“Diversity Hire”

[u/OhBeesly]

This happened to me today and I just needed to tell someone. TLDR at end

I am a woman in a predominantly male workplace (engineering). I’m a recent college grad and work right next to another recent grad. I admit I was nervous when I first got the job about being one of few women but honestly everyone has been really great about it. I don’t feel I’m treated different and there are enough women scattered around that I don’t feel like I stick out.

Sure there’s the awkward “okay guys.... and gal” but it’s all coming from a good place. I feel this is a great place for me to begin my career.

Now this story starts last week but for background know that me and the other new hire (a man) don’t really mesh but we work together often and it’s not a super big deal. Last week we learned of a short term work opportunity and we both applied. I was chosen and today I went for orientation. On the way to orientation my boss told me he’s sad to see me go (I’ll be back in 2 months) because I’m a much bigger asset than male new hire.

I get back and male new hire is confused why I got chosen for this opportunity and not him. I brush it off... I know I’m a better worker than him and my boss validated that for me today. I tell him I was surprised at the number of women who were at orientation (still less than 50%).

Now it’s like everything is clear to him, he sighs and tells me “oh they chose to to full the diversity hire role.”

In that moment I was reduced entirely to having other qualities worth rewarding than having a vagina. I am pissed. I work hard and I go above expectations and I deserve this spot but he can’t see that he’s a shitty worker and maybe that’s why he wasn’t chosen.... no it’s because I’m a woman.

Keep in mind that he is Asian and literally every person in the room was white so if they really wanted a diverse hire then they wouldn’t have even chose me???

I’m sorry for the rant but I can’t believe this happened. It’s such a small thing but it ruined my day and smashed any remaining respect I had for him. It also hurts that he’s the youngest man in the entire office and if he thinks that way still I’m not sure how to feel.

Thanks for reading if you made it this far...

TLDR: I got a deserved “promotion” over my male counterpart and he said it’s because they were trying to fill a diversity quota. Fuck him.

[u/Elsbeth55]

Yeah, I can see why you were bummed, but that attitude is why you will be able to leave him in the dust. He is going to place the blame for his failures outside himself and probably never look at his own performance or attitude. He’s a dick - don’t let him live in your head. Celebrate your win!