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AIBU?

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Original poster

To report this person to their employer for hate speech?

573 replies

NickMyLipple · 03/07/2020 20:39

I've attached a screenshot - I am not friends with this person. She does however display her work on social media and she is in her uniform with her lanyard on display in her profile picture and in other photos which are accessible to the public.

It's NHS Values Week and I feel very strongly that if you're going to publically display your workplace you need to be responsible in not making such racist and hateful comments.

I called her out on it and the post has now been deleted.

AIBU to call the HR department and complain, or should I leave it and hope that she thinks carefully before she posts in future?

To report this person to their employer for hate speech?
OP posts:
Destroyedpeople · 04/07/2020 08:25

I can't believe that people are bleating about 'free speech' and 'bad days' and 'Stalin'. Good point greytexpectation...
Nurses teachers doctors vicars etc should be above reproach and be people of integrity. If they are not then they should keep a lid on it at least.

EnthusiasmIsDisturbed · 04/07/2020 08:29

The Trust she works for will have a social media policy which she has clearly broken

I very much doubt she would be sacked more likely to be sent on an awareness course

Unless there are many other comments

Should you report her do we report everyone on every comment or only the people we don’t really like

I’m sure we all overlook some prejudice comments when it suits us to

Gobb · 04/07/2020 08:31

If she had said "residency and work status should be dependent on compliance with Covid policies" nobody would be dobbing her in to her workplace. Even though that means the same thing and is equally racist. The only problem is that she spoke in a coarse way. How dare she. Ladies should be polite.

Destroyedpeople · 04/07/2020 08:33

Oh do be brief Gibb. Is everyday racism not everyday sexism....
Why are people so determined to twist it...?
It's almost as though they agree with this woman...

TheFuckingDogs · 04/07/2020 08:35

Omg if she is in a job where she deals with members of the public in any capacity of course her awful values are relevant to her workplace - if she was say a nurse it could impact on her treatment of someone.
Once again it’s such scary times in this country - many people on this thread think this is not nice but none of your business - we are sleepwalking towards living in a far right hell hole

LadyGAgain · 04/07/2020 08:35

No that isn't it at all Gobb,

Saying that people failing to comply with lockdown policies should have their license revoked/face being reprimanded etc is fine. Saying that people clearly of an ethnic minority should leave 'our' country is racism.

Unconscious bias is real. So even if we go lightly and assume this was unconscious bias, it is bias. And it has to be stopped so we can move forward in a world where people are not marginalised.

GreytExpectations · 04/07/2020 08:35

Oh I see, Gobb you think everyday racism is OK?

Evelefteden · 04/07/2020 08:48

I don’t think anyone thinks racism is ok, I certainly don’t. But we have to be very careful when we command every one thinks the same or they may forfeit their entire life.

Freedom of speech is very very important to a society other wise we will turn in to places like Korea. People getting sent to Jail just because of what they think. We already have a system that takes new born babies of mothers incase they might harm them. So women getting punished before they have actually done anything. Nobody has any evidence this women has treated ethic minorities any differently. She’s being sentenced on here for what she might do.

The women in the OP case sounds like an ignorant racist arsehole but she is still ( or should be) allowed her own point of view - however how repugnant it is.

What if we were in northern Ireland where abortions are illegal and an NHS worker poster supported abortions on facebook. Would some one be entitled to report her to the police of her place of work?

LadyGAgain · 04/07/2020 08:51

Spreading hate does not fall within "freedom of speech". It's dangerous to suggest it does.

Evelefteden · 04/07/2020 08:53

@GreytExpectations

Of course a good amount of posters on Mumsnet care about the "poor woman" possibly loosing her job more than about the racist comments BAME people have to put up with from people like her.
No I actually care about my rights not being taken away because somebody else doesn’t like how I feel. That I could lose my job that I’m bloody good at because someone else thinks I should because of my views.

Don’t be so quick to insist every must think the same as one day the spot like could be on you over something completely different and people are hounding you out of a job because they don’t like your views.

Washyourhands48 · 04/07/2020 08:55

@GreytExpectations

Ah yes, a good ol' racist apologist. Let me guess, you also think if a woman gets sexually harassed it's because of what she was wearing?

Really? Where did you get that from my post? Let me guess, you try to be so achingly “right on” you’ll throw baseless accusations at people randomly?

GreytExpectations · 04/07/2020 08:56

No I actually care about my rights not being taken away because somebody else doesn’t like how I feel. That I could lose my job that I’m bloody good at because someone else thinks I should because of my views.

Your rights?? Wow. OK so you basically want to be allowed to be a racist and not have any consequences for it. I'm actually laughing at your comment, seriously thanks for the chuckle.

