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Has anyone seen this?

As some back ground I live in canada and specifically in Alberta.

I have seen this kind of filtering with employers in manitoba but had yet to see it used in Alberta. I applied for a position in Edmonton, I live about 45 minutes west of Edmonton and my house is currently for sale in order to move closer to what ever work I happen to get. I interviewed with an employer and just so happen to have interviewed and saw a guy I knew in the office when I was at the company. He also was applying for the same position with somewhat the same experience but not a specific to the role.

I was told that I did not qualify but during the interview the interviewers asked a lot of questions about my place of residence. I thought nothing of it at the time but when I heard that my friend had gotten the role I asked him to inquire when it was convenient if where I was living disqualified me from the role.

I was shocked to learn that this was exactly the case, and how they filtered me out of the list. Sadly, this incident can't really be proven as most of the communication is verbal. has anyone ever experienced this kind of discrimination? Also, I have had a few employers not phone me if my phone number is long distance. I have enlisted a friend of mine in the area I want to move to act as a message service for me to negate the tendency not to phone me. But i was told this by a head hunting firm that even because I was 45 minutes west of edmonton and my phone number was in the same area code it still was long distance and thus he was very hesitant in phoning. Has anyone ever been disqualified by where they live?

I really think that this boarders on segregating a person based on race, creed, or religion. No company can hold you over the barrel on where you desire to live currently.

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Tags: discrimination

Comment by Anita Campbell on August 22, 2009 at 12:03pm
I live in western NJ and while looking for another position, the question always came up as to where I lived. When I told them, the comment was always the same: "Oh that's really far!" My gut reaction has always been (never voiced) "Why don't you let me determine what is too far away. I wouldn't be applying for a position if I thought it was too far to travel!" Is there discrimination about where you live in relationship to where the prospective company is? Yes, definitely, but you also have to look at it from the business' viewpoint. Attendance is a key consideration and HR people always consider whether you could be an "attendance risk" because of your home location. If you are out a lot or come in late because of weather or traffic conditions, you cost the company money. It's not fair, but businesses have to look at the bottom line.
Comment by Cam Evenson on August 22, 2009 at 12:25pm
I understand. In my instnance I was willing to move closer, and during my current job search I am planning on moving closer to the jobs in the Calgary area. It was suggested by my resume coach to put that information on my resume. But I do not think that if that information is provided in a interview that an employer should pass you up because your not immediately handy.

Being late in terms of weather or traffic conditions is an interesting comment. When I was working at Weyerhaeuser if an employee (any employee) deemed the work unsafe they had the right to tell the employer that this was the case. The weather here in Alberta is freaky and I believe this right actually is law. There are instances when the road ways become so slick that you can see yourself in them. One of the safety guys told me that, "you work to live, you do not live to work." The cost of being late due to weather or traffic is marginally little as opposed to the cost to pay into workman compensation should be hurt or the costs associated with insurance. Companies need to look at safety as a cost saver.

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