In Response To My Classism Article
I recently shared an article from the Proactive Talent blog, "How Workplace Classism Is Damaging Your Employer Brand" and received a comment regarding it which led to an extended back and forth. At the conclusion of the matter, I was granted permission to post the exchange here. As with anything I produce, I encourage remarks and invite any and all to comment with their disagreements as well as support. I have kept them anonymous on my own volition.
Here begins the exchange...
Their DM:
Jim, I noted that you wrote the article you recently posted a link to on LinkedIn. I have to confess, the article hit me somewhere right in my core. I felt the need to respond, but out of respect for you I though I would let you see what I thought first. Understand I feel very strongly about this, and you may not like what I have to say.
I really hesitate to support anything this blog is saying, as the implication is that those who worked to improve themselves and thus rise higher in the 'class' rank (and there are a LOT of them in these United States), don't deserve to benefit from the fruits of our labors because there are still those out there who are "have-nots".
I know a lot of people who are very proud to have been the first people in their family to have completed college or even high school. People who worked and scrimped and saved and went without so that they could do things like a buy a brand-new car or a house shouldn't be proud of that, and feel that they deserve those rewards?
The last set of statements are some of the most offensive. Not knowing the names of the people who staff the building you work in is "classist"? Whether they "serve you every day" or not is irrelevant. What's relevant is that if you regularly see these people and think of them as beneath you in some way, that might make you a sociopath or just an incredible jerk, but it in no way implies that you are some sort of bigot. This kind of inflammatory clickbait material simply adds fuel to the fire that is dividing our nation, and right now, we don't need any more divisiveness. We already have plenty.
My reply:
Thank you so much for reading my work. And please, do not apologize for disagreeing with anything I write. I am not a tender snowflake so easily broken. That being said, I will reply.
I did not wish to imply that people do not deserve what they work for. I believe in hard work, enterprise and eschew handouts. Although, I recognize the need to help our neighbors, I frown when kindness becomes an expected entitlement.
I’m not sure I understand your last comment. I will retort to what I think you said. My point in suggesting that someone might be classist (as opposed to definitely being classist) is that not acknowledging people suggests a bit of snobbery. Perhaps a better example might be a study in how you treat waiters in a restaurant. And yet, even that is not definitive as anyone could have a bad day, which is why I kept saying “might be” instead of making a firm declaration.
If it is not plain that I am concerned that a classist mindset might affect the recruitment process at such an interesting time, please allow me to do it with you now. Some managers believe that laid off workers are less desirable than those with no gaps in their resume. I believe that is a bit classist, especially these days. I don’t think such will be the case in the immediacy but over time, I suspect it will. My hope in writing this article is to dissuade that train of thought.
If you would not mind, please leave your comment and I will add mine in reply. It is my experience that when one person voices their opinion that there are many others agreeing in silence. As such, I welcome the chance to address their view as well.
THANK YOU for approaching me respectfully. It is appreciated.
Their retort:
Thank you as well for making such a thought-out response! I will take a minute to reflect on what you are saying about the recruitment process, I fear you may be correct in your supposition that hiring managers find people who are not currently working or who have gaps in their resume less desirable, and that's absolutely not fair under circumstances like these.
On the *other* hand - There are people who would just push themselves a little harder and -find- something to do, even if it's unpaid work like volunteering somewhere. Of course, the world would be a much better place if it was respectful of things like "I'm a full-time stay-at-home mom, that was my job for that gap in employment".
Regarding my last comment, I think what I was trying to point out is actually very similar to what you were trying to point out, which is that people behave like that for a lot of reasons, including the ones you pointed out. I think that "reason" is of more use in identifying people who are cultivating the unfair classism in our society - People who either A) feel that the people in those roles are so unimportant that they don't even acknowledge them, and B) people who actually indulge in feeling like they are better than those other people, even though they have no idea who those people are or what type of people they are. That's what I was trying to shed some light on.
My reply:
Don’t forget C) People who think of themselves as lower class and so, don’t try. I think that's the worst of all.
Their reply:
Oh gosh.
My reply:
Wasted potential is the worst, particularly when we limit ourselves.
Their reply:
I hadn't actually thought about that. Hah, I guess I am somehow extremely lucky. In case you hadn't guessed, I actually did work my way up from some less-than-stellar beginnings and I think I've managed pretty well. But it was a rare day when I thought I couldn't do it. I will remember that and try to find ways to be encouraging to people to believe in the idea that they do have abilities and talents and they're absolutely worthwhile. Anyway, I can post my response, but now I feel like the "inflammatory clickbait" was going too far. Do you mind if I remove it, or would that be shading the truth?
My reply:
I’m in favor of posting this whole exchange but, use your best judgement. Actually, if you like, I will post it all and leave you Anonymous if you like.
Their reply:
Nah. I can take my lumps. I would be in favor of posting the whole exchange as well. I feel like we exchanged some ideas and had a very open and honest conversation, maybe others can learn from it.
My reply:
Ok. I will post it shortly.