The Dolphins Make Me Cry.com - Forums

OK, without giving away too much info up front. I want to get some opinions on a situation where I am employed. At the company where I work, all of the employees have the same title and have the same pay scale, with exception of management. On a daily basis the females and older males are instructed and allowed to do very easy work duties and the younger males are made to do the more difficult physical jobs. To me it seems like a form of discrimination. Some of the male employees agree with me but won't speak up on the topic. Some other male employees disagree with me and think that women shouldn't have to do physically hard work or something. I have said something a few times to management and yet the problem still exists. Keep in mind that on a consistent basis, management and company itself deems all hourly employees "the same" and that everyone should perform every job duty in the facility.  Any opinions ??

If there's a lot of heavy lifting I would always think the younger guys would be the prime people doing the work, it only makes sense. How big is the company? If, as you say, it is in their job description to do everything that you are supposed to do, and they have the same title as you, then they should be doing the same type of work. I don't know if it's as simple as you put it but that's my take.

I don't think it's discrimination at all.  It's just like having the employees you deem as more "mentally able" to do certain tasks than those who aren't.  Those that are more "physically able" (which they deem as men) are asked to do more lifting.

Yea, it's pretty much that simple. This is a supply chain for a major retailer with around 45,000 employees in the US. These other employees have the same title and are on the same pay scale. In fact, in the job qualifications and job description when they post an opening online, it states that an employee must be able to lift x amount of weight. When I ask these women why they are just standing there watching me work, they tell me that there is nothing else to do, which is probably true. I then suggest that they could help and they say that they can't lift that weight and that it is my job, not theirs. I'm like WTF, I get paid the same and they get to sit and watch me bust my ass.........

Who says that I am more physically able to do harder work. That would be a presumption based on my sex, which to me seem illegal.

The same title doesn't mean that you should have the same job.  It's not a matter of fairness.  You're paid (what I presume is) a fair wage to do whatever job your employer asks.  If you think that those requests are unreasonable, you should probably find another job that fits what you're looking for.  What others are asked to do aren't really your concern, in my opinion.

As the advertising campaign said, just do it.

Actually after a little research online. The civil rights act of 1964 sections 7 protects certain groups equally against discrimination. Race, sex, age, and national origin are a few that are included. So if they are protected equally. What would the difference be if management deemed all black employees or Jewish employees to do the more physical work ? They are making a certain group of people do the harder work on an assumption based on sex, which is a protected group in the civil rights act of 1964. Below is straight from the EEOC website.

Sex-Based Discrimination

Sex discrimination involves treating someone (an applicant or employee) unfavorably because of that person’s sex.

Sex discrimination also can involve treating someone less favorably because of his or her connection with an organization or group that is generally associated with people of a certain sex.

Sex Discrimination & Work Situations

The law forbids discrimination when it comes to any aspect of employment, including hiring, firing, pay, job assignments, promotions, layoff, training, fringe benefits, and any other term or condition of employment.

So my unfavorable job assignments are being determined by my gender. I bet this is on a local management level. I bet corporate wouldn't agree with what's going on based on what I'm reading, but I'm no lawyer, ha ha.

If you don't mind me asking. what was the nature of the accident that caused the loss of your testicles?

Please explain ?

Why do you think they hired people who are physically unable to perform the work? I would be upset if I'm doing all the work and a girl or older guy is sitting down doing nothing because they are physically unable to perform their job. I can see why you're upset.

Well if the job description in the online job posting says ability to lift xx lbs regularly and xxx lbs irregularity and we are all the same in the eyes of the company, but only a certain group of people have to actually do that work,  you tell me. I won't say that they are sitting down all day, but they definitely have a pretty easy time of it compared to some of us. And at the end of the week my paycheck is the same as theirs is.

I'm agreeing with you in that I can see why you're upset. I wouldn't hire someone who couldn't do 100% of the job. It isn't an office job where you can do 80% of it and the other 20% you can learn on the job. In yours, it's if you can lift it you can, if you can't, you aren't hired.

he basically told you to man-up.

Man-up to what exactly ?

I'm not sure.  If I had to venture a guess, it would be to man-up and just do your job.  If you don't like it, Quit.

Who said or implied that I didn't do my job ? I do my job every day. I'm tired of other people not doing their job and being treated differently than other employees of a different sex or age bracket. I don't think I should have to quit their job because of unfair business practices. Or maybe suckforluck means, as George Carlin once said. Be an obedient employee, just smart enough to do my work and willfully ignorant enough not to complain or speak up while getting fucked over. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JChUO4TLjnY (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JChUO4TLjnY)

For discrimination, you have to prove that it's specifically because you are a man.  It's because you have a penis.  That has to be the reason...Which is hard to prove and probably not true.  There are other assets that come with being male, which include increased strength, in most cases.

I've never been one to really care how poor a job others do (unless I'm managing them).  As long as I felt I was evaluated fairly, I didn't care if others got to skate by doing less.  It wasn't my concern.

::  sigh :: I really don't care enough.  I was merely explaining what "suckforluck" meant when he said you had an unfortunate loss of your testicles.


Moreover, I also never implied that you didn't do your job, but it's common sense that you're not going to have a woman do the heavy lifting at a job.  Alas, I reiterate, if you hate your job..quit.  It's pretty simple.  

If you hate your job because you feel you are being unfairly discriminated against because of your sex, you should quit...?

