Recently got denied a promotion because i'm not bilingual. Isnt this discrimination? Should I report it? - Law & Ethics Forums

Site Navigation:
Home
Forums
News
Search
Stats
Who's Online

Forums / Public / Law & Ethics / Recently got denied a promotion because i'm not bilingual. Isnt this discrimination? Should I report it?

Author	Message
Solitarygrowth Members 242 posts Location: Bulgaria Occupation: Computer programmer Age:	#15698 2007-09-27 02:05 GMT
	When interviewed by supv & director I was never told they were looking for a bilingual only and was not asked if I was. The H.R. person is trying to cover up the bilingual thing but the supv told me this was the case. This is an ethics issue should I report it. I still work for the company and want to keep my current position (until I find something else of course.) So should I report this or would I be making trouble for myself & my future with this company. The supv promised me the next position (after they find someone bilingual first) but i'm stubborn and wont take it anyway becuz they gave me the run-around with this position. They were ready to make me an offer & then changed their mind quickly. I also am convinced that the H.R rep for my department is prejudice & trying to cover up.


Gothicbunny Members 254 posts Location: Dominican Republic Occupation: Messenger Age:	#15699 2007-09-27 02:10 GMT
	Learn another language so the next opportunity can be yours. The company islooking for what they need in that position. You don't have it so get over it. Everybody wants to blame someone for discrimination. What the hell ever happened to being QUALIFIED.

liquidmetal Members 267 posts Location: Christmas Island Occupation: Smelter Age:	#15700 2007-09-27 02:10 GMT
	Not illegal if job requires a bi-lingual person even if this was decided after you were hired. remember an employer can releieve you of your job as it is their business and they could just say you were layed off or anything legal.

Clatterkeys Members 249 posts Location: Uruguay Occupation: Ontologist Age:	#15701 2007-09-27 02:12 GMT
	How is this 'discrimination? The other person was more qualified. If you want to move up, start studying another language.

CarpetShark Members 264 posts Location: Falkland Islands Occupation: Engine-driver Age:	#15702 2007-09-27 02:12 GMT
	Or, you could just accept the fact that you weren't qualified and therefore, didn't deserve the job? You sound more like you are just hoping this will turn into a huge lawsuit so you can scam the company out of money. I vote no, just find a new job.

CoffeeCup Members 246 posts Location: Sao Tome And Principe Occupation: Tradesman Age:	#15703 2007-09-27 02:14 GMT
	It is perfectly acceptable to pass someone over for promotion based upon language skills. Unlike race or sex this is merely a skill. If you lack a skill that a position requires you are unqualified.

SplitPersonality Members 273 posts Location: Burkina Faso Occupation: Drummer Age:	#15704 2007-09-27 02:15 GMT
	I don't see how it is discrimination at all. If they were looking for bilingual only, then they should have advertised that. However, just because they neglected to put that out there, doesn't change the fact that you are not qualified for whatever position they are trying to fill. I'm not trying to be mean, but those are the facts (as I'm understanding them): qualifications needed: bilingual-- do you meet that? No. If in fact the HR rep for your department truly is prejudiced, you will have a hard time proving it and will have gone through all the trouble and probably compromised your future with the company (I doubt very much the rep would like to have unfounded claims of prejudice brought up against them). I say let it go and if you are set on working somewhere else, ride out your time there until you can find something better. No point in jeopardizing what you have right now.

RedBlocker Members 250 posts Location: San Marino Occupation: Sleuth Age:	#15705 2007-09-27 02:18 GMT
	Yep, pretty discriminatory of them at the U.N., too, for not hiring me as an interpreter just because I don't know the language.

downloader Members 249 posts Location: Kenya Occupation: Surgeon Age:	#15706 2007-09-27 02:18 GMT
	sounds like the company needs someone who can speak that language obviously bcuz they can't. They also need you for the work you already do maybe until they can find what they need, they really don't know who to hire.

oddperson Members 248 posts Location: Senegal Occupation: Alchemist Age:	#15707 2007-09-27 02:24 GMT
	No, it just means you are not qualified. Now if they hire someone who is not bilingual then yes I would report it and get all you can from them. But again, if you do not have the requirements whether he is racist or not doesn't matter.

SplitPersonality Members 273 posts Location: Burkina Faso Occupation: Drummer Age:	#15708 2007-09-27 02:26 GMT
	Employers should be able to hire and fire at will. It's called freedom. I realize this isn't the case today -- there are far too many people ready and willing to cry discrimination at the drop of a pin and far too many regulations making it difficult for employers to hire who they need. That's why jobs are leaving the country so quickly. There are usually many factors when deciding who to hire for a particular position. Bilingual is a reasonable skill to have high on the list for certain positions. It would be wise to regularly review the marketability of your skills and upgrade them as appropriate.

Power2Frogs Members 267 posts Location: Costa Rica Occupation: Telemarketer Age:	#15709 2007-09-27 02:39 GMT
	You've no case. You lacked a qualification they were looking for. So, it is not a racial, ethnic, religious, or country of origin problem. Why not approach them and ask what language are they looking for, then take some classes. That will show them you are serious about the position and are willing to go the extra step to get it. You reminded me of an incident I had while a Police Chief. I had an opening for Sargent. I had four applicants. Three were white and one was Hispanic. One of the applicants had noted on his resume' that he spoke fluent Spanish. Bilingual was not a requirement of the position but my community's Spanish population had grown considerably. I decided that this man's language ability would be an asset and promoted him. He was one of the white officers. The Hispanic officer did not speak Spanish. He complained to the police union that I had discriminated against him. Arbitration held that he was not discriminated against. The other officer simply had an extra qualification that got him the job.

Goldriver Members 257 posts Location: St. Pierre And Miquelon Occupation: Sleuth Age:	#15710 2007-09-27 03:09 GMT
	It's the responsibility of people moving to the U.S. to learn English, not the other way around. I'm against this kind of pandering of hiring only bilingual people just to deal with the people who refuse to learn English. What if you speak German, will you get the job? What if you know French, Italian and Swedish, will you get the job? No, because everyone expects those people to know English.

Hippie Members 239 posts Location: Libya Occupation: Dancer Age:	#15711 2007-09-27 03:46 GMT
	If being bilingual was a requirement for the position and you're not, why do you think they should put an unqualified person into that position just because you're you? I'd say it's good management to use qualified people. Comprehende, senor?