Every person who wishes to work has the right to be considered equally for a job as the others who are applying. However, there are still instances of companies disregarding certain applications because of the individual’s sexual orientation. In a recent case outside California, a civil rights group has alleged that Exxon Mobil used employment discrimination practices in handling two applications for a vacant position.
The group sent two applications with one of them giving significant indications that they were a gay-rights activist. This application also showed that the individual had higher grades in college and high school than the other applicant. However, the human resources department of Exxon only made efforts to set up an interview with the individual who had not identified themselves as a gay-rights activist.
This latest complaint against Exxon comes on top of them receiving the lowest score of Fortune 500 companies when it comes to ranking their corporate anti-discrimination policies. Exxon was given a score below zero, the only company to receive a score in the negative numbers. Many other Fortune 500 companies scored above 80.
Every California resident has a right to equal protection when looking for a job. Although there is a wide range of criteria that can be used in a potential employer picking the best candidate for the job, if there is evidence that the only criteria they used was discriminatory, this could raise a basis for a discriminatory action to be filed. This complaint, if successfully litigated, could ensure that the company is put on notice that their employment discrimination will no longer be tolerated and that they will be held accountable for their conduct.
Source: USA Today, “Complaint accuses Exxon Mobil of anti-gay bias,” David Crary, May 22, 2013