Does employment discrimination really exist ?

Answer 1

Employment discrimination is alive and well. Ask any African American or a woman applying for the same job as a man. I'm sure they'll be able to give you a "yes" answer. Discrimination exists in housing, banking, employment etc. As long as there are racists doing the hiring, there will always be discrimination. What a sad world we live in.

Answer 2

Discrimination takes many subtle forms that are not always identifiable nor protected by laws. Examples of things that can cause the potential employer to discriminate against you...

If you send a resume/cover letter that has spelling errors in it

If you come to an interview wearing jeans

Tattoos and piercings

Criminal record

What does your car look like

How many times you say "like" in the interview or other habitual utterances - for example: "um", "cool"

If you have a college education or not

What town you live in or what part of town you live in

Discrimination doesn't usually appear through the obvious race, gender, or age factors. Now you can be judged based on your socioeconomic background, which can stereotypically determine how intelligent you are and how hard of a worker you will be and most importantly, how easily will you fit in with the culture of the company where you are applying. In the past those stereotypes were determined by the age, gender, and especially race of employees. Now there are lawful ways to do the same thing - weed out the undesirables.

Answer 3

Having served as an HR executive for an international firm I can tell you that discrimination is alive and well in the US. Discrimination can take many forms. Employees and job candidates are often discriminated against based on legal and illegal reasons. You can discriminate in the workplace as long as it is not illegal. I may not like you because you are a member of the Democratic party or because you are rich, but if I make employment decisions because of those factors there is little that can be done. However, discrimination on the basis of race, gender, pregnancy, national origin (including affiliation with a Native American tribe), religion, disability, citizenship status, and age (if the person is at least 40 years old) is illegal.

I can speak directly to the age discrimination. Many of my colleagues who have turned 50 face very subtle forms of discrimination where employers would rather have a "younger" person (lower paid?) than an experienced veteran. Is this discrimination or just wise economics? Rarely do you see employers show overt discrimination as they know better now.

Progressive employers recognize that a diverse workforce is more likely to be a blessing than a curse, and often aggressively seek out the best and brightest diverse candidates. These employers also aggresively educate their employees and create a culture of inclusion. One of the best diversity training tools can be found at http://hrshopper.com/welcomemarket.php?pg=1_5#shifter. Just copy and paste this into your browser and you can learn more about diversity training for your organization.

Answer 4

Sure, and not only for minorities. The person doing the interview may not like short people, fat people, may judge a person harshly because of the brown suit they wore on the interview- all sorts of things than may have nothing to do with how well the applicant will do the job. Everyone has preconceived notions about people, and may not be aware they are favoring certain people over others, but obviously sometimes the discrimination is very blatant.

Answer 5

There is an entire body of law that is devoted to employment discrimination: http://www.finduslaw.com/taxonomy_menu/12/23

There is an entire industry of attorneys that only work on employment discrimination. If there was no discrimination there would not be an entire industry to support prosecuting it.

Answer 6

yes, absolutely. research will show that the same exact resume will get many fewer responses with a traditionally "black" name like keisha or aisha than with a name usually given to white people. it's really sad. i'm sad to hear this. but lots of folks assume blacks are less smart and competent, and blacks have to work harder just to overcome this. which is patently unfair.
i have seen a lot of discrimination over my career. the person doing the discriminating usually does not see themselves as racist or discriminating. they will say things like:
"women are better at software, men are better at hardware"
clearly an assumption or stereotype that will affect a boss's decisions about work assignments.
just a few years ago a temporary agency locally was taking orders for "middle-aged-white-female" temps. they provided what was ordered. of course it's illegal. my friend worked for the agency. it was really true.
i heard people discussing in the hall that a lesbian "just wouldn't fit in" at their workplace. yes it exists and is rampant.

Answer 7

i don't understand the way it particularly is like in the united statesA. yet i think of that the regulation forbids the corporate to question the sexual orientation. in spite of each and every thing, in case you carry on with for a job as an accountant i'd anticipate you to do precisely that and to no longer harrass your collegues whether you have been right this moment. in all hazard the only exception to this would be in case you utilized for a job in the porn marketplace.

Answer 8

Yes it does. I am a 57 year old woman, and I see it regularly. However, some places like experience over perky b**bs. Thank goodness.

Answer 9

Yes. In my industry (Advertising), if you are a good looking female, you are much more likely to land a job.

It is also a fattist industry, though I could argue soundly from experience that fat people tend to be lazy.

Answer 10

Yes it does, I see it every day. Males, people who are 'sexier' looking, whites, etc. usely get the best promotions and pay checks. It's sad.