Discrimination is an all-too-common thing even in our modern world. A number of factors about a person are protected from discrimination, especially when it comes to employment.
Redditor Downtown-Advantage18 had this in mind when her boss said he was going to rescind an offer of employment. The original poster (OP) voiced her concerns, but her boss seemed offended at the suggestion that he discriminated against the possible employee.
OP wondered if she went too far, and turned to the “Am I the A**hole” (AITA) subReddit to see if she was wrong.
She asked:
“AITA for telling my manager they’re discriminating against a disability?”
This is what she said happened:
“I (20F) work at a gym as an assistant manager. My boss (60M) told a girl she was hired and a good fit for our job. That was until he realized she was missing her hand.
“I knew she was, as I had seen her working out before. I didn’t think it mattered and of course thought he knew. Well, he didn’t notice because she was holding her jacket over her nub (I’m really not trying to be offensive I just don’t know what else to call it.)”
“He talked to me once he realized and said she can’t do the job with one hand and that she’ll create more work for others and that he’s going to revoke her job offer.”
“I immediately told him she can still do the job and we should give her a chance and that this sounds like discrimination.”
“He seemed annoyed i’d even suggest that and went on a tangent about how she wouldn’t even be able to mop or tip machines to clean.”
“I explained we don’t know that and we should give her a chance… my other co worker thinks he’s wrong but kinda has a point that she won’t be ‘capable of doing what we do.’”
“He called the girl (whose around my age) I heard him say ‘I just can’t have employees that can’t do anything.’ I really felt like this was so mean and he should’ve at least gave her a chance to prove herself.”
“She said she understood but I feel so bad and I know i’ll see her workout at my gym.”
“AITA for standing my ground and telling my boss it was discrimination? I also told him he could get in trouble and now I feel like he’s offended.”
On the AITA subReddit, people are judged for how they react in a given situation. Commenters weigh in based on the details provided in the story.
OP is judged with one of the following acronyms:
- NTA – Not the A**hole
- YTA – You’re the A**hole
- NAH – No A**holes Here
- ESH – Everyone Sucks Here
OP may feel like her boss is offended, but that’s not enough to change the minds of the AITA board. Between the possible legal implications and the jerk move of not even giving the young woman a chance, OP was right to speak up.
The board voted OP was NTA.
“NTA, and that can turn into a very expensive lawsuit/EEOC complaint. Also find a new job because your boss is a YUGE A.” – Bella_Lunatic
“thank you. I agree, I really think she has a case and I don’t blame her if she takes it further.”
“I am trying to find a new job it’s just really really hard because I have a chronic illness” – Downtown-Advantage18 (OP)
“NTA”
“Your assertion was entirely correct – she should at minimum be offered the chance to prove she can perform the same tasks as everyone else with no additional expectations.”
“I don’t normally advocate pushing the envelope further, but I’ll make an exception here: I recommend getting in contact with the relevant employment authority in your area, or contacting a lawyer who specializes in that sort of thing.” – StateofNone
“NTA. He is discriminating against her. She’s had time I’m sure to develop skills to be able to work with one hand.”
“I have seen a waitress with no hands, born that way, do her job and well. He might be looking at a lawsuit if she cares enough.” – 2n1spook
There were a number of people who really felt this was a clear legal violation and the girl should sue. The commenters on this board are not lawyers, and their suggestions should not be taken for legal advice.
However, it couldn’t hurt for OP or the girl to ask an actual lawyer about the situation.
“NTA, this is textbook discrimination, and what’s more you’re a witness. Not only should she sue, but what you heard and wrote here could help her win the case.”
“I believe you should reach out to her next time you see her, tell her everything, and report your boss, which I know I’d scary and could threaten your job (which are super hard to get right now ngl) but actions have consequences and what he did was vile and illegal.” – preachytea
“NTA. And you should go to HR. Your manager is 100% about to cause the owners an extremely expensive lawsuit.
“Even if he’s legally in the clear (he isn’t BTW) it’s going to be expensive. The first person she mentions this to is going to tell her to call a lawyer, and a lawyer will JUMP at the chance to clean your company’s clock.”
“It won’t cost her a dime, and it won’t be your manger that has to pay, it’ll be the company.”
“Please tell HR so they can avoid this lawsuit NOW.” – Sheila_Monarch
“I want to say NTA….”
“But if you don’t immediately report your boss to the state for a violation of the ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) you are also an A and ESH.”
“He told you point blank he offered her the job and he told you point blank he refused to hire her when he found out she was disabled. You need to report him now.” – JetItTogether
“The thing is he just assumed she couldn’t do it: that’s discrimination. OP did her job.”
“Even if she doesn’t sue, it could be terrible publicity. I can just see the local news story in my mind’s eye.” – AntiqueSoftware
Whether it turns out the boss was violating the law or not, it’s clear he was the jerk. He didn’t even give the girl a chance to prove she could do the job, or even consider what reasonable accommodations would have been for her.
It’s entirely possible she would have proven she couldn’t do the job and it would have been understandable to let her go. But she is a grown and capable person, who probably understands what she can and can’t do better than him.
Legal issues aside, OP should be proud she spoke up to her boss. It’s a moral victory at the very least.