance. On the other hand, though many Jews had German names, if his grandfather was a holocaust survivor he may not hire me because of my surname.

All the laws in the world will not stop discrimination. Do away with interviews and just use the resume without the name and do online testing and you will eliminate some discrimination but once you are hired there is nothing that says you will not get unjustly fired or laid off in a way that there are no legal recourses. Lawyers make the laws and corporate lawyers find loopholes.

Start your own business and be the interviewer not the interviewee. ;-)

[Pastor Rob Early]

Ron,

Thanks for another well-developed post. I also have a full-time job while pastoring the church (details are on our church web site) but have not run across any discrimination. Of course my history is a bit different; I had been working at my place of employment for over 20 years before I was called to pastor the church. I wondered what kind of reception I would find at the job but was pleased to find good support across the board. As you and others do, I make sure to provide an honest day's work and not use my secular job time to work in the ministry. It makes for some busy days but no busier than anyone else's.

[MavMin]

I have some co-workers that do push the limit and one spends a lot of time at my cube discussing his book that he is putting together. I can usually work and listen to him at the same time but trying to not be rude to him gets challenging. He is a good lad and he is here mainly for what he knows not what he does so his schedule is a bit freer than mine but I have been grateful at times for phone calls.

I have a Christian Boss now so it makes life easier. I have never had a problem getting off work for funerals and such so I have been fortunate but getting to this position took some time and turmoil. I do know what the schedule is like. Yesterday, I had my SS Class, the evening service, this afternoon a hospital visit and then Ladies mission, tomorrow night nursing home and since Pastor will be out of town I will be doing Ezekiel 1 on Wednesday.
;-) I will have to be FT to get much more done.