Don't apply if you're fat and ugly

[Modem Butterfly]

http://www.sundaytimes.co.za/zones/sundaytimesNEW/topstories/topstories1126702633.aspx

A Durban businessman who put up job advertisements described as offensive and derogatory says he is racist -- just "frustrated and desperate" because of bad employees.

Tony Patel, who owns two clothing stores known as Apples, said he was tired of "undesirables" asking him for jobs and said the "laws of this country suck" because he was not allowed to specify what sort of workers he wanted.

Patel has made headlines with the posters on the windows of his shops which read: "WANTED PRETTY 'BLACK' FLOOR SUPERVISOR. NO FATTIES" and "WANTED SMART 'WHITE' SALESLADIES SUPERVISORS * NO CHANCERS" and "ATTRACTIVE INDIAN CASHIERS WANTED".

He is adamant that his posters are not offensive.

"How can I be racist when I have posters for all the race groups? It's Mandela's rainbow nation. It's my business. I just don't advertise for coloureds because they don't like to work for Indians. They prefer working as cashiers in Pick 'n Pay and Checkers."

[demnan]

1. No fucking thanks

I'd rather clean toilets than work for that man.

[Politically_Wrong]

2. Sounds like a nice guy...

.........................................................................................

[ClassWarrior]

3. What are "chancers?"

NGU.

[Modem Butterfly]

4. I think that's slang for ugly

Like a canker sore...

[ClassWarrior]

6. Ewwww...

NGU.

[lapislzi]

13. "Chancers" = slackers

SA slang...can also mean people looking for a handout, or con artists.

[defiant1]

5. I'm kinda wavering on this....

Sure it's not very kind that he's telling these people they can't work for him. But as he so eloquently put it :

*snip*

"I don't care what the Human Rights Commission or anyone else says about my business because they are not going to pay my rent."

*snip*

It's his business and he has every right to employ whoever he wants. And while that might not be fair, there's a helluva lot more unfairness in the world to worry about, then some people not getting to work at Apples due to their physical appearance.

[myrna minx]

7. I sometimes have to check the URL here,

just to make sure I'm at DU.

[defiant1]

14. Well I would get more into this....

However I'm at work, and have neither the time nor the inclination to argue about a guy who owns 2 stores in South Africa, and his hiring policies.

[Coexist]

10. I have no idea how to respond to that...

truly I don't.

[myrna minx]

11. Hey jiggles, get your fanny over here for a slap.

:sarcasm: I don't know how to respond to that either.

[Modem Butterfly]

12. The problem is, he may offend enough people...

...that he won't be able to pay his rent in the first place.

[raccoon]

8. Well, I wouldn't want to work for him either,

but I believe a great many employers are like this. They're not as blatant about it as he is though.

Lots of times they want attractive young people in a job such as a receptionist. And thirty years ago I had a college classmate who had an extremely hard time finding a job, I think because she was obese.

Certainly it isn't right, but most of the time there's nothing the job-seeker can do except keep on looking.

[dogday]

9. One of the largest groups of Bigotry that go unnoticed

is the female population. We have propagated the story that all women are to be beautiful and built. But nobody wants to take about this. Let's discuss something less intrusive, shall we? :sarcasm:

[mtnester]

15. Had an asswipe post a BIG sign at his business

HOT SECRETARY
COOL 500

I would also like to say I know this man and he is a pig, and delights in the joys of hostile work environment and sexual harassment. And does not care.(Not me, I never worked for him)

Now, every woman I talked to that drove past this sign was offended as hell, and stated they would not buy a service or product from this company if it was the last one on earth.

Let me know if you think this one was offensive as well.

Oh, and yeah, the Druban business man is definitely offensive as can be.

[Momgonepostal]

16. Isn't Patel the name of the FL motel owner who didn't want

Blacks swimming in his motel pool?

I personally would:
1) not work for a person like him and
2) not BUY from a person like him

Unfortunately, I also agree with the other poster that hiring practice like this a surely very common, but that this man is just more overt. Doesn't make it right, though.

[mtnester]

17. Patel is a really common last name

sorta like Smith

[Momgonepostal]

18. ah OK, makes sense

[lapislzi]

19. It's outrageous because it's overt

But many companies, including the one I work for, have unspoken policies regarding the physical appearance of the people they hire. My boss is obsessed with weight. She would never, ever, hire a fat person...but try to prove that you didn't get hired because you're fat.

It's wrong, it's equally outrageous, and it's almost impossible to prove.

This is also a microcosm of the "new" South Africa. The racial divides are as sharp as ever, and people have no compunctions about exploiting them. Notice how Mr. Patel places "white" and "black" in quotes, but not "Indian." And dismisses "coloureds" out of hand ("coloureds" are people of mixed race). This, in probably the most diverse city in southern Africa. It ain't fixed. Far from it.

[redqueen]

20. Nice.

I hear a lot of that at work.

[ArkDem]

21. I wonder how they handle that at modeling agencies.