Gender and racial Discrimination

I feel that I have been discriminated based on gender and perhaps race or religion by a new employer. Me and my wife recently interviewed for a telemarketing position for a marketing firm in Toronto, Ontario, representing a major national newspaper. We went through a 1.5 hours long interview/evaluation process, at the end of which we were told to show up the next day at 4:45pm to start work. The shift hours are from 5pm to 10:30 pm. Since it was the first time we were taking our car to the new workplace, which is approximately 45 minutes from our home, we underestimated our commute time, and were 10 minutes late due to being caught up in rush-hour traffic. Me and my wife arrived at exactly 4:55 pm, and my wife reported first to the manager, who is a middle aged caucassian male. The manager, inquired my wife as to why she was late, and upon her telling him the reason, he assigned her a desk and a computer to start work. However, when I reported, a minute later at the max than my wife, the manager was very rude to me, and asked me to go home and call him the next day and "maybe" he'll start me up the following week. When I explained to him my reason for the delay, and told him that it would not happen again and that I would appreciate it if he could accomodate me this once, he very rudely replied, "No, this is unacceptable". Later, my wife informed that another female worker, who was also late, was allowed to start work as well. This episode was very embarassing and upsetting for me.

I feel that the manager discriminated against me based on gender, and perhaps religion/race as well, since I am a south asian muslim male and have a beard that most muslims do. I am convinced of this, because me, my wife and another female job candidate had witnessed similar behaviour from the manager the previous day when we were there for the interview/evaluation process. On this instance, the manager had very rudely told a south asian male candidate, who was exactly 5 minutes late for his 2nd interview/orientation for the same position as us, was asked to leave and return the next day, with the manager using the exact words "Should have been here at 5 (pm)". However, 2 female candidates who showed up for their second interviews for the same position were directed to the interview/orientation room right infront of the same manager, and he did not take similar action and did not say a word.

I also saw biased behaviour on the part of another manager who conducted the first interview of me, my wife and another female caucassian candidate. This manager, also a middle-aged caucassian, offered a better and more lucrative position to the third candidate, without asking any proper questions, or looking properly at the resumes. I believe that this was also perhaps racial/gender based profiling, since me and my wife are both university graduates, with strong professional experience.

This incident has been very disturbing for me, since I was expecting to start work today so that I am able to somewhat stabilize my worsening financial situation. I am very disappointed, and discouraged by this behaviour and would like to take a stand to stop this from happening again, to either myself or anyone else. I would like to know, if I have proper grounds to make an argument, and what, if any, legal options I have. Any input on this issue will be highly appreciated. Thanks.

You could consult your nearest Labour office to briefly discuss the issue with them first...you may also want to ask the company to put what is happening in writing and explain to them that you may have attorneys review the situation...try speaking to a higher level of management about the issue; they may override the other managers.