So I gather, then, that if badger6 was a female and (along with the other females) was consistently asked to go fetch coffee for everyone or pick up dry cleaning for the boss, while the males were never asked to do any of these things, you would have the same opinion: suck it up or find another job?

Oh, and badger6: if I were you, I would give serious thought as to exactly what the women (and older men) are doing while you are unloading the trucks (or whatever).  Unless you can say with certainty that they are standing around watching you work, they may have the same argument that you have (only in reverse): they have been banished to pencil-pushing and other "women's work," while only the strapping young men are allowed to get some exercise.  Food for thought.

Yeah. I want to know what exactly are the women doing. Are they filing stuff? Getting coffee? On register? What are the tasks they're given? Do you have to do those as well?

I don't recall saying I hate my job and why would I quit if I'm being discriminated against !!!


I am required to do everything in my in my department when needed as my job description requires me to do and they are not.



I know exactly what they are doing (or not doing) because I am 10 feet away watching them do it. Again, I don't hate my job and do my job on a daily basis. Today I had 5 people standing there bullshitting with each other watching me work for 15 minutes. I posted this to get opinions on how to go about fixing this problem, because to me this goes against everything management and corporate says and seems to be against federal law. Whatever it is, it's a messed up situation.


Put it this way. I'm required to do everything they do plus all the more physical work and they are just required to do all the easier jobs.

Sounds to my like the issue isn't discrimination. The issue is people are not working all the time. Personally, I'd drop the "I have to lift things because I am a young man" complaint because, as you can see from the consensus, it just comes off sounding whiny. I'd address the bigger issue of people standing around.

You just said that you're required to do more physical work than everyone else.  Sucks dude.  That's YOUR job. Not theirs. 


If anything, just talk to your boss about a "promotion" so that you can "stand around and do nothing." 

I was replying to tubba marxxxxxxx, who said that you should quit if you feel you are being discriminated against.  I do not agree with his position.

If you are certain that they are doing nothing while you are working, and there is no seniority card (or something similar) to be played, you should say something to the higher ups.  As Phishfan said, I would probably approach it from the standpoint of "I'm working and they are not" rather than discrimination.

Well I have mentioned it a few times over the past year or so and nothing has happened. In fact, I brought if up off the clock while having a few drinks with a manager. And he asked me. "How would you feel if that was your mother having to do that physical labor" ? In which I replied that, "Maybe my mother shouldn't be working there if she couldn't fulfill the job requirements" !!! And since this has been brought to the managers attention several times and he still instructs people to do the very light work based on age and gender, then he is the ringleader of this situation. I'm not one to start rumors but who's to say this guy ain't getting blown or hand jobs off the clock for this preferential treatment. Look, I know things aren't gonna be 100% fair 100% of the time, but this is so obvious and ridiculous. The funny part is that I can remember a few years ago everyone would do everything, like it is supposed to be and I didn't mind helping out. Now whenever one of these exact same people have something even mildly difficult they ask for me help. I look at them like WTF is wrong with you ? Do that shit yourself asshole.......

Then the manager is the problem, so long as he is the one doing the hiring. If he isn't doing the hiring and he is just given people to work in his department, then he is going to have to assign people the duties that they can actually perform. If he is doing the hiring then he's clearly the problem and you'd need to take it up with his boss. Of course, doing that could land you in hot water if it gets back to your manager. If you feel like it's worth the crap that may come your way, then you'll need to take it way up the chain.

Then talk to HIS boss.  Everyone works under/over someone.  Talk to HR, ownership, upper management, whatever the case may be.  You're clearly not getting anywhere with him.

If discriminated against, then no, fight it.  However in this situation.  I don't see any discrimination.  Sorry

I think you're taking the wrong approach. I think if I were in your shoes I'd ask for a raise. Don't complain about the fact that you have to do the heavy lifting, merely state that you're doing everything the others do PLUS the heavy lifting. Therefore you deserve a bit more than them. I think management and possibly even your coworkers wouldn't have a big problem with that. That is as long as it's true. The problem is not that you are being discriminated against, the problem is that you're not getting equal pay for equal work.

Good points Pappy, with the exception of thinking the other employees wouldn't be upset if Badger got a raise and they didn't.  Badger what you describe happens all the time in one form or another, all employees with the same job are not equal, some are hard workers, some are not.  You've expressed your point of view with management and they don't seem to care, so continuing to push the issue will only make you the bad guy.  Go to work, do your job, and don't worry about the others.

It is discrimination. They are putting people to lift heavy items because they feel it would cause more injuries/problems if older or weaker people do it.
I have worked in similar type jobs and I have experienced the same thing. Women stay in the office, and the weak men stand by while the stronger men have to do more work to compensate. My co-workers gave me the nickname the "forklift" and expected me to lift the heavy items onto the trucks or shelves. At first I thought it was a compliment, but then I realized they were using me to do their work, so I started saying no, which made a lot of people mad.
It is a form of discrimination, but you will never get society to buy off on it. Just look at all the comments here who do not comprehend what you are saying.
I would look for another job before you get hurt moving something heavy, like I did.

I don't see what's not to comprehend though. How is it any different saying only people of a certain gender or age have to do the physically harder work than it is saying only people of a certain race or religion have to do the physically harder work. Those 4 groups are protected equally under federal law against being singled out. I guess all those years that women fought for equal rights was just a joke or something !!!

I'm gonna get a job with the jail system and then complain when I'm not allowed to give body cavity checks to the females.

This would only be a valid complaint if the female guards were allowed to give body cavity checks to the male inmates.