danieljohn ([info]danieljohn) wrote,
@ 2007-02-26 19:46:00
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Current location:Montreal, QC, Canada
Current music:When I Come Around - Green Day
Entry tags:discrimination, french, hiring, law, metro, montreal, quebec, westmount

Women can't lift heavy weights
I didn't expect to be offended when I went shopping for food at the Westmount Metro. (I'm in Montreal, madly re-working features for a demo tomorrow night.)

"Recherche Caissieres / Emballeurs" Wanted: Female cashiers, Male baggers*
(* Yes, French is gendered)

Excuse me? I ask the cashier, and call to speak to a manager... same story: "women can't lift the weights up to 100 pounds, but men can be cashiers if they want"

Isn't that illegal? Last I checked, a business had to specify that a position required heavy lifting, but they could not discriminate based on gender. Or maybe Quebec's distinct society has a regressive, anti-woman provision on the books for discriminatory hiring practices.

Somehow, I really doubt it. I'm blaming it on backwards management at this specific store.

Can anyone comment on the legal aspect?




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[info]zeuberwench
2007-02-27 03:12 am UTC (link)
Dude, I can and have lifted well over 100 pounds--I'm just smart enough to say 'no' now. ;)

(Reply to this)


[info]beadacious
2007-02-27 09:56 pm UTC (link)
Legally, in NS at least as far as I know, they can't say flatly that all women are incapable of lifting that much weight. They would have to state in the job description that it requires lifting weights of up to 100 lbs (or whatever the cutoff is, and the applicant would have to be made aware of that in the interview.

To me, it sounds more like a stupid call on the part of that manager/store, as it could get them sued.

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