This happened to me about four years ago, another question made me think about this...
I was moving to a new area and wanted to advertise for a babysitter because I worked an odd shift, until 8pm at night. The small town I was moving to was on the opposite edge of the county from the only major town of that area, so there was only one real newspaper in the county. I called to place the ad....and said I wanted the ad to say, "Need a babysitter in the xxxx area," and the newspaper person threw a fit! She said specifying a town or area, no matter HOW I phrased it, was discrimanatory and they could not run the ad.
I said come on, this isn't a big money job, who will want to drive 50 miles a day round trip for $50 a week, and you expect me to field all those calls on my cell phone??? She was quite rude about the whole thing. I just didn't get it!!! I didn't say they HAD to be from the area, I was saying I was in that area. I just thought this was the silliest rule...
2006-11-13 07:03:27 · 27 answers · asked by carrieinmich 3 in Politics & Government ➔ Law & Ethics
Thanks all for the feedback! I hadn't thought about it for years, but like I said another question I read earlier made me think about that situation! Although I had to wait longer for my ad, I went to the local weekly free newspaper and placed my ad. Which was really unfair, she denied my daughter much needed babysitting!
2006-11-13 07:36:10 · update #1
I don't think it was discrimnation, just stupid on the newspaper lady's part. I'm not 100% sure what her point was, but it sounds like she was just on a power-trip.
2006-11-13 07:06:12 · answer #1 · answered by SadToday22 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
It could be considered discrimination if the ad asked for a babysitter FROM Xxxx, especially if Xxxx was populated by one particular race (religion, sex, etc). If it had said the JOB was in Xxxx, I don't see how that could be discriminatory in any way and people from the other side of the county would probably not apply.The employee probably didn't understand the company policy.
2006-11-13 07:14:10 · answer #2 · answered by Knowledge 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I agree, how is it discrimination for specifying the area you need the babysitter to be in, i mean, how else will the people looking at the add know if they want to do the job or not if they don't know what area its in. That's like saying a guy/lady is selling a house and puts it in an add, and doesn't say what area its in, saying the area is informative information, not discrimination.
2006-11-13 07:08:49 · answer #3 · answered by See ya later aligator 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
It is discrimination, but it is not bad or wrong. It is what any reasonable person would do. When it comes to something as important as watching your children you should always keep things as close to home as possible. Your neighbor's daughter is going to be much less likely to do anything bad seeing as how she lives near you and will have to move to get away from you.
The idiot working at the paper is the one that is out of line. Try again, perhaps someone that is not an idiot will take the ad.
2006-11-13 07:12:53 · answer #4 · answered by Buck Turgidson 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
That is rather silly. Sounds to me like the lady that you talked to was just being lazy and was trying to find an excuse for not having to publish your add. I wouldn't blame it on discrimination, I would blame it on laziness. Chances are, you could call the same news company and talk to a different representative and they would post your add. Next time that happens, first ask for the name of the person you are talking to, then ask for a manager, if they won't let you speak to one, then drive down to the news agency and talk to a manager. Or just call back and ask for the manager. You have no reason to be discriminated against because the other person is lazy.
2006-11-13 07:16:09 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Hell yes, that was discrimination--against you placing the ad I mean. I would've spoken to a manager. That's makes no sense at all. There are plenty of jobs I've read in some papers and websites that preferred that the applicant is from a particular state or within a certain miles' radius.
2006-11-13 07:06:52 · answer #6 · answered by wrtrchk 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Doesn't seem to me it would be discriminatory...I regular see jobs advertised in the newspaper stating, "must live in the ..................area. I have even this stated on State job employment websites.
Forget the newspaper...check with locals, churches, schools in your area; they usually know someone personally that would be interested in caring for your child.
Good Luck :)
2006-11-13 07:10:24 · answer #7 · answered by swampfox conservative 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
It doesn't sound to me like you were trying to discriminate, you were just trying to state what area the job was in so that people could decide if they wanted to call about it.
2006-11-13 07:07:48 · answer #8 · answered by steve d 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I agree with you. She sounded like she did not know what she was talking about. It is NOT discrimination to want to find someone in your area to babysit. Hopefully she moved on to a new job where she does not have to use her mind.
2006-11-13 07:07:55 · answer #9 · answered by The_answer_person 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
You were describing the area the sitter was needed in, not dictating where they had to be from. I consider it essential information to know where the job is before I respond.
Definitely not discriminatory.
2006-11-13 07:07:41 · answer #10 · answered by seeme1995 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