It doesn't help that Microsoft's HR doesn't seem to be interested in this beyond the standard corporate speak on diversity, as touched on at the end of the article. I know that if I went on a...
It doesn't help that Microsoft's HR doesn't seem to be interested in this beyond the standard corporate speak on diversity, as touched on at the end of the article. I know that if I went on a whole rant about how women aren't cut out for the corporate world at my workplace, on a company server, I'd be getting written up at minimum. There's valid concerns to be made regarding policies, but spewing misogynistic bullshit is something else entirely.
To use an example from my own workplace, there was a manager of another department who made some transphobic comments about one of our trans employees using the women's restroom to another employee, who reported it to HR. They had a discussion with the first employee that same day, and made it clear that transphobia wouldn't be tolerated on the clock. I don't know why some people seem to be unable to understand that they don't have to like someone/a policy to work with them and keep things professional and non-bigoted.
Not that it would make these views okay, but there's a world of difference between something like this being expressed over some drinks with friends away from work, or even online somewhere else, and doing this at work.
Letting this mess fester as Microsoft seems to be doing just makes everyone angry and does nothing towards fixing the issue.
Some office environments are so workaholic that the Venn diagram of peoples' social lives and professional lives basically becomes a circle. In situations like that, it's hard to separate what's...
Not that it would make these views okay, but there's a world of difference between something like this being expressed over some drinks with friends away from work, or even online somewhere else, and doing this at work.
Some office environments are so workaholic that the Venn diagram of peoples' social lives and professional lives basically becomes a circle. In situations like that, it's hard to separate what's appropriate with drinks away from work vs. conduct at work.
I think the casualizing of office culture + extension of work into peoples' person lives plays a big role in making it hard for people to maintain any sense of boundaries. I used to have to wear a suit and tie to work while I can dress casually now. Having to put on an office "uniform" every day definitely put me in a different frame of mind as I got ready to go to work.
Before the suit-and-tie job I had a job in an extremely workaholic and sales driven consulting company and we just didn't have social lives there. In hindsight, the fact that everyone who had interviewed me for the job said they met their significant others at work should have been an indicator to stay far faaaaar away from that place.
There's a lot of toxic places that almost encourages these behaviours. Where i work there's some homophobic jokes here and there from the same people, but the majority don't do anything like that....
There's a lot of toxic places that almost encourages these behaviours. Where i work there's some homophobic jokes here and there from the same people, but the majority don't do anything like that. Two former bosses are gay and are really nice persons in contrast with one that had a macho attitude and was an asshole, i think that changed some people's behaviour here.
Were my SO works is totally different. There's not only homophobic, transphobic and misogynistic behaviour, there's prejudice against poor people too. It's a really toxic place. And almost everything is met with laughs. We both work for the government, but in different places.
It's horrible because it gives her anxiety and she sometimes cries. The economy here doesn't help, but i hope she soon can leave there.
It's funny that it started with a woman expressing her legitimate concerns about affirmative-action-esque policies regarding promotions and ended up with your typical neckbeard comments about how...
It's funny that it started with a woman expressing her legitimate concerns about affirmative-action-esque policies regarding promotions and ended up with your typical neckbeard comments about how “women are naturally just not programmers”.
This is a common misunderstanding of Affirmative Action. Affirmative Action just means you make an effort to recruit minority candidates, not that they get hired when they are less qualified. For...
Even plain old straightforward affirmative action, where you hire someone less qualified because they're a certain color, sex, or attribute
This is a common misunderstanding of Affirmative Action. Affirmative Action just means you make an effort to recruit minority candidates, not that they get hired when they are less qualified. For example, I'm doing some hiring so I reach out to the local State University and the local HBCU. Doesn't mean someone from the HBCU is going to be guaranteed a spot, but if they apply they will at least get a fair shot. In my case the HBCU hasn't even replied, but I've made a good faith effort to get in touch so I feel ok about it.
I don't think you're expressing racist sentiments but that is the origin of this myth about Affirmative Action - the belief that no minority candidate could be as qualified or more qualified than white candidates.
