Interview with a Jovo

[Fidel_Castronaut]

So we were interviewing for some new cleaning posts which came up at work and I got roped into assisting with them (why an accountant is on a panel for cleaners I don't know, but whatever, was kind of fun I guess) and we had a really sweet woman come in who gave a good account of herself and her experience.

We got down to the details of the role, which included every month working a Saturday or a Sunday with a day off in the week or time in lieu. She flat out refused to work the Sunday citing her religious observance as the reason why: "I have to observe my religion which I'm very passionate about, so I cannot work Sunday's under any circumstances."

This put the cleaning manager under quite some strain as we need cleaners to fill these posts (there is actually a shortage of good cleaners in our local job market apparently), but this was causing bother as we have several other cleaners who'd love to be exempt From working Sunday's but who have also been told they must work.

I thought it was so cheeky of her to request this, especially as the job description clearly stated the working hours. I lobbied the manager to refuse her request as exemptions from work for religious observance is not an acceptable excuse to shirk your responsibilities, and he agreed. We didn't hire her.