Deaf News: Brighton supermarket criticised over treatment of Deaf job applicant

Posted on August 15, 2016 by



A story from Brighton shows what kind of experiences Deaf job hunters are sometimes confronted with, as a mother of an 18 year old Deaf man had to act as his interpreter during an interview for a job as a shelf-stacker.

Extract from the Brighton and Hove News: 

A Brighton supermarket has been criticised for the way that it treated a deaf job applicant.

James Blake, 18, went for a shelf-stacking job with the Asda branch at Brighton Marina. He was called for an interview on Tuesday 26 July.

His mother, Alison Blake, described the interview as “the most awful experience” and is considering making a formal complaint.

Mr Blake was looking for a part-time job to fit around his studies. He is on a creative media film course. He completed a written application form for the Asda job which included a question asking him to state any disabilities.

Mrs Blake said: “James stated on the application form that he was deaf. He was then invited to an ‘Asda Magic’ session which was booked by email.

“We assumed that because they had asked about disabilities on the form they would read it to check and arrange relevant interpreters. When we arrived they had no idea James was deaf and there was no interpreter.”

Mr Blake was expected to be interviewed alongside five other applicants. When he was called in, Mrs Blake said: “The interviewer asked to have a word with me outside and said, ‘it would have been nice if you had told us your son is deaf.’

“I was stunned and said that he had informed them on his application form.”

She said the man’s response was: “Just saying. A heads up would have been nice!” He then walked back into the interview.

Read the full story here: http://www.brightonandhovenews.org/2016/08/12/brighton-supermarket-criticised-over-treatment-of-deaf-job-applicant/


Enjoying our eggs? Support The Limping Chicken:



The Limping Chicken is the world's most popular Deaf blog, and is edited by Deaf  journalist,  screenwriter and director Charlie Swinbourne.

Our posts represent the opinions of blog authors, they do not represent the site's views or those of the site's editor. Posting a blog does not imply agreement with a blog's content. Read our disclaimer here and read our privacy policy here.

Find out how to write for us by clicking here, and how to follow us by clicking here.

The site exists thanks to our supporters. Check them out below:

Posted in: deaf news