Is it racist to not want to hire somebody because they smell like ethnic food?

[ken0042]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

Regardless IMO you are simply making a mountain out of a mole hole here looking for something that may or may not be there.

I think the original question was fair enough. Sometimes it's hard for us whities to define what is racism as we usually are not directly impacted by it.

[Sliver]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

Regardless IMO you are simply making a mountain out of a mole hole here looking for something that may or may not be there. Certainly something you can't prove without knowing whats going on in the head of the person making the ultimate decision. Everyday a white person is not getting hired becuase of their odor or appearance. The hiring process by nature is a process of scrutiny.

A mountain out of a molehill? I have a vested interest in this story and if somebody is not hiring somebody based on race under the guise of an odor problem, it's a lot more than a molehill. This qualified candidate certainly would think being denied a job was more than a molehill.

My gut says it's racism, but I know I can't prove that. Even if it isn't racism, I think it takes a little more thoughtful consideration than just "I don't like your smell...NEXT!" If the productivity of the company will be improved by the more qualified candidate versus a less smelly (if that's even the real issue) candidate that isn't as good at her job, the person who doesn't like the smell may just have to learn to live with it as productivity trumps your exaggerated sensitivity.

Also, are there any kids of minority, new-to-Canada parents here? Wouldn't you want somebody like me standing up for your relative's right to work even though they don't smell like a typical white Calgarian versus a lot of the other people in this thread that are so quick to dismiss them?

I'm a little surprised by CP on this.

[jeffman]

I would hire someone that smells like money!

[Hockeyguy15]

Unless you plan on taking some sort of legal action against the person doing the hiring what is the point about getting so worked up about it?

He hasn't hired 10 other people for the job, was there any white people in there? If there was then the person hiring probably just doesn't like the smell of the person, not based on race.

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by ken0042

I think the original question was fair enough. Sometimes it's hard for us whities to define what is racism as we usually are not directly impacted by it.

And sometimes white people get tired of unsubstantiated accusations of racism. I understand the thought and question of the OP but I do not understand continuing to press without any clear evidence. 'My gut' is a baseless way to accuse anyone of anything.

[CarlW]

Originally Posted by TheyCallMeBruce

I didn't hire a guy once because he smelled like moth balls. I ####ing hate the smell of moth balls. And this is a position that required the guy to work closely with me.

My dad didn't hire a guy once because he reeked of durian. How he manage to get the smell on durian on him is a mystery, but he reeked of the odor and there's no way my dad was going to tolerate that in an office environment.

If he smelled like durian, he's probably reeking of something that smells like durian.....I'll leave you to figure what that could be

[BlackRedGold25]

Originally Posted by Sliver

A mountain out of a molehill? I have a vested interest in this story and if somebody is not hiring somebody based on race under the guise of an odor problem, it's a lot more than a molehill. This qualified candidate certainly would think being denied a job was more than a molehill.

My gut says it's racism, but I know I can't prove that. Even if it isn't racism, I think it takes a little more thoughtful consideration than just "I don't like your smell...NEXT!" If the productivity of the company will be improved by the more qualified candidate versus a less smelly (if that's even the real issue) candidate that isn't as good at her job, the person who doesn't like the smell may just have to learn to live with it as productivity trumps your exaggerated sensitivity.

Also, are there any kids of minority, new-to-Canada parents here? Wouldn't you want somebody like me standing up for your relative's right to work even though they don't smell like a typical white Calgarian versus a lot of the other people in this thread that are so quick to dismiss them?

I'm a little surprised by CP on this.

I think you're prejudiced against the guy hiring because you suspect that he might be racist because of where he comes from.

[TorqueDog]

To suggest that, because the odor was that of East Indian food, that the firing is racist ignores the fact that cuisine is not racially exclusive.

The issue is one of hygiene. I wouldn't hire someone who came to an interview absolutely reeking of cigarette smoke either.

[Rhettzky]

Originally Posted by Sliver

Also, are there any kids of minority, new-to-Canada parents here? Wouldn't you want somebody like me standing up for your relative's right to work even though they don't smell like a typical white Calgarian versus a lot of the other people in this thread that are so quick to dismiss them?

I'm a little surprised by CP on this.

Come on now, it's not like it's a slightly different smell (ie: don't smell like a typical white Calgarian). The smell can be absolutely offensive. We recently turned down a property that would have been our dream house because of the overpowering smell. Does that make me racist?

