Discriminating Against Muslims in Hiring

[Circlenaut]

So I just started working at this small 8 person startup about a month ago and besides the owner I'm the guy with the most science background in the lab. The company is expanding and he's looking to hire a few more people. The thing is I've noticed that my boss is blatantly discriminating against Muslim sounding names. He's put me in charge of sorting through incoming resumes and I pick the best of the bunch. Whenever I send him a resume with a Muslim sounding name he tells me "Whose next after this guy" when the first person is clearly more qualified compared to the next. WTF do I do here, just take this? What can I do? BTW my boss is Indian American.

Normally I'd just quit in a situation like this but it took me months to find this job and I can't afford to quit.

 

[Scouzer]

I'd do the same as your boss. Suck it up. Unless you or the applicants can prove it, there's nothing you can do.

 

[HAL9000]

So I just started working at this small 8 person startup about a month ago and besides the owner I'm the guy with the most science background in the lab. The company is expanding and he's looking to hire a few more people. The thing is I've noticed that my boss is blatantly discriminating against Muslim sounding names. He's put me in charge of sorting through incoming resumes and I pick the best of the bunch. Whenever I send him a resume with a Muslim sounding name he tells me "Whose next after this guy" when the first person is clearly more qualified compared to the next. WTF do I do here, just take this? What can I do? BTW my boss is Indian American.

Normally I'd just quit in a situation like this but it took me months to find this job and I can't afford to quit.

Whilst I agree there's not much you can do, If I were you I would tell him it's making you uncomfortable, if your boss is intelligent enough he'll respect you for asserting your self. Or at least next time say "What's wrong with this guy?" when he passes someone over.

 

[Patranus]

Sounds like a good way to get yourself fired.

 

[Circlenaut]

Whilst I agree there's not much you can do, If I were you I would tell him it's making you uncomfortable, if your boss is intelligent enough he'll respect you for asserting your self. Or at least next time say "What's wrong with this guy?" when he passes someone over.

Man, I felt like there wasn't much I can do and I really don't want to get on his bad side. When he looks at a "Muslim" resume he glances at it for 1 second and quickly asks me for the next. Non-Muslim names he take's a good 1 minute look at them even if we move on.

 

[Nintendesert]

Take a stand and quit.

 

[Zebo]

Indians and Muslims go way back. About 100 million dead back. Hard to overcome.

 

[HAL9000]

Man, I felt like there wasn't much I can do and I really don't want to get on his bad side. When he looks at a "Muslim" resume he glances at it for 1 second and quickly asks me for the next. Non-Muslim names he take's a good 1 minute look at them even if we move on.

I would just ask him. What's wrong with that one, or if he asks for your recommendation the recommend one and see what he says, if your working somewhere that makes you feel uncomfortable (to me) no ammount of money should make you compromise your own morality. I know it's not a practical answer but I'm quite principled and I say stick by your principles.

 

[DaveSimmons]

If your boss is a racist it's probably better for him not to hire people he can't work with, especially at a tiny company where he'll deal with them often.

(Thinking he should be forced to hire them sounds nice, but works better at a larger company.)

 

[Farang]

Either quit or go along. Not really going to change anyone's mind, this sort of thing is common (if not standard) practice.

 

[HAL9000]

Indians and Muslims go way back. About 100 million dead back. Hard to overcome.

I'm not suggesting you could overcome the issues, but he dosen't need to stand for it either.

 

[Zebo]

If your boss is a racist it's probably better for him not to hire people he can't work with, especially at a tiny company where he'll deal with them often.

(Thinking he should be forced to hire them sounds nice, but works better at a larger company.)

Islam is not a race it's a religion. Still not legal to discriminate because of either according to constitution and law.

 

[Circlenaut]

Either quit or go along. Not really going to change anyone's mind, this sort of thing is common (if not standard) practice.

School really does not prepare a person for shit like this... If you guys with experience say this is common, I'd rather not go against this tide then... Seem's like a nerve I really don't want to press.

 

[HAL9000]

Islam is not a race it's a religion. Still not legal to discriminate because of either according to constitution and law.

Agreed, and the last thing we need is people making allowances for prejudice like that.

