WEEK III: EOC Prejudice in the Workplace

Discrimination in the workplace is a sensitive matter and, sometimes many think it can only happen to an employee of that company.  Many managers forget that discrimination can occur even before a person becomes employed with the company.   “Most hospitality employers utilize application forms to establish a single, uniform document for use by all job candidates or groups of candidates.” (Hayes)   These forms ask questions and furthermore, help employers decide on persons who could be prospective candidates.  The questions are vague but still prove useful in screening candidates.  The screening process for employers consists of more than figuring out who to hire, but they must also use the correct process.  The application is done, now what.

Let’s schedule an interview.   When conducting an interview, a manager must maintain a certain demeanor to keep the candidate from feeling discriminated against.  The manager must be mindful of their body language and tone.   The questions they ask in the interview are important as well.  “This is because job interviews, if improperly performed, can subject managers to significant legal liability.” (Hayes)  If an applicant feels that they were not hired because of how they responded to a question they felt was inappropriate than that is considered discrimination.  Questions that are subjected around age, race, physical appearance, religious beliefs, sex and even drug use should be avoided during an interview.  Those questions will not help the manager gain insight on how well the candidate can function in a job environment, and therefore should be avoided.  However, if a job requires a person to complete a task that legally has age restrictions, than it is okay to address age.  “It may also be important when hiring bartenders, and other servers of alcohol, that these individuals' ages are at or above a state's minimum age for serving alcohol.” (Hayes)

In the “Uncharming Man”, discrimination was very evident in the workplace; not only between managers and employees, but businesses to their customers as well.  When the main character dressed up as El Hassan, he was denied a position at the print shop because of his last name.  When he went to The Mermaid, he was attacked by the bartender because he was not Danish.  Discrimination in the work place happens in many forms, and until someone speaks up or takes a stand, it will continue.

Hayes, David K. Human Resources Management in the Hospitality Industry. John Wiley & Sons, 2008. VitalBook file. The Art Institutes.