As I read the article “Judge: College Discriminated against non-Mormons“, I reflected on my experience with the University of Phoenix.
It was about 6 years ago and I had recently graduated with my Bachelor’s degree. I had applied for a job with the University of Phoenix and was sitting in front of my future boss. He eye-balled my resume for a bit and asked me a few questions pertaining to my prior work experience. He then saw that I had served a mission in Germany and started asking me many questions about my mission. I got a bit nervous because you never know what you’re going to get from someone when they start drilling you about being a Mormon. He then asked me if I’d been a leader in the mission field and I told him of my leadership roles I’d had. After I shared that with him, he said “if you were a zone leader, you’ll do a great job here! Welcome aboard, Elder!” It turned out he was a Mormon too.
This experience appears to have been a similar occurance at UoPhx…enough so that they lost the lawsuit and had to fork out about $2 million.
One can look at it two ways. On the one hand, the manager wants to hire someone he/she is confident in and knows they’re good salespeople. They don’t have really much to go off of other than a person’s word and their resume. For a manager who has “been there done that” as a Mormon, it is a safer and more familiar risk to take hiring a Mormon over a non-Mormon.
On the other hand, there may be better candidates but the manager doesn’t relate as well with them due to lack of similarities. The Mormon manager may not relate to the non-Mormon.
Also, I saw especially in the comment section, a lot of non-Mormons who had felt discriminated against. This is terribly unfortunate, but I think it is a part of the Mormon culture for Mormons to “stick together”. We are encouraged from a very young age to only associate with those of our faith in dating situations and otherwise. I feel that this “sticking together” attitude could be a large reason why this lawsuit came about. How can we as Mormons break this stigma? Should we try to break this stigma? Why or why not?
I feel that we do ourselves and others a huge injustice if we close ourselves off to the world and not “give them a chance.” If we truly believe in a God who loves all people unconditionally we wouldn’t look at them as Christian, Mormon, Athiest, or whatever. We would look at them as children of God…our brothers and sisters. By doing so, we would break the stigma the Mormons stick together and only care for their own.
Grace for Grace 
9 comments
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November 20, 2008 at 8:45 am
Michelle Glauser
It makes sense, doesn’t it? I think even if it were a non-Mormon manager doing the interview, they would see that this person has experience that most others only get after years at one job. Is it biased to want to pick those who are likely to be honest and hardworking and good leaders? I don’t think so.
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November 20, 2008 at 10:39 pm
jack
When I was a Mormon, I once got a job simply because I was a Mormon. It was a small, family business and they had just gone through a period in which their employee embezzled from them. After I had been working there for a month, my boss, an evangelical Christian, told me that he hired me because he knew as a Mormon I would be honest and trustworthy. I know full and well and there are honest and trustworthy people all over the place; however, the ethics of the Mormons are renowned throughout the world, I believe, and it’s something people identify with Mormons. That’s a good thing. For the most part, Mormons are honest and trustworthy people, and employers love that and their work ethic. After I left that job, my younger brother worked there for a while before he went on his mission. Today, my former boss and I are still friends. I am no longer a Mormon, but am an evangelical Christian. Now, before those of you want to say that he only hired me to evangelize…he never evangelized. He never really talked religion. He just lived a life of Christ-likeness in everything he did. He wanted an honest employee he could trust: there were no ulterio motives. I left the Church only 10 years ago or so; the last time I worked for him (in another state BTW), was over 20 years ago. I think employers need to be able hire people they feel they can trust, and if it happens to be a Mormon because of the reputation Mormons have earned for themselves, then so be it.
BTW, Mormons also make great bosses who care about their employers!
Grace and Peace!
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November 21, 2008 at 4:11 am
Eric Zacharias
“Amen” to what Jack says.
While Mormons have every right to hire who they want (as far as capitalism and free-enterprise goes), they will best serve themselves to get the person that will do the best possible job.
In the same way, I think a lot of people have to be warming up to Mit Romney, just by virtue of two post-election interviews. He is eloquent, seasoned, and fiscally responsible–and witty.
Martin Luther wrote that he would rather have a Turk that could manage a country than a Christian who couldn’t tie his shoes. (A rough paraphrase, as you might have guessed!)
I’d be surprised if he (Mit–not Luther) isn’t the front runner for the GOP in three years–and President in the fourth year.
ezra
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November 24, 2008 at 5:27 am
ama49
Michelle, Jack, and Eric,
Thanks for stopping by. I think you all have a good points. If all we have to go off of is an interview, you’re taking a gamble. If Mormons are known for being honest and having good track records then that’s a better gamble than someone who doesn’t have that track record.
However, I think that hiring someone soley on the fact that he/she is a Mormon isn’t right either.
Eric,
I love what you say about Mitt Romney. I realize that Christians and Mormons have differences, but if more Christians had adopted your attitude I think this last race may have been a lot different. McCain surely wouldn’t have been the nominee.
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December 9, 2008 at 4:33 am
gfe
The reputation thing can work both ways. In some circles, Mormons have a reputation for being homophobic, and with some employers that could work against you.
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December 18, 2008 at 7:23 pm
no name
gfe – I have a recent example. I know several outstanding men who have worked for a large financial company for years; 15 – 18 years. These men are all Mormons and at a VP level. This company recently brought in a new President who happens to be gay. When time came for layoffs; he laid off all of the Mormon men in senior management.
I guess it might have been a coincidence….
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February 5, 2009 at 7:44 pm
Bradley
The topic of one’s specific church membership should not at all be mentioned in job interviews. If by chance it does surface, interviewers shouldn’t ask more questions regarding religion/church.
One might answer a question saying ‘church’ without mentioning which one and applicants should feel confortable in declining to answer personal church related questions if asked.
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February 6, 2009 at 2:08 am
ama49
Hi Bradley,
thanks for stopping by. You’re probably right. By not mentioning religion in the interview it removes many consequences that may arise later on such as lawsuites, etc.
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February 16, 2010 at 1:06 am
Talfryn
If a close friend is charged for a minor crime is it necessary that I advise they try to find a lawyer !
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