âItâs because we respect women and minorities,â said CEO
By Rebecca Peterson, Humour Editor
A local insurance company, Wilde Claims Co., came forward in a press release over the weekend after allegations of discrimination against minorities when hiring.
âItâs actually the opposite of discrimination,â explained CEO Chadwick Wilde in his statement to the press. âSee, like, weâre not looking at superficial things like race or gender when making these decisions. Thatâs actually more bigoted, you know? Weâre not hiring to fill a quota; weâre hiring whoever fits the job. Everyone here is super qualified.â
Wilde has a long history of speaking out on behalf of women, people of colour, and the LGBTQ community. His essays on such matters have been published in many magazines owned by white men. His most popular one to date is titled, âNo, Youâre Sexist: Why Claiming Misogyny Exists Sets Women Back by Decades,â followed closely by the critically-acclaimed think piece âThe Dictionary Definition of Racism IsâŚâ
âIâd say Iâm more of an egalitarian or a humanist than a feminist,â said Wilde in a phone interview. âI definitely think we should respect women, and the gays, andâum, whatâs the PC way to sayâpeople of colour, right? Anyway, I think that respect means we shouldnât give people any special treatment, âcause thatâs worse. Thatâs way worse than having an office full of white guys. No one in my office thinks theyâre just here to make us look good, you know? And if I hired someone who wasnât a white dude, they might think that theyâre just here for show. Itâs the brave choice, I think, and a step in the right direction. I think more people should adopt this policy in their workplaces as well.â
When asked if he thought there were qualified women, people of colour, and members of the LGBTQ+ community for these positions, Wilde laughed. âWell, obviously, are you trying to make me look bad or something? Sure they exist, but thereâs so many white guys here, they probably wouldnât be comfortable in this work environment. Like I said, it comes down to doing the white thingâsorry, I meant right thing. Iâm not hiring any token people. Itâs just not right.â
Many of his employees, with job security, a six-figure salary, and health benefits, seem to agree with Wildeâs approach. However, one man who prefers to remain anonymous pulled the Other Press reporter aside at the end of the interviews.
âIâm actually half-Korean,â the man admitted. âI donât think he can tell. Please donât tell him, heâll think heâs doing me a favour by firing me so Iâm not his âToken Asian.ââ