Bljashinsky
11-06-2006, 11:31 PM
Disney: The Wonderful World of Age Discrimination
For the last month I’ve been committing much of my time to getting a job at Buena Vista Games (Disney's Video Game Publisher) as a quality assurance tester. After emails, phone calls, and an interview earlier this week on October 31st I was offered a quality assurance job. Today however I was sent an email that revoked this offer as I am only 17 ˝ and not 18, which I was told is the minimum age to work at Buena Vista Games. I was saddened and surprised by the news that I will be unable to work at BVG. I had inquired about my age multiple times at the interview and stated on my résumé that I am still in high school. The employee information form I filled out also had my date of birth on it as well. I’ve worked for numerous large companies such as Midway, Liquid Entertainment and Technicolor and my age has never been an issue. I’ve dedicated the last month of my life in my pursuit of obtaining a job at Buena Vista Games and tailored my schedule especially for it. Once I received the email offering me the job I submitted the paper work to my school and finalized all of the arrangements of being able to work at your company. Without this job I am stuck in a hard place with my new schedule and work experience class as I had dropped my job search and dropped offers from former colleagues of mine who had job openings available, once I received the job offer.
I know my younger age makes many people have misconceptions, but I have experience working in the real world and have a lot of experience working in the game industry as well. Is there a way you can help me get rid of this policy and clear the way for my hiring? Buena Vista Game employees have told me this is a firm policy that cannot be changed. The policy is however illegal under federal and state laws and as well violates Disney’s own anti-discrimination policy. The hiring practices and standards of Disney include this passage:
“Hiring Practices (From The Disney Website)
It is the policy of The Walt Disney Company to provide equal opportunity for all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, religion, color, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, age, marital status, covered veteran status, mental or physical disability, pregnancy, or any other basis prohibited by state or federal law.” I have been discriminated against due to my age, which is prohibited under both Disney’s Business Standards as well as State and Federal laws. I know how busy your day must be and I thank you for taking time out of that busy schedule to read my blog post. I am enthusiastic and excited to work at Buena Vista Games, and hope that my age will not stop my employment from happening. Please help me make sure that doesn't happen by emailing this letter, your own letter, just this link, or just a simple sentence to one of these or if you can all of these employees at Disney:
george.mitchell at dlapiper(Chairman)
Susan.Garelli at Disney(Senior Vice President of HR for Disney Consumer Products)
Deborah.Vongerichten at bvg (BVG Human Resources)
Graham.Hopper at bvg (General Manager of BVG)
Thank you so much ,
-Brad Jashinsky
For the last month I’ve been committing much of my time to getting a job at Buena Vista Games (Disney's Video Game Publisher) as a quality assurance tester. After emails, phone calls, and an interview earlier this week on October 31st I was offered a quality assurance job. Today however I was sent an email that revoked this offer as I am only 17 ˝ and not 18, which I was told is the minimum age to work at Buena Vista Games. I was saddened and surprised by the news that I will be unable to work at BVG. I had inquired about my age multiple times at the interview and stated on my résumé that I am still in high school. The employee information form I filled out also had my date of birth on it as well. I’ve worked for numerous large companies such as Midway, Liquid Entertainment and Technicolor and my age has never been an issue. I’ve dedicated the last month of my life in my pursuit of obtaining a job at Buena Vista Games and tailored my schedule especially for it. Once I received the email offering me the job I submitted the paper work to my school and finalized all of the arrangements of being able to work at your company. Without this job I am stuck in a hard place with my new schedule and work experience class as I had dropped my job search and dropped offers from former colleagues of mine who had job openings available, once I received the job offer.
I know my younger age makes many people have misconceptions, but I have experience working in the real world and have a lot of experience working in the game industry as well. Is there a way you can help me get rid of this policy and clear the way for my hiring? Buena Vista Game employees have told me this is a firm policy that cannot be changed. The policy is however illegal under federal and state laws and as well violates Disney’s own anti-discrimination policy. The hiring practices and standards of Disney include this passage:
“Hiring Practices (From The Disney Website)
It is the policy of The Walt Disney Company to provide equal opportunity for all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, religion, color, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, age, marital status, covered veteran status, mental or physical disability, pregnancy, or any other basis prohibited by state or federal law.” I have been discriminated against due to my age, which is prohibited under both Disney’s Business Standards as well as State and Federal laws. I know how busy your day must be and I thank you for taking time out of that busy schedule to read my blog post. I am enthusiastic and excited to work at Buena Vista Games, and hope that my age will not stop my employment from happening. Please help me make sure that doesn't happen by emailing this letter, your own letter, just this link, or just a simple sentence to one of these or if you can all of these employees at Disney:
george.mitchell at dlapiper(Chairman)
Susan.Garelli at Disney(Senior Vice President of HR for Disney Consumer Products)
Deborah.Vongerichten at bvg (BVG Human Resources)
Graham.Hopper at bvg (General Manager of BVG)
Thank you so much ,
-Brad Jashinsky