A shocking workplace discrimination claim is going viral after a woman shared that she quit her job less than an hour into her first day when she was instructed to reject applicants whose names “did not sound white.”
In a trending video posted on multiple social media channels, including SSZRADIO (@soseriuzradio) on Instagram, the woman described herself as Black and light-skinned and explained that her role involved reviewing applications from people seeking care services.
But during training, she was told that if a name didn’t sound white, she should immediately move the application to the “completed” section and mark it as rejected due to “name standards.”
“At first I thought it was some kind of brand standard,” she said in the video. “Then I realized it literally meant names like ours. I just want you to know, and everybody else to know, this 100% happens.”
In a separate video, another woman, who says she also encountered the same practice, claimed she collected 122 screenshots of rejected applicants along with their names, contact information, and the stated reason for their rejection. She alleged the rejection reason was solely based on how their names sounded.
She said she confronted the owner directly and received an admission that the policy existed, along with an apology. Despite the apology, she resigned on the spot.
“I told her this is not something I would be willing to participate in,” she said. “I know this happens — I just have never experienced this type of training before. If they have a name that sounds like this, or that’s ‘jacked up,’ we don’t do it because we have standards.”
The videos have ignited heated discussions on social media about systemic racism in hiring, with many viewers pointing out that such practices are illegal under U.S. employment discrimination laws.
The viral posts have also sparked calls for transparency and accountability, as commenters demand that the identity of the company involved be made public.
For both women, the decision to walk away was rooted in a refusal to take part in a practice that they believe perpetuates racial bias in the workplace.
As the second woman put it, “I guess we’re going on a journey, and eventually we’re gonna say who it is.”
