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What's Wrong With This Picture?

Posted: Thu Oct 21, 2010 8:27 am
by TruthBringer
I recently filled out an application for employment and when I got to the race section I noticed something very interesting. There wasn't any slot at all for Hispanic/Latino heritage. Considering that Hispanics/Latinos are probably the fastest growing race in America, both because of birthrate/legalization of immigrants/illegal immigrants don't you think there should be an option for that? Anyone else find this a little odd?

Anyways I copied the race section of the questions and here's what it looks like:

# American Indian or Alaska Native (Not Hispanic or Latino)

# Asian (Not Hispanic or Latino)

# Black or African American (Not Hispanic or Latino)

# Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander (Not Hispanic or Latino)

# Two or more Races (Not Hispanic or Latino)

# White (Not Hispanic or Latino)

# I do not wish to provide this information

By the way I won't say which company it was that I applied for but let me just say that it is one of the most well known names for a corporation/pet store corporation in America. I think you guys can figure out the rest from there.

I selected white because that is the closest description of my heritage but I just was baffled that there was no option for Hispanics. In fact it appears that the only option for Hispanics would have to be the last one which is "I do not wish to provide this information." Hmmm...really? Could it be because of big employers like this one hiring illegal immigrants in America (of which most are Hispanic), and therefore with this option available they do not need to even go there? Which gives the employer leeway in case there is ever a problem with the Federal Government investigating them so they can just say, "we had no clue we hired an illegal alien". Yeah...sure you didn't.

What's Wrong With This Picture?

Posted: Thu Oct 21, 2010 8:50 am
by Lon
:thinking: Another conspiracy no doubt.

What's Wrong With This Picture?

Posted: Thu Oct 21, 2010 8:54 am
by TruthBringer
Lon;1340015 wrote: :thinking: Another conspiracy no doubt.


Well what else would you call it? It is a fact that over 70% of the illegal immigration in America comes from Hispanic countries. Not to mention that the company appears to go the extra mile by emphasizing the (Not Hispanic/Latino) in parenthesis after every single race category that it offers. Now don't think I have anything against Hispanic/Latinos my wife is of Hispanic/Latino heritage but when I see something so blatant I'm going to call it what it is.

Why would they feel the need to put the "Not Hispanic or Latino" after every race category? Why not put "Not of this race or that race"? Why single out Hispanics?

If you can give me the magic answer I will drop the subject.

What's Wrong With This Picture?

Posted: Thu Oct 21, 2010 9:22 am
by LarsMac
That question should not even be on a job app, IMHO.

Perhaps, after hiring, there might be a reason to report things like that to the gummint to show statistical info on such things.

What's Wrong With This Picture?

Posted: Thu Oct 21, 2010 9:23 am
by LarsMac
TruthBringer;1340016 wrote: Well what else would you call it? It is a fact that over 70% of the illegal immigration in America comes from Hispanic countries. Not to mention that the company appears to go the extra mile by emphasizing the (Not Hispanic/Latino) in parenthesis after every single race category that it offers. Now don't think I have anything against Hispanic/Latinos my wife is of Hispanic/Latino heritage but when I see something so blatant I'm going to call it what it is.

Why would they feel the need to put the "Not Hispanic or Latino" after every race category? Why not put "Not of this race or that race"? Why single out Hispanics?

If you can give me the magic answer I will drop the subject.


Perhaps a printing error?

Looks like the question was lifted from the Census form.

What's Wrong With This Picture?

Posted: Thu Oct 21, 2010 9:29 am
by yaaarrrgg
I would guess the only relevance of the question would be fend off lawsuits, for example, asserting that the company is only hiring white people. Some businesses really do that. Or give preference to gender or religion.

As a defense they can point to their stats and show (hopefully) that their workforce is a representative sample of the general population.

So, it would make sense it would be the same as the Census questions. Though I tend to agree, it's really not at all relevant to the job. If they treat people well, that's their best defense against lawsuits.

What's Wrong With This Picture?

Posted: Thu Oct 21, 2010 9:35 am
by yaaarrrgg
Though, giving it more thought, it could be usefull in identifying racists in the organization as well. If you have a large corporation and your branch in Alabama hires 100% white people, you know it's a statistical anomally and fire the HR dept.