I don't think he should straight out quit, he needs to give his boss a chance to explain himself first. Maybe there's something else going on here, if it's only been twice that he's noticed it he might have happened to know the applicants or something, there may be an innocent explination

 

[HAL9000]

The other issue is, that if you have a minor problem with it now, imagine how it might escalate, racism towards you. Are you gay maybe they are homophobic, I was told at my last job "not to tell people about my sexuality" as they would make fun of me for it, I quit later on...

 

[Circlenaut]

If your boss is a racist it's probably better for him not to hire people he can't work with, especially at a tiny company where he'll deal with them often.

(Thinking he should be forced to hire them sounds nice, but works better at a larger company.)

As bad as that sounds, it makes sense. I think I'll just start looking for another job and if an employer asks during an interview why I left so early I'll just say the company was not in line with my morals and leave it at that, or is that a bad idea?

 

[Circlenaut]

Agreed, and the last thing we need is people making allowances for prejudice like that.

I don't think he should straight out quit, he needs to give his boss a chance to explain himself first. Maybe there's something else going on here, if it's only been twice that he's noticed it he might have happened to know the applicants or something, there may be an innocent explination

It wasn't just two people, as I said it's pretty obvious. I'll ask him next time "why do you feel this candidate is not a good fit?" but if he bullshits me and I smell it I'll make my best to get the hell out of there.

 

[HAL9000]

It wasn't just two people, as I said it's pretty obvious. I'll ask him next time "why do you feel this candidate is not a good fit?" but if he bullshits me and I smell it I'll make my best to get the hell out of there.

Good choice, like I say, while it may seem obvious to you it may turn out to be something innocent (I can't imagine what...) but you need to give him a chance to explain before you take drastic action. At least then you'll know.

In this situation there's a huge difference between being 99% and 100%

 

[lxskllr]

If your boss is a racist it's probably better for him not to hire people he can't work with, especially at a tiny company where he'll deal with them often.

(Thinking he should be forced to hire them sounds nice, but works better at a larger company.)

I think this an important point. A small company like this should be allowed to discriminate through any mechanism chosen. I don't believe in "protected classes". Blacks, women, or whatever aren't any more special than anybody else. What if he were discriminating based on school. Maybe he doesn't like Stanford, and would never hire someone that came from there. That's perfectly legal AFAIK. He could even tell that to the potential candidate, and nothing would be said about it. Is that any more right than saying I don't want you because you're Muslim?

I'm undecided whether I'd extend that leniency to large corporations, but I'm firm regarding small companies. In a situation like that, you're working closely with everyone, and you shouldn't be forced to work with people you don't want to work with, especially when you're writing the checks.

 

[Circlenaut]

The other issue is, that if you have a minor problem with it now, imagine how it might escalate, racism towards you. Are you gay maybe they are homophobic, I was told at my last job "not to tell people about my sexuality" as they would make fun of me for it, I quit later on...

I've always subscribed to my dad's advice of leaving politics and religion outside of work but now I'm really afraid to mention anything about me being an Atheist.

 

[HAL9000]

I've always subscribed to my dad's advice of leaving politics and religion outside of work but now I'm really afraid to mention anything about me being an Atheist.

You see this is the problem where does it end? If he has an issue that he's prepared to act on with this, what else is he prejudiced to, I say get out before you find out (once you've confirmed your suspicions)

 

[HAL9000]

I think this an important point. A small company like this should be allowed to discriminate through any mechanism chosen. I don't believe in "protected classes". Blacks, women, or whatever aren't any more special than anybody else. What if he were discriminating based on school. Maybe he doesn't like Stanford, and would never hire someone that came from there. That's perfectly legal AFAIK. He could even tell that to the potential candidate, and nothing would be said about it. Is that any more right than saying I don't want you because you're Muslim?

I'm undecided whether I'd extend that leniency to large corporations, but I'm firm regarding small companies. In a situation like that, you're working closely with everyone, and you shouldn't be forced to work with people you don't want to work with, especially when you're writing the checks.

I think the difference is the data behind it you can look at school rankings and say statistically speaking that person will out perform this person, but you can't say this religion will out perform that one.

 

[amdhunter]

You're willing to lose your job for someone who you haven't met that might take your life one day in the name of some stupid God?

 

[artikk]

In your situation I wouldn't say anything but then again I would value having a job over having my feelings butthurt.

 

[HAL9000]

You're willing to lose your job for someone who you haven't met that might take your life one day in the name of some stupid God?

That is the kind of racial bigotry that were trying to address in this thread.