Job-seeker banned from wearing “gay T-shirt”

A job-seeker from Burnley has accused the Jobcentre of “discrimination” after being told not to wear a T-shirt emblazoned with the words “Nobody knows I’m gay”.
NOT CHANGING: Job-seeker Shaun Clark wears his T-shirt outside Burnley JobcentreNOT CHANGING: Job-seeker Shaun Clark wears his T-shirt outside Burnley Jobcentre
NOT CHANGING: Job-seeker Shaun Clark wears his T-shirt outside Burnley Jobcentre

Shaun Clark (28) claims staff at the Jobcentre in Victoria Street told him wearing the T-shirt was “inappropriate”.

But Shaun, of Edgeworth Grove, told the Express he is proud to be gay and will continue to wear the T-shirt to appointments with his advisers.

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He said: “I am proud to be gay and I don’t think there is anything wrong with the T-shirt.

“I have always worn a shirt and tie to an interview but I feel there is nothing wrong in wearing the T-shirt to the Jobcentre. It is discrimination.”

Shaun, who previously worked for three months at Boohoo in Burnley until January, says he has been on Job Seekers’ Allowance, now Universal Credit, for around four years.

A spokesman for the Department for Work and Pensions said that its staff advise job-seekers on the best possible ways to find work.

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The spokesman added: “Our Jobcentre Plus advisers up and down the country work hard every day supporting people into jobs and treating everyone fairly.

“Staff in our Burnley branch encourage all jobseekers to dress in smart interview attire, as employers regularly attend and recruit directly from the jobcentre.”

Shaun told the Express he had worn a shirt and tie to a recent interview with the Best Connection group and was waiting to hear back from them about a job offer.

He added that he plans to continue to wear the T-shirt to appointments at the Jobcentre.

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He said: “I don’t think you should be told what to wear. There is nothing wrong with the T-shirt. It is not scruffy and I am always smart when I go to my appointments. I think they are unhappy because of the slogan on the T-shirt.”