So as many of you readers know besides being a photographer I usually maintain a 9-5 for my own mental sanity— it helps get me out of my home office and head which is necessary to function as a creative. Several months back I switched positions from retail books to my local library— a dream position to many, considered local government with benefits and slower paced.
I thought it was a dream position too. At least until after hiring a good friend and former co-worker who is an extremely hard worker and very competent things took an unexpected turn for us. Discrimination roared its ugly head.
Myself and my co-work have visible tattoos, there is nothing in our policy prohibiting them. Yet a month after her hire— after she interviewed with them on display— and 7 months after my hire when I had expressly asked policy on day one, we were called into the directors office and told to cover up and that he would be looking to update the policy to reflect this ruling on tattoos.
We both refused, we had slightly longer conversations with the director. Mine brought up the changing demographics, workforce, and sheer population with body modifications and how research showed having visible tattoos was not unprofessional but also made clients more than willing to frequent a location because they felt comfortable, included, and an air of open-mindedness.
The director waved that away saying it had no baring on the city we work as it wasn’t research pertaining to them— it was National research which is more than relevant to our city.
This all started because of an older white man’s idea of what he thought looked professional. Because of his complete disregard for the changing of times, the workforce, and actual work environments. And sadly because it seems like he has been doing very discriminatory things against employees and getting away with it for awhile.
Ageism, a hint of sexism, and definitely discrimination based on looks as been happening in this library under this director, perpetuated by this director for what I am being told is awhile. Employees didn’t fight back for fear of job loss and because as my co-worker and I found out because we choose to fight back, because they didn’t know they could.
The board of directors has told us to file formal complaint after we and many supporters from our community attended a board meeting, yet a week later the board is like we will set up a meeting— we are filing a grievance and they have told the person whom we have a grievance about, it is unclear whether he will be in this meeting. I personally think we should be allowed to write a grievance out, sign it and place it to the board to investigate and take care of.
However it is becoming more and more clear to me that the board will not be doing anything. And truthfully what can be the resolution for targeted discrimination against two female employees?? An Apology is disingenuous and frankly if forced from the board not meant anyways. The work environment has become stressful and unpleasant. Where in the 7 months I worked here I genuinely enjoyed my job now I dread coming to work and am tense the entire time I am here.
Now the patrons have been lovely, they are supportive, they have our backs and are furious at the director over the situation. The patrons are why we are still showing up. I don’t want to let them down and I do not want to let someone with a history of discriminatory practices win without a fight. Even though tattoos aren’t considered a protected class by law, cherry picking who to talk to, make feel uncomfortable and then change the policy to make them in violation seems like targeted discrimination to me.
If you have an advice drop it in the comments.