Fired for being "different"?

Question

Are people who act, think and behave differently than "normal Americans" more likely to be fired or not promoted? Living in the south I tend to notice business don't like people who are different and view them as a threat to the corporate culture.

I once went to an interview and I mentioned all the things I'm doing in life (investing, traveling, etc) when ask about myself and the interviewer stop and asked "why don't you do that stuff after you get married?" Being the smart *** that I'm sometimes I told her "I don't put my life on hold over society's fluff!!!" Needless to say that ladies eyes look like a deer in headlights situation!!!!! I wasn't interested in the job really. More looking for the job hunter miles driven tax write-off anyway.

But anyway can being different cost you alot in corporate America?

Answer 1

I own a small business. If you work for me, then you represent me. If you are "Different" I lose customers. When I lose customers, I don't make as much money. If I don't make as much, I need to figure out what "I'm" doing wrong. Keeping you employed may be the problem. You have to take on the attitude of ambassador and own it. If you're not willing to do this, then I must let you go and find someone who will.

Answer 2

Corporate culture does discriminate, at least in my opinion.

I had a very well paying job and I was promoted several times. I got pregnant and I decided that I'd like to cut back on my hours in the office. This was my fourth baby and my older children really needed me at home. I spoke to my boss about working from home part of the week (20 hours or so). Other employees had done it on a short term basis, so I decided to ask as well.

Well, he told me that if I was going to put my family first I might as well quit. He also told me that the company shouldn't have wasted all that money training me because he KNEW that I was a mother and women are unreliable (i.e. have babies) So after I had the baby, I quit.

I doubt that I will work in that field again because there's too much pressure to put the job first. I'm not going to be a corporate lackey and forget my family!

Answer 3

Being different, I have found, can cost you big just about anywhere. It can become a real issue in the corporate world, where everything is about money, power, and/or status. Someone who is "different" is often seen as a threat to that money, power, and status- after all, someone who marches to a different beat may just have the next great idea and steal the cash and/or power from under the high executive's nose. Hence, the bosses try to prevent that from happening by not hiring or promoting them- or even firing them altogether.