To think this is wrong?

[Topaz25]

Today I found out that the company I work for, which is portrayed as a nice friendly, family run company, refers to underperforming employees as "Drongos" a slang term for incompetent idiot, in their official handbooks. AIBU to think this is wrong and unprofessional and they shouldn't say that?

So sorry Topaz you seem to be having a bad time with work, this company sounds very strange. How can you have a company who says it does not like the "red tape" of employment law. I would keep the handbook in a safe place, who knows whether you might need it in the future. I am sure an employment tribunal would love it! I would also keep a diary record of dates and things that have changed with the new company taking over, what you have done etc. good luck.

Thank you. TBH I don't want the stress of a tribunal, I know my own work performance has not been brilliant. The company and me are really not a good fit. I am just concerned about a reference if I leave under these circumstances.

I think if you look at the term Drongo to mean someone who won't achieve in the job, a non-winning bet, then it could be seen as fair terminology. Not a nice hierarchical structure to be part of though.

I looked Drongo up and it is Australian slang meaning incompetent idiot. I think it is unprofessional and inappropriate of the company to use slang and insults to refer to employees in their official literature. Or to compare employees to animals in the case of the non-winning race horse!

It's a surprising - and disturbing and unprofessional - term to see in an official company handbook.

Replacing "drongo" with "underperforming staff" would leave the relevant content of that paragraph intact. The use of drongo implies that the company don't care about their employees at all.

I'd put the booklet in a very safe place, scan it as well and if you want to take things further without sticking your head above the parapet, anonymously send a copy to someone who could use it to make the company amend their ways, a lawyer specialising in Employment Law, or a reputable journalist of your choice or as a last resort the Daily Mail.

For your own situation, keep a paper trail of everything and Good Luck in having a good outcome.

I've found Aussies tend to be quite free with their playful insults....my SIL calls people "idiots" a lot but doesn't have the same meaning there....