Hiring Discrimination
By Rev. Don Johnson (Retired)
Member, Central Christian Church Enid
In the late 1980’s, I was working for a steel company in central Nebraska. We were going to hire a metallurgical engineer and the most qualified applicant was a young lady from Ohio. After her interview, the production manager told me that this was man’s work in Nebraska. And we aren’t going to hire a woman for this job regardless of her education and experience.
The next day, I heard the production manager loudly complaining to a co-worker that his daughter wasn’t hired for a job at the county airport. He said, “My daughter has taken computer classes and can operate the airline’s reservation system. She’s 5’10” and is strong enough to handle heavy baggage. And during heavy travel times, my daughter has actually helped people at the airport. I know the young men who got the job. He doesn’t know computers and he’s only 5’6”. He may not be able to handle heavy luggage by himself. My daughter was better qualified. And it’s not fair that she didn’t get that job.”
After hearing his complaints, I asked him, “Does that young lady you interviewed yesterday have a father? And do you think her father hopes people treat his daughter fairly?” After a minute, he said to me, “Hire her and I will see she gets treated fairly.”
Pray that your decisions about an individual are based on individual’s merit and not on the person’s gender, race or class. And as you make decisions, remember what Jesus said, “Do to others as you would have them do to you.” Or, “As you make decisions about a person, make decisions, as you would like to have them made to a member of your family.”
