Dear employer, do not ask me about my mental health
«You get 138 NOK per hour, we make sandwiches, decorate cakes, make smoothies and every type of coffee, how is your mental health?» I stare confused at the young person who is the general manager for one of the many branches of this popular coffee chain. «Well, it functions», I say after a while. «Good or bad?», she asks. «This is none of your f*** business», I want to answer.
I wonder if all the applicants of this chain are asked about their mental health and whether these questions are standardized.
Elena Berg Hansen, first year student in Culture and Communication at UiO
Autumn is the time for job search. Young students go from restaurant doors to bars and cafes so they have a little extra left after the rent was due. They put on nice clothes, sent out e-mails and hand out their CVs. They do a real effort, but not always get an answer to the application even.
If you get a job, it is usually based on contacts or previous experience. Then they are offered unfavorable shifts in the evenings and during weekends for a poor wage, which does not correspond to any collective agreement. Maybe they need to run straight from studies to work, maybe they do this and even perform worse with their studies. But their moods shall not be spoiled.
The general manager explains why she asks: that everything may seem fine during the interview, but then later it becomes clear that the employee is having a hard time, something that she has had bad experiences with in the past. Afterwards I wonder how she even wants someone to answer the question? Is it not natural that as a student, in new city, with a new job, can have a difficult time? She offers me almost 25 NOK below the regular service wage, that alone is enough reason to get depressed!
The Working Environment Act states: «Employees must not be asked by new employers or in any other way requested to provide other health information than those necessary to carry out the tasks associated with the post.» She offers me a position of about 17 hours a month. I guess my mental health is not relevant as long as I do a good job during these hours?
I have much experience from the service industry from places such as bars, café's and shops. I have worked longer without extra pay, earned little because the company did not have a collective agreement, sometimes I have worked for free because I did not count my hours. The list goes on. I had trust that my boss wants the best for me - but this was disproved. I can sign that it is rarely something wrong with the hardworking and responsible part-time workers - it is the leadership.
The general manager has a sheet of questions: «What are your best qualities» and «why did you choose to apply for a job here?». I wonder if all the applicants of this chain are asked about their mental health and whether these questions are standardized. Fifteen minutes later she says «I've heard enough» and I nod. I have also heard enough.
Text by:
Elena Berg Hansen