[quote]Lyrical wrote:
The Clark Kent thing only works if you have the wavy lock of hair laying on your forehead. Did you try that?[/quote]
I actually did, but after shaving my head for over 5 years, I couldn’t take spending 17 bucks a week on a haircut when I could take care of the issue with my Mach3 Turbo razor. The skintight blue and red spandex clashed with my uniform as well…but that is another issue.
[quote]adamkn wrote:
Zap Branigan wrote:
evilduc996 wrote:
…
Since when does selling something have to do with sales.
Huh?
haha, I thought the same thing when I read that. But I think he meant “Since when does sPelling something have to do with sales”.
[/quote]
Yep, that?s what happens when I?m working while surfing the web.
I don’t see how this isn’t an ‘easy’ discrimination case for a lawyer, and anything involving sexual harassment or racism is.
I think this is just as wrong and those involved should be ‘disciplined’ just as they would in any other discrimination incident.
It might not change their ignorant minds, but at least it might get them to back off a little (maybe talk more behind your back though).
Being 5’5" I’ll probably never have this problem (to that extent), but the way people view others who are trying to better themselves through weight training and good nutrition really pisses me off.
I think it would be a good idea to at least talk to a lawyer (or a couple different ones) and see what they say. If a company thinks it might get sued, corporate executives may make some pretty drastic changes in your favor to keep any negative publicity away.
I seriously doubt you have a lawsuit, as your condition does not put you in a “protected” class. You are most likely an “At Will” employee.
I would say it is entirely possible that your employer is building a history file against you so they can fire you with cause and avoid paying unemployment.
If you want to keep the job bad, you could play their game though it might be too late for that. Otherwise, I would be vigorously looking for another job.
Sorry you have to go through that, it’s not fair but not many things are.
[quote]SWR-1222D wrote:
I don’t see how this isn’t an ‘easy’ discrimination case for a lawyer, and anything involving sexual harassment or racism is.
I think this is just as wrong and those involved should be ‘disciplined’ just as they would in any other discrimination incident.
It might not change their ignorant minds, but at least it might get them to back off a little (maybe talk more behind your back though).
Being 5’5" I’ll probably never have this problem (to that extent), but the way people view others who are trying to better themselves through weight training and good nutrition really pisses me off.
I think it would be a good idea to at least talk to a lawyer (or a couple different ones) and see what they say. If a company thinks it might get sued, corporate executives may make some pretty drastic changes in your favor to keep any negative publicity away.[/quote]
This may be news to you, but even if this was filed under racial causes, it would be extremely difficult to prove. If it were that easy to take cases like this to court, there would be very few issues of this happening. Don’t you find it odd that the two black males who responded in this thread find this to be a regular “normal” occurance?
[quote]evilduc996 wrote:
sic wrote:
No offense intended… but I find it hard to believe that you are in a professional sales position with your spelling ability.
Since when does selling something have to do with sales. Only if your doing a presentation in which you spend more time on and use a spell checker. Of course your the best speller and never make any mistakes.
No offense taken[/quote]
Wow you would think that someone responding to such an allegation would actually try and spell things correctly…lol dumbass.
[quote]evilduc996 wrote:
Since when does selling something have to do with sales. [/quote]
Sorry, but I just couldn’t let this spelling error go unmentioned. At least I am assuming this is a typo.
DB
[quote]Professor X wrote:
SWR-1222D wrote:
I don’t see how this isn’t an ‘easy’ discrimination case for a lawyer, and anything involving sexual harassment or racism is.
I think this is just as wrong and those involved should be ‘disciplined’ just as they would in any other discrimination incident.
It might not change their ignorant minds, but at least it might get them to back off a little (maybe talk more behind your back though).
Being 5’5" I’ll probably never have this problem (to that extent), but the way people view others who are trying to better themselves through weight training and good nutrition really pisses me off.
I think it would be a good idea to at least talk to a lawyer (or a couple different ones) and see what they say. If a company thinks it might get sued, corporate executives may make some pretty drastic changes in your favor to keep any negative publicity away.
This may be news to you, but even if this was filed under racial causes, it would be extremely difficult to prove. If it were that easy to take cases like this to court, there would be very few issues of this happening. Don’t you find it odd that the two black males who responded in this thread find this to be a regular “normal” occurance?[/quote]
Sadly, I don’t find it odd at all. Whether people will admit it or not, most white people will be intimidated by a large black person (man or woman). I don’t think you’ll find it so much with the people on this site, but in the general public in the U.S. it will most likely be true.
