Physical appearance is the first cause of discrimination declared by home helpers, according to a study published on Wednesday December 7 by the Defender of Rights, which however notes that employees in the sector do not claim to be discriminated against more than the rest of the population.
Nearly a quarter of employees in personal services (23%) say they have already experienced a situation of discrimination or discriminatory harassment in their job search or career, a figure comparable to the general population (25%).
But physical appearance is the most cited criterion of discrimination (32% of cases), against 22% in the general population.
"Priority to singles"
Then come the fact of being a woman (24%), age (22%), family situation (21%), state of health (12%), pregnancy (10%).
Taking these criteria into account in hiring is discriminatory, recalls the Defender of Rights, Claire Hédon.
“
Private employers, parents, expect full availability, which excludes people with family constraints.
Employers will give priority to single people
, ”comments the Defender of Rights, Claire Hédon.
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In a sector that has been growing strongly for thirty years and which employs a large majority of women, often with low qualifications, “
employers give priority to rather mature people.
A sexy appearance will play against the candidate who will be perceived as less maternal, while that says nothing about her skills
, ”says the same source.
Personal assistance employees are also more exposed to sexist and sexual violence: 16% of them have had their breasts, buttocks and upper thighs touched at work (compared to 12% of the working population global).
“
Nearly one employee in two among those born abroad (5% of the sample) has experienced discrimination or discriminatory harassment in the professional context
”, indicates the institution.
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The use of the law is less for home help, often without a work collective or staff representative, notes the Defender of Rights, who calls for a "
voluntary policy of upgrading
" of these professions and more broadly of all those "
predominantly feminine
”.
The survey was conducted online by the Ipsos institute in June 2022 with a panel of 1,000 workers in personal services and 1,000 workers representative of the entire working population.