I can't say I've ever heard anyone seriously propose this.
Women were 18% of computer science graduates. Meanwhile 90% of nurses (a high paying, in demand profession) are women. If you force your hiring standards to try to come anywhere near the population ratio, inevitably some company is going to be hiring the chaff for the wrong reasons.
I can't say I've ever heard anyone seriously propose this.
This is not affirmative action. Affirmative action is given two equally qualified candidates, you go with the minority (I'm simplifying).
Even plain old straightforward affirmative action, where you hire someone less qualified because they're a certain color, sex, or attribute, can do a lot for rectifying institutional biases, such as a lack of mentorship.
This is not affirmative action. Affirmative action is given two equally qualified candidates, you go with the minority (I'm simplifying).
It doesn't help that Microsoft's HR doesn't seem to be interested in this beyond the standard corporate speak on diversity, as touched on at the end of the article. I know that if I went on a whole rant about how women aren't cut out for the corporate world at my workplace, on a company server, I'd be getting written up at minimum. There's valid concerns to be made regarding policies, but spewing misogynistic bullshit is something else entirely.
To use an example from my own workplace, there was a manager of another department who made some transphobic comments about one of our trans employees using the women's restroom to another employee, who reported it to HR. They had a discussion with the first employee that same day, and made it clear that transphobia wouldn't be tolerated on the clock. I don't know why some people seem to be unable to understand that they don't have to like someone/a policy to work with them and keep things professional and non-bigoted.
Not that it would make these views okay, but there's a world of difference between something like this being expressed over some drinks with friends away from work, or even online somewhere else, and doing this at work.
Letting this mess fester as Microsoft seems to be doing just makes everyone angry and does nothing towards fixing the issue.
Some office environments are so workaholic that the Venn diagram of peoples' social lives and professional lives basically becomes a circle. In situations like that, it's hard to separate what's appropriate with drinks away from work vs. conduct at work.
I think the casualizing of office culture + extension of work into peoples' person lives plays a big role in making it hard for people to maintain any sense of boundaries. I used to have to wear a suit and tie to work while I can dress casually now. Having to put on an office "uniform" every day definitely put me in a different frame of mind as I got ready to go to work.
Before the suit-and-tie job I had a job in an extremely workaholic and sales driven consulting company and we just didn't have social lives there. In hindsight, the fact that everyone who had interviewed me for the job said they met their significant others at work should have been an indicator to stay far faaaaar away from that place.
There's a lot of toxic places that almost encourages these behaviours. Where i work there's some homophobic jokes here and there from the same people, but the majority don't do anything like that. Two former bosses are gay and are really nice persons in contrast with one that had a macho attitude and was an asshole, i think that changed some people's behaviour here.
Were my SO works is totally different. There's not only homophobic, transphobic and misogynistic behaviour, there's prejudice against poor people too. It's a really toxic place. And almost everything is met with laughs. We both work for the government, but in different places.
It's horrible because it gives her anxiety and she sometimes cries. The economy here doesn't help, but i hope she soon can leave there.
It's funny that it started with a woman expressing her legitimate concerns about affirmative-action-esque policies regarding promotions and ended up with your typical neckbeard comments about how “women are naturally just not programmers”.
This is a common misunderstanding of Affirmative Action. Affirmative Action just means you make an effort to recruit minority candidates, not that they get hired when they are less qualified. For example, I'm doing some hiring so I reach out to the local State University and the local HBCU. Doesn't mean someone from the HBCU is going to be guaranteed a spot, but if they apply they will at least get a fair shot. In my case the HBCU hasn't even replied, but I've made a good faith effort to get in touch so I feel ok about it.
I don't think you're expressing racist sentiments but that is the origin of this myth about Affirmative Action - the belief that no minority candidate could be as qualified or more qualified than white candidates.
I can't say I've ever heard anyone seriously propose this.
This is not affirmative action. Affirmative action is given two equally qualified candidates, you go with the minority (I'm simplifying).