EnoughAlready2020 · 04/07/2020 08:59

@evelefteden I'm sorry but you're being deliberately obtuse. Hate speech is NOT okay - I genuinely don't understand how you're excusing it. My son is 14 and is black. Allowed on Fb. Are you thinking how he might feel seeing a comment like that. Does anyone care about his mental well-being - or just about a woman who has broken a social media policy she would have signed up to? He should "man up" but this deplorable lady is such a flower we have to protect her from losing her job

Evelefteden · 04/07/2020 09:00

@LadyGAgain

Spreading hate does not fall within "freedom of speech". It's dangerous to suggest it does.
There is no such thing as ‘hate speech’ law but there is hate crime. If the OP thinks this fits the bill she should contact the police. The police will deal with it as they see fit
TooTrueToBeGood · 04/07/2020 09:01

No I actually care about my rights not being taken away because somebody else doesn’t like how I feel. That I could lose my job that I’m bloody good at because someone else thinks I should because of my views.

What rights exactly? I'm guessing this mythical right to absolute freedom of speech that so many people seem to think exists. It doesn't.

GreytExpectations · 04/07/2020 09:01

@Eveleftedenok, let's simplify this for you, you have the right to say whatever you want, same as others have the right to react the way they want. If that means an employer firing someone for their right to say hateful things about a race, then so be it. Your right isn't being taken away, you just haven't comprehended how consequences work

mum2b2017 · 04/07/2020 09:05

@CluelessBaker brilliant post

Evelefteden · 04/07/2020 09:06

Your rights?? Wow. OK so you basically want to be allowed to be a racist and not have any consequences for it. I'm actually laughing at your comment, seriously thanks for the chuckle

Ah I think your getting a bit silly now. Where have I said I want to be allowed to be racist? Please show me on post that I’ve said racism is ok. In fact I think you’ll find all my posts are against it.

And yes believe it or not all people should have a right to be able to think what they want on any topic with out fear of persecution. I’m sorry that surprises you so much - what a sheltered life you must have that you think all people think the same. Wow.

Evelefteden · 04/07/2020 09:09

[quote GreytExpectations]@Eveleftedenok, let's simplify this for you, you have the right to say whatever you want, same as others have the right to react the way they want. If that means an employer firing someone for their right to say hateful things about a race, then so be it. Your right isn't being taken away, you just haven't comprehended how consequences work[/quote]
Oh I think your just getting annoyed now I won’t bend to how you think. Sorry. Post as many patronising posts as you like. Still won’t change my mind. In fact it makes me feel stronger on it because of people like you. Don’t worry - I’ll still champion freedom of speech for people like you anyway because one day you actually might need it. Your welcome.

Broomfondle · 04/07/2020 09:11

There are loads....I mean loads of people working in the NHS who hold anti-immigration views and some where that slips into racism. Tons. There are loads who don't hold those views.
Sometimes it may influence their care and that is appalling and should be dealt with at work and anyone aware of it should report, call it out and help put a stop to it.
But that's if they act on prejudiced views not just hold them.
She hasn't broken an NHS rule or should be kicked out for holding those views, but she's likely broken a social media policy and could be seen to bring her place of work into disrepute.
And that is important as healthcare staff need to be trusted by whoever needs their care.
It's her public expression of these views that needs addressing as it undermines a really vital part of healthcare being accessible for all. But it's verging on ridiculous to say people who hold those views shouldn't be working in the NHS. How would you enforce that? How would it factor in recruitment? How would you check people's views hadn't changed over time? That's just real crazy territory to get into.
NHS staff should be able to treat anyone equally and fairly despite those views rather than not having them at all and I agree they shouldn't express them in ways linked with their work as they have a duty of care.

Destroyedpeople · 04/07/2020 09:12

Eve are you actually misunderstanding wilfully?
It's not a 'freedom of speech' issue. If people need to explain that to you in an easy to comprehend way, which they obviously do, don't then slate them for being 'patronising '.

mum2b2017 · 04/07/2020 09:12

@Evelefteden
And yes believe it or not all people should have a right to be able to think what they want on any topic with out fear of persecution. I’m sorry that surprises you so much - what a sheltered life you must have that you think all people think the same. Wow.

Of course you are allowed to think what you want , writing it down on a public post isnt the same is it

Splodgetastic · 04/07/2020 09:14

The 1950s (Soviet Union version) just called and wants you back. Seriously, when did we become these people to denounce friends! Just don’t be friends with this person any more. You know what they used to say at school, “Telly pie tit, your tongue shall be slit, and every dog in England will have a little bit.”

EnoughAlready2020 · 04/07/2020 09:14

@evelefteden so if I was at work and told someone I thought they were a racist fucking twat there should be no consequence to that because you know "freedom of speech". Don't you see that ESPECIALLY for NHS workers the consequences extend beyond their place of work because they are in a public facing role? Would you be okay with a police officer saying the same thing on a public network because we can all hide behind "freedom of speech"?

Evelefteden · 04/07/2020 09:16

[quote mum2b2017]@Evelefteden
And yes believe it or not all people should have a right to be able to think what they want on any topic with out fear of persecution. I’m sorry that surprises you so much - what a sheltered life you must have that you think all people think the same. Wow.

Of course you are allowed to think what you want , writing it down on a public post isnt the same is it[/quote]
Well if this is a hate crime then the OP should report to the police. It’s not done to her to be judge and jury. That’s why we have a judiciary that deals with this and not ransoms on facebook