A post in our WhatsApp group set off alarm bells for me. It’s one thing to honestly warn someone that, in many sectors, they may encounter more barriers. That’s a reality. To deny it would be to pull the wool over their eyes. In Switzerland, there are quite a few employers who are more reluctant than in other European countries when it comes to visible religious symbols, particularly in customer-facing roles. It’s not nice, but it’s the reality.
It’s quite another matter entirely to use that reality as a free pass to humiliate, insult or belittle someone. A young woman asks if she has any chance of finding work, and instead of discussing her CV, language skills, experience, visas or sectors where she might fit in, some people pull out the full catalogue of prejudices. What a surprise – then they complain that “people don’t want to work”.
You could say: "It will be more difficult for you." You could say: "You might have some options in cleaning, production, logistics or internal roles." You could advise them to tailor their CV, improve their French, or target large companies or more diverse organisations.
What we don’t need is racist remarks, mockery or half-baked lectures on integration from the sort of people you’d find in a motorway service station bar.
Helping also means telling the truth. But the truth does not need to be wrapped in contempt.
www.espanolesensuiza.ch