Possible work discrimination

Poor_old_gill

My place of work(a hotel) has introduced a policy that only female staff can serve tables in the bar and work in the restaurant although they have had several male staff doing so for as long as I have been there and have hired males specifically to work as waiters.
This policy was outlined in a memo that was posted up, complained about, and swiftly taken down.
When the managers were questioned about this they said that it wasnt going to go ahead.
Although now it has started to happen, with all the male waiting staff getting much less hours and the female staff more- male staff getting canceled if it is not that busy while female staff not being canceled.
On one occasion last week between the restaurant and bar- there were meant to be 3 male and 3 female waiting staff. However as it was not that busy, it was decided that some staff would have to be canceled or sent home- all 3 male staff were sent home, including one male who was the most senior/most experienced waiter.

In my opinion it seems like discrimination on gender grounds but I am wondering what I can do??

coylemj

You talk about people being 'sent home' so I assume you're working on a casual basis. If you're not in a trade union I would suggest that there's feck all you can do, whatever about the rights and wrongs of the situation.

I'm not advertising trade unions by the way, just being realistic cause if you start complaining and threatening the labour court or similar on them they'll just blacklist you and you'll never work there again.

Poor_old_gill

coylemj wrote: »

You talk about people being 'sent home' so I assume you're working on a casual basis. If you're not in a trade union I would suggest that there's feck all you can do, whatever about the rights and wrongs of the situation.

I'm not advertising trade unions by the way, just being realistic cause if you start complaining and threatening the labour court or similar on them they'll just blacklist you and you'll never work there again.

Well in the catering industry, everyone can be sent home in reality of its not busy.
I have a contract and I am rostered in for hours but if a manager tells you that it is quiet and you have to leave then thats kind of it.

I would have assumed the bringing in of a female only policy in certain jobs would be illegal?

Jo King

Keep good records of what is happening over about two months and then report your employer to the Equality Authority.

hession.law

coylemj wrote: »

You talk about people being 'sent home' so I assume you're working on a casual basis. If you're not in a trade union I would suggest that there's feck all you can do, whatever about the rights and wrongs of the situation.

I'm not advertising trade unions by the way, just being realistic cause if you start complaining and threatening the labour court or similar on them they'll just blacklist you and you'll never work there again.

lets hope not too many people have this attitude, there is always help and redress that can be sought if there is actual discrimination been practices by management, even if you are not affiliated with a trade union. of course if you were, then it would be a matter that your TU would deal with but in this instance you will need to take an action yourself. if you do not qualify for free legal aid of course you will need to foot the bill yourself but if you have a strong case then that should not stop you. thanks to lisbon the european charter on fundamental rights strengthens an individual's right to non discrimination and gender equality. in my opinion there does not appear to be any justification for this discrimination. i would speak to other employees both female and male and if there is a general consensus that management are discriminating then i would seek a meeting with them to discuss this. if you are not satisfied after this then you should consider the legal route or change job.

Victor

Poor_old_gill wrote: »

This policy was outlined in a memo that was posted up, complained about, and swiftly taken down.

A copy of that memo would be useful in any future complaint. Although do not do anything inappropriate to get a copy.

coylemj

hession.law wrote: »

i would speak to other employees both female and male and if there is a general consensus that management are discriminating then i would seek a meeting with them to discuss this. if you are not satisfied after this then you should consider the legal route or change job.

So you think the female employees are going to go along with the suggestion of seeking a meeting with the management in an attempt to stop the discrimination that favours them - in the current employment climate?

If the specific hotel does not currently have a trade union then the management will have no truck with any kind of meeting with the staff to discuss terms of employment and anyone who is seen to be organising such a meeting will be branded a 'trouble maker' and blacklisted, that unfortunately is the reality of life working in most hotels in Ireland.

Poor_old_gill

Victor wrote: »

A copy of that memo would be useful in any future complaint. Although do not do anything inappropriate to get a copy.

I have a copy alright!

hession.law

coylemj wrote: »

So you think the female employees are going to go along with the suggestion of seeking a meeting with the management in an attempt to stop the discrimination that favours them - in the current employment climate?

maybe if you read my message you would not have misunderstood me, i suggested speaking to all employees both male and female about their working roster. if the employee who has this concern can compare the actual male working hours to female hours then he would have something to go to management about. if standing up for yourself in the name of equality is been a trouble maker i would rather be branded as so imo