I was made redundant at the beginning of november, so signed up to a local agency (national one but franchised locally). They got me a bit of work til Christmas, but nothing since then.
Naturally, I decided that what I really wanted was full time job, so started the search, as you do.
Two weeks ago I applied for a job with a well-known multinational logistics firm, who shall be nameless for the moment.
Anyway, I sent off my CV, and a few days later I got a call from a manager. He said he had seen my CV, but I had not answered the ‘what salary do you expect?’ question. I said that I hadn’t answered that because I knew that they were a large firm and whatever salary they had in mind was bound to be competitive. (This job ISN’T driving, but is related to logistics). He said fine and told me what the salary was. I said that was well within the range I was expecting. Great, he says, I’ll be in touch in a couple of days. ‘Oh, by the way’ , he said, ‘your CV didn’t have your date of birth on it - how old are you’. I’m 58 says I. 'Oh, says said manager, ’ I’m only a few years younger, but I’m concerned about the ‘office dynamics’. Never mind, I’ll be in touch soon.
So far, so good. But a full week goes by and, surprise surprise, I have heard nothing.
So I fires off an email to their head of Human Resources in London, worded as follows:
Dear Sir,
This is to advise you that I intend to take legal action against your company for Age discrimination.
I recently applied for a position with your Company via an on-line site, which included my CV and a covering letter.
I received a call from a Mr S R at 17.50hrs on Weds 5 February 2014.
Mr R asked two questions as he could not find the answer to either on my application. He said I had not indicated a salary range on my application. I told him that I hadn’t done so because I was sure the (name was here) would be offering a competitive salary, and i was more interested in getting an interview/job that in the salary on offer. Mr Reynolds told me that salary was £18601 pa, and I indicated that this was well within the range I was looking for.
He then immediately asked how old I was, because my Date of Birth was not included in my CV. I told him that I was 58 years of age. Mr R then said that he was concerned about the ‘office dynamics’ as he was only a few years younger. He then said that he would be in touch within a couple of days. Of course, I have heard nothing since.
I completely accept that I may not be the best candidate for the job on offer, and therefore I would have expected to have not made the short list. However, and this is the basis for my claim, I clearly was of interest to Mr R, evidenced by his call to me, until he discovered that I am 58 years of age. Such discrimination is against the law.
Having sought legal advice, I am perfectly willing to go to court to press my claim.
I thought I would give you an opportunity to review your procedures, and, at the very least, ensure that no-one else goes through this kind of discrimination.
Today is the 11 February 2014. I will hold off issuing court proceedings until Monday 17 February 2014 to give you the opportunity to reply to me and address the distress which this encounter has brought upon me.
Yours faithfully
Now, on Wednesday last, I had a call from a HR person at the firm, offering me an interview last Friday at 4pm. I said that this was clearly the result of my email (which the HR person denied), but I accepted the offer anyway.
I thought long and hard, and on Friday at 11.50am I sent this:
Dear Ms B.,
After due consideration I have decided to withdraw my application for the post for which this interview has been arranged.
I do not feel that I could be given a fair interview given my complaint concerning age discrimination.
It remains my belief that I was offered this interview only after making the complaint, in order to prevent me from taking legal action.
The simple fact remains that I was clearly a candidate for interview until the manager concerned knew my age, at which point I was no longer of interest.
I have lost out on the possible opportunity to shine at interview, with some chance of showing that I would have made a useful, hardworking and loyal employee.
(Firm’s name was here) have had their reputation forever tarnished - and, of course, I will not be able to apply for any future vacancy, as there would always be some residual doubt concerning the reasons behind any rejection of that application.
I hope you will use the time allocated for the interview to offer some training to the manager concerned in how not to humiliate and embarrass potential job applicants and/or put (Firm’s name here)
Sincerely
My questions:
!) Have you ever been the victim of discrimination?
- Is there anything else I could have done?
Apologies for the length of the post, too.