People can get intimidated quite easily. For example, I have a fu manchu and like to keep my hair quite short. It’s interesting to see how people look at me when I get a shorter than normal haircut. And while I’m in decent shape, I am not big at all.
DB
-Obtain a copy of your employee handbook
-Take it with you and visit a good labor law attorney
-Eliminate anything at work that has anything to do with you personally (T-Nation wallpaper, discussion about your personal interests, team logo shirts, etc.)- no matter how seemingly benign. Only conduct yourself professionally, discuss professional subjects, etc…
The reason for this is it sounds like you’re working with some rather ignorant people who out of ignorance may tend to inflame even the littlest thing about you, and I feel it would be best to give them as little ammunition as possible (this is something that has worked for me in the past in these situations as well).
-I’m no attorney, but I would think that it’s not legal to discimimate based upon body type- it sounds to me in the first scenario that their rationale is quite bogus and violating of your workplace rights…
-When you go home, document things as they occur
-Perhaps consider working elsewhere, life is too short and your coworkers sound like quite a frivolous group
[quote]pja wrote:
evilduc996 wrote:
sic wrote:
No offense intended… but I find it hard to believe that you are in a professional sales position with your spelling ability.
Since when does selling something have to do with sales. Only if your doing a presentation in which you spend more time on and use a spell checker. Of course your the best speller and never make any mistakes.
No offense taken
Wow you would think that someone responding to such an allegation would actually try and spell things correctly…lol dumbass.
[/quote]
Try tospell things correctly. Dumbass.
[quote]chinadoll wrote:
-When you go home, document things as they occur
[/quote]
This is probably the best advice to remember for future situations. It is called a CYA-File. In case of bigotry, racism, or pure ignorance on the job, it helps to have documentation that Covers Your Ass.
[quote]LoneLobo wrote:
pja wrote:
evilduc996 wrote:
sic wrote:
No offense intended… but I find it hard to believe that you are in a professional sales position with your spelling ability.
Since when does selling something have to do with sales. Only if your doing a presentation in which you spend more time on and use a spell checker. Of course your the best speller and never make any mistakes.
No offense taken
Wow you would think that someone responding to such an allegation would actually try and spell things correctly…lol dumbass.
Try tospell things correctly. Dumbass.[/quote]
Then someone ought to put a spell checker on this site, because I know I?m not the only one who has bad spelling.
You said your fellow co-workers party together and stuff like that on the weekend. If your employment is of an at will nature it is possible they are trying to test your patience hoping you will quit, and or fly off the handle so they can fire you and put one of thier partying buddies in your spot.
Being in the oilfield industry i have seen this many times. A new guy will be appointed plant manager and the next thing you know he’s handing out pink slips so he can get his family and friends in on some easy work and good pay.
9 times out of 10 this is what happens, and the kicker is when he puts someone he knows in charge they typically dont have afucking clue what they are doing?
Good luck man
Bullpup
I would think that someone who has made it into a plant manager position in the oil industry would have more mental clarity than that. Atleast I would hope.
I know it happens some but it more than likely is not an everyday occurance. Just my thoughts. I work in the auto industry and know it isn’t that bad.
[quote]chinadoll wrote:
-I’m no attorney, but I would think that it’s not legal to discimimate based upon body type- it sounds to me in the first scenario that their rationale is quite bogus and violating of your workplace rights…
[/quote]
It’s very unlikely that a particular body type, esepcially simply being big, constitutes a protected category. No protected category, no discrimination lawsuit.
Now if this guy were so big (obese) you met the definition of disabled under the ADA or Rehab Act you might have a shot. At 260 that’s probably not the case. Otherwise, it’d be an uphill, and probably losing battle.
[quote]loppar wrote:
Hello,
I have a bizzare problem at work that got out of hand in the last couple of weeks. This may sound stupid, but I seriously believe T-Nation is the place where I can get some constructive advice.
I work in a company where there is a lot of direct personal contact with out clients. I’m a fairly big guy - 260 lbs and around 14 % bf - the only non-sedentary person in my department, and probably the only one in the company who lifts weights and takes care about his diet. As a result of this I’m considered a freak among my colleagues, and a constant source of ridicule.
Two weeks ago my immediate superior asked that I was removed from dealing with customers because I was “intimidating” them. I asked her what does “intimidating” mean, and she replied that “being such a huge man I intimidate customers (!)”. I went to her boss and pointed out that there never was a single complaint against me by any of our clients. I thought that was the last of it.
At one internal meeting I got into a dispute with a female coworker. Later she complained to the management that she felt “frightened and threatened” because “when I started walking around during discussion waving my arms”. I was once again asked to reply to these accusations and I said that this was a professional exchange of views in which I was constantly polite and never raised my voice.
