Securitas Security Racist prejudice discrimination Richmond , Virginia
I can't believe this still goes on in the workplace these days, and I hate to be writing this report but if people do not speak out against companies like Securitas , it is bound to continue. Maybe if enough people spread the word (better yet sue) , then they will change their racist ways.
I went into Securitas for an interview. I was first given a blank incident report to complete as an assessment I suppose . It took me a little more than 10 minutes to complete (They knew how I looked when I walked in the door). Once I was done the woman at the front desk told me she needed to speak with me and proceeded to walk me into a back room, and this is what she said ...
It looks like you have been growing your hair for a long time but we have an appearance code here at Securitas and we do not allow braids, twist or locs of any kind (I will mention that I am a black woman with locs past my shoulders) . She went on to say "I didn't want to waste time with an interview if you are not able or willing to abide by the appearance code" . I was shocked that It was ACTUALLY an issue . I have worked for a reputable security company for 6 years in the past and my locs were NEVER an issue!
I was not so much upset that she told me the policy , I was most upset that it was a POLICY in the first place! She looked crazy being the messenger of a ridiculous , racist message that was CLEARLY targeted toward her own race! (she was a black woman with a ridiculous looking short, slicked back hairdo with tons of gel trying to keep her hair straight .... forcing her hair to do something it was not MEANT to do!)
I informed her that I would NOT be cutting or altering my hair in anyway to satisfy their requirements and I walked out.
This policy in my honest opinion is directly targeted toward black people. It is us who are most likely to have braid, locs or twist , and I'm pretty sure if someone were to come in with a little Afro they would have something to say about that to! So REALLY what they are saying is, if you are going to be black and work there, you need to straighten your hair by putting harmful heat or chemicals in it to at least TRY to emulate the other.
That is something I refuse to do . The natural state of most African American hair textures is coarse. Me wearing locs is my way of embracing my hairs natural state without introducing harmful products and constant manipulation to it and it is a shame that a company like Securitas is willing to let qualified candidates slip away over a hairstyle! They should be ashamed!
But I will say , they knew EXACTLY how to play the game lol. They would not dare have one of the white supervisors come out and say that to me . They played it safe to avoid a scene and lesson the chance of an even BIGGER issue. But they are not slick .... I saw right through it . Despite the messenger , the message was still the same ... PURE RACISM !
1 Updates & Rebuttals
Kev
Honolulu,Hawaii,
U.S.A.
Securitas; "Braids and discrimination"
#2UPDATE Employee
Thu, February 28, 2013
Your complaint is not uncommon, for-sure! It is unfortunate that hair style dictates an employees' morale, work ethic, and relationships at work with others. Securitas Security Services is know for their conforming policies that unfortunately reflect professional military standards to a degree that not warranted. It is more unfortunate that a company cannot insure employees with supervisory control and a direct reflection upon the company, not know how to communicate and lead others so that future employees feel the motivational growth. On the opposite side of that spectrum, I personally believe the the greater the length of time a person in this position within the type of company you're interviewed for and stay with the company and work with the vastly differing socioeconomic communities' of people, they become empathetic Long - enough, objectivity and true leadership lessons because of heightened need for control, towing the line, and whatever label fits this need for employee conformity without excuses! This is not uncommon to all work environs because having to deal with so many excuses and reasons for not coming to work, being late, etc., that those in authority become numb, loosing sight of who we are as a person! I should defend them to a degree- braids are warn by many people. allot of the Polynesian guys and gals from where I am from in Hawai'i , even Filipino's wear the same hairstyles. I've seen others too.
Anyway, I'm just saying that you as well as them need to demonstrate enough objectivity so to get past it. However, the chances of you doing so are much greater than those that interview. I have seen some great leaders and supervisors within Securitas the company could learn from. The ones that are great, are the people that understand the difference between leading and simply following rules, commanding, and saying, "no excuses!" They know to be flexible in all situations so that employee motivation, optimal performance, and leadership provide incentive and a wanting to be better.
Securitas needs to have a focus group on their policy notebook. Of course, there are levels with the company that provide high level security and it is this sector of employees whom understand these types of policies on appearance, chain of command, and work related military style policies. There is a need for these strict policies here, but in low level security, guarding a post without security threats beyond vandalism and breaking trespassing policies where many security officers barely have a state security license and come from so many backgrounds where minimum regimentation is the norm, the policies should be scaled down to a 'more flexible' degree. These officers would do better with retail communication with the public and employees. After-all, the security officers required to be an armed guard at a security threatened post are paid much more than the usual minimum wage, posted security officer and are paid to maintain strict policy. This is only a simple answer, because of so many variables and costraints to worry about. In a nutshell, your point is to be understood and think about by others!