The Many Ways Single People Are Treated Unfairly at Work
Is it okay to ask singles to cover for their married coworkers? What about paying singles less? In a pandemic, should singles be allowed to opt out even if they are not in a risk category?
I’ve been studying singlism for a long time. Sometimes I think I’ve heard all the stereotypes, all the unfair expectations, and all the examples of discrimination against single people, and nothing will surprise me. But then I get surprised all over again.
That happened when someone emailed me, a few months before the pandemic, to see whether I would answer some questions about singles in the workplace. I’m not going to name him, but he is someone who has written a lot and whose thinking is taken seriously. When I first read his questions, I thought he wasn’t serious. Maybe he was just trying to get a rise out of me. But no, he was serious.
First, I’ll list three of the questions I was asked, so you can take a look for yourself and see what you think. Then I’ll share my answers. I’m also adding one more question, not from the person who asked me the first three, about what is expected of single workers during the pandemic.