I was cautonied that “during conversations I shouldn’t make excessive hand gestures and behave in a threatening way” (!!). I know that my company tries to be as PC as possible, but I was shocked by this.
Anyway, this morning I was summoned once again to the main manager on a discussion about my “anti-social” behaviour at the workplace. There, a list of my “strange behaviours” was given: I avoid lunches in the caffeteria with my coworkers (I bring my chicken, cottage cheese and tuna in a small fridge everyday), I have displayed “offensive” materiel at my workplace - (a T-Nation wallpaper and some photographs of me on a grappling tournament) etc. The list was so hillarious that I started laughing uncontrollably.
I was issued a “serious warning” and advised by the manager that I should “attempt to integrate into the working environment” and “increase efforts to come to an understanding with my colleagues”. My first reaction was to call them a bunch of deranged PC maniacs and resign on the spot. However, the salary is quite good and I don’t see why I should be on the defensive if my performance record is good and I haven’t breached any official company rules. No one has any objections on my work.
Has anyone experienced something similar ? Any suggestions on how to handle this bizzare situation?
Thanks in advance
Loppar[/quote]
Just so you know, you are not alone. I just left my job for the same reasons. I worked in an office where 3/4 of the people there were women, and when you get an alpha male that likes lifting, grappling, and boxing, you will inevitably run into conflict.
The gist is, most people will be intimidated by someone like you because they have low self-esteem. There is nothing you can do to change that. Best option is for you to decide how much you like your job, weigh it against the other options you have, and if you choose to stay, try to assimilate into the group. As for me…I chose to leave.
Man, I’d be interested in hearing what part of the country you guys live in. I’ve never seen anything like this here in OK. If anything bigger guys are more respected. And I do work for a large corporation in an office environment. My boss is down in the gym more than I am. Oh ye, did I mention we have a corparate gym that actually has free weights. I hope I never get laid off.
[quote]AverageJay wrote:
Man, I’d be interested in hearing what part of the country you guys live in. I’ve never seen anything like this here in OK. If anything bigger guys are more respected. And I do work for a large corporation in an office environment. My boss is down in the gym more than I am. Oh ye, did I mention we have a corparate gym that actually has free weights. I hope I never get laid off.[/quote]
I am beginning to get the impression that many office environments do respect those who take care of themselves. I remember reading that someone fit is much more likely to get a job in the first place. However, I do believe that the reaction to someone who is “fit” is different than towards someone who is truly large enough to look like they need to be playing pro football or wrestling. I think the latter intimidates more people, including some employers…thus why your boss is always in the gym. I will go out on a limb and say that I am guessing he doesn’t look like he will be winning any bodybuilding competitoons soon.
[quote]Professor X wrote:
AverageJay wrote:
Man, I’d be interested in hearing what part of the country you guys live in. I’ve never seen anything like this here in OK. If anything bigger guys are more respected. And I do work for a large corporation in an office environment. My boss is down in the gym more than I am. Oh ye, did I mention we have a corparate gym that actually has free weights. I hope I never get laid off.
I am beginning to get the impression that many office environments do respect those who take care of themselves. I remember reading that someone fit is much more likely to get a job in the first place. However, I do believe that the reaction to someone who is “fit” is different than towards someone who is truly large enough to look like they need to be playing pro football or wrestling. I think the latter intimidates more people, including some employers…thus why your boss is always in the gym. I will go out on a limb and say that I am guessing he doesn’t look like he will be winning any bodybuilding competitoons soon.[/quote]
lol, ye my boss won’t be winning any bodybuilding contest. But he’s for real. He usually works with around the 300 lb range on bench. He just doesn’t mind the gut being there. But we do actually have some ex college football players working here. One even played in the arena league for a bit.
We had a guy that fights pro MMA in the heavyweight division. He’d come in with black eyes regularly. Really didn’t bother anyone, if anything people thought it was cool.
The couple of people I can recall over the years that were considered intimidating deserved that title. One of them felt threatened by anything. He constantly thought people were questioning his abilities and was extremely defensive. He was a large fella, but the reason he scared people was because he was a jack ass.
[quote]Professor X wrote:
The one rule I do have, however, is no tank tops anywhere near or around work. I am sure there would be issues if they ever saw my shoulder and trap development without full coverage.
[/quote]
That’s funny that you should mention this problem. I actually am so humongous that if anyone saw any portion of my body, that there would be “issues”. I’m forced to spend my days in a beekeeper’s outfit.