[Sliver]

Originally Posted by Rhettzky

Come on now, it's not like it's a slightly different smell (ie: don't smell like a typical white Calgarian). The smell can be absolutely offensive. We recently turned down a property that would have been our dream house because of the overpowering smell. Does that make me racist?

No I don't think that makes you racist. The rules/expectations you have for yourself and your home can be different for what you expect of others in more neutral territory/other situations.

[Sliver]

Originally Posted by TorqueDog

To suggest that, because the odor was that of East Indian food, that the firing is racist ignores the fact that cuisine is not racially exclusive.

The issue is one of hygiene. I wouldn't hire someone who came to an interview absolutely reeking of cigarette smoke either.

I've never equated the smell of people who cook a lot of East Indian food and subsequently smell like that food with poor hygiene. I consider hygiene things like brushing your teeth, washing your body and clothes, wearing pit stick, etc.

Smelling like the food you cook in your house doesn't mean you have poor hygiene IMO.

[4X4]

Re: the landlord question...

I used to manage a bunch of properties for my uncle, and I denied lots of people based on smell. 9/10 were smokers, but there was two times that I denied a property because of BO. One was straight up BO (on a white guy) and one was BO on an east indian family. Sorry, but if you smell like that after driving from wherever, and coming here, it means that my property is going to smell like that by dinnertime tomorrow. And it will continue to smell like that long after you move out. Just like smokers.
My job was to take care of the properties. I did just that. If anyone's feelings got hurt, TFB.

As for the OP, I don't think it's unreasonable to deny employment to someone who stinks, either. With all the smoker hate on this site, lots of people should understand how annoying a bad smell can be in a workplace. Cologne and perfume is terrible. Some people just don't want to smell it. I refuse to go to the gas station right by my house in the morning because the guy that works there on morning shift wears about 10 gallons of liquid crap to work every day. Smelling that before I eat or have coffee disgusts me. Then again, I smoke cigarettes. So I'm sure I offend the same amount of people that offend me.
If I was in charge of hiring someone that I had to work with in close quarters, that person better not wear cogolone or perfume to the interview.

[Huntingwhale]

I have a polish friend who smells like polish sausage all the time. He always makes me hungry.

[REDVAN]

3rd time is the charm?

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by Sliver

Smelling like the food you cook in your house doesn't mean you have poor hygiene IMO.

No but it means you smell like the food you cook in your house and some employers only are interested in hiring an employee and not the constant aroma of their kitchen.

[Sliver]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

No but it means you smell like the food you cook in your house and some employers only are interested in hiring an employee and not the constant aroma of their kitchen.

That's true. And some are more tolerant.

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by Sliver

That's true. And some are more tolerant.

Absolutely and in a perfect world everyone would be. I understand your concern but racism is a serious accusation and you have to be very careful you have concrete proof. Really the only way I could see a possible case worth perusing is if a white person of poor body odour gets the job instead. There's simpy hasnt been enough presented so far and 'gut feelings' are baseless and it sounds like you may have a preconceived bias against the decision maker further biasing your position.

[Hanna Sniper]

I wonder how many jobs I didn't get because I smelled like KD?

[Sliver]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

Absolutely and in a perfect world everyone would be. I understand your concern but racism is a serious accusation and you have to be very careful you have concrete proof. Really the only way I could see a possible case worth perusing is if a white person of poor body odour gets the job instead. There's simpy hasnt been enough presented so far and 'gut feelings' are baseless and it sounds like you may have a preconceived bias against the decision maker further biasing your position.

Haha don't get me wrong, I'm not pursuing anything. I actually thought this was clear-cut racism, but this thread has educated me. I can see now it isn't as black and white as I thought.

I was looking at it as the smell being a part of the culture/race and denying somebody employment based solely on something that is inherent to their culture/race is racism. The majority disagrees.

[BlackRedGold25]

Originally Posted by Sliver

Haha don't get me wrong, I'm not pursuing anything. I actually thought this was clear-cut racism, but this thread has educated me. I can see now it isn't as black and white as I thought.

I was looking at it as the smell being a part of the culture/race and denying somebody employment based solely on something that is inherent to their culture/race is racism. The majority disagrees.

Cultural insensitivity is not the same thing as racism. Why should the job applicant's culture supersede the office culture to not stink? The job applicant was just as insensitive about the office's culture by stinking at the job interview as the person hiring was in rejecting him based upon his odour.