discrimination is alive and well in the big city
We got a call this morning from a branch manager at one of our sister offices. We share several clients, including a particular firm for whom we’ve been trying to fill a high-level position for some time.
Our colleague calls to inform us that this client had asked her branch for a receptionist this morning. They immediately sent their most qualified, available talent- a woman who happens to be a Muslim and wears a hijab.
Shortly after the talent arrived, she was sent away from the client and back to our colleague’s office. The HR Director (with a Senior Professional in Human Resources certification, mind you) explained to our colleague that “Image is everything here, and we just can’t have her sitting at our front desk.”
As the Farkers say, “O RLY?”
Note that the talent was well-groomed, her clothes were clean and cared for, her demeanor was polite and friendly, and was in all ways appropriately professional for the position.
So none of our offices will be servicing this client. In addition to finding the talent an appropriate substitute assignment immediately, the branch manager for that office will be calling corporate to get some direction on the most appropriate way to tell this client to take a hike and never come back.
As I often say to my coworkers in such situations, it never surprises me that there are people in the world who think this way. It only surprises me that there are people who actually say it out loud. Especially people with advanced professional certifications in KNOWING BETTER THAN THAT.
I’m appalled, can you tell?
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August 22nd, 2006 at 3:41 pm
interesting post, you guys handled that well.. my hats off to you.. Wish other recruiters would behave as ethically.
I have heard horror storied from recruiters directly who will say that they have no qualms in discriminating against candidates if that should be the what the client requests..
So I will say again 3 Cheers to you guys!
Karen
August 22nd, 2006 at 4:21 pm
One of the things I appreciate about my employer is the strength of their policies about discrimination. I can be fired for complying with a discriminatory job order.
On one hand, of course this is a smart business decision- if you aren’t discriminating, it’s a lot harder to be sued successfully for discrimination. But in context, it’s part of a much larger body of internal policies that all add up to a real commitment to ethical treatment of talent simply because it’s the right thing to do.
August 23rd, 2006 at 10:19 am
I have to say that I am astounded and appalled by this. And I can only hope that this HR Director is immediately fired because they obviously are not capable of doing that job.
September 7th, 2006 at 5:54 pm
It always amazes me when I hear educated people say things like this. Especially when that person is a manager and knows the laws about discrimination. my last job had lots of this kind of thing and it really sucked.