They come over here and take all our jobs
I was ringing drain-clearing companies yesterday to talk about an ongoing problem we have, when I stumbled into the following little cesspit:
The phone at [company] was answered by a man with a large, gentle, gravelly voice, who responded to my initial query by asking for my name, address and phone number. Feeling a little crowded, I explained that I was just making preliminary enquiries and was hoping to get a rough price over the phone. He told me their rates and procedures happily enough. So far so good, I thought, and began to set aside my first impression. I next mentioned that the company advertises itself as a member of the National Guild of Master Craftsmen, and asked what that involved. Inspections, said he, and gave a vague account of men coming to look at their work and talk to their customers. I was almost warming to him by now: he was so clearly untainted by Celtic-Tiger rhetoric. But then, apparently thinking that he had found a kindred spirit, he continued: "Another thing about us, now, we will not take on foreigners. Our men are ... well, they're not old, but they'd be in their forties. Reliable, you know?"
To which I had nothing to say. I should, of course, have said something along the lines of, "Excuse me, I'll stop you there, because I have no intention of giving my business to a company that admits to operating a racist, ageist hiring policy - good bye", but words failed me. I mumbled something about maybe getting back to him and hung up.
Looking back on it, I wouldn't be surprised if this man were (e.g.) the proprietor's retired father, minding the phone over lunch. But I mean, seriously, what sort of idiot would claim racism and ageism as company policy in 21st-century Europe? (That's even leaving aside the inherent sexism of an industry where "our men" is the unquestioned default.) And does anyone know off the top of their head where I should report them, if I can muster the time to write the letter?
(I was tempted to call this post "Ethnic Cleansing", but ... no, I am apparently not quite that crass.)
The phone at [company] was answered by a man with a large, gentle, gravelly voice, who responded to my initial query by asking for my name, address and phone number. Feeling a little crowded, I explained that I was just making preliminary enquiries and was hoping to get a rough price over the phone. He told me their rates and procedures happily enough. So far so good, I thought, and began to set aside my first impression. I next mentioned that the company advertises itself as a member of the National Guild of Master Craftsmen, and asked what that involved. Inspections, said he, and gave a vague account of men coming to look at their work and talk to their customers. I was almost warming to him by now: he was so clearly untainted by Celtic-Tiger rhetoric. But then, apparently thinking that he had found a kindred spirit, he continued: "Another thing about us, now, we will not take on foreigners. Our men are ... well, they're not old, but they'd be in their forties. Reliable, you know?"
To which I had nothing to say. I should, of course, have said something along the lines of, "Excuse me, I'll stop you there, because I have no intention of giving my business to a company that admits to operating a racist, ageist hiring policy - good bye", but words failed me. I mumbled something about maybe getting back to him and hung up.
Looking back on it, I wouldn't be surprised if this man were (e.g.) the proprietor's retired father, minding the phone over lunch. But I mean, seriously, what sort of idiot would claim racism and ageism as company policy in 21st-century Europe? (That's even leaving aside the inherent sexism of an industry where "our men" is the unquestioned default.) And does anyone know off the top of their head where I should report them, if I can muster the time to write the letter?
(I was tempted to call this post "Ethnic Cleansing", but ... no, I am apparently not quite that crass.)