Have You experienced racism at work?

[WhenWhatWhere]

Just wondering how bad this issue of racism in the workplace is.

We all know that there are not enough black, asian and minority ethnic people in board level positions in the work place.

However, I am wondering what sort of racism, be it visible or invisible have you faced at work.

I know this is AIBU, so myAIBU is that there Is more racism in the workplace than we think there is.

Yes I’ve experienced it. I reported it to my manager at the time. Nothing much got done. I was young so didn’t really feel empowered to sort it myself, if was to happen now I’d go to HR myself.

One case of casual racism, in a meeting with a colleague who manages customer relationships in Japan and she went on about how they can’t pronounce their Rs.

The rest of the time I couldn’t tell whether it was racism, or they didn’t like me, or they tended to treat people poorly anyway.

xyzzz, I think young people let a lot of it go. I also did when younger.

Lonoxo, when you say you couldn’t tell and they treated people poorly anyway ,I find that very interesting because I felt like that for a long time too until it became very obvious one day that yes they treated people poorly but with BAME people, the poor treatment was turned up a notch or three.

I was at a national training event (staff from different offices across the UK pulled together) and was stood with a group of all white colleagues once whilst they observed three black male colleagues talking to eachother. They commented on how these black males weren't mixing and it wasn't in the spirit of things. One of the black males was from our office and other two were not. They failed to see the hypocrisy with us all stood together (and all from the same office, might add). They were literally policing the innocent actions of three black men.

Also in a customer service related role, bitching about names they couldn't pronounce and moaning that people should have normal names.

This won’t be popular, but I have watched a colleague of mine get away with holy blue murder because she’s black. I’m talking consistently bad timekeeping and bending of the rules. Never anything done. If I say anything to her I’m told I’m only criticising because of my ‘white privilege’. No I’m not. I’m criticising because there’s two different sets of rules depending on your colour.

FTMF30, yes I love the whole ‘they don’t mix’, when vibes are being given off that they are not welcome.

RichPetunia,

I am interested in your perspective. Could you elaborate on the two sets of rules?

I had one manager describe a black customer as ‘a coloured gentleman’ (she seemed to think she was being polite ) and another manager describe black customers in general as ‘the darkies’. First time I was too shocked to respond and then the moment passed. I kicked myself afterwards for not challenging her - it’s hard when they’re your boss, but that’s no excuse. The second time I heard about the incident from another waitress after the fact.
I can only imagine the shit that so many BAME people face on a daily basis - it’s disgraceful. I’m making a conscious effort lately to call out racism whenever I encounter it.

There's a lady in our office who is eastern European and a couple of other staff have made racist remarks in front of her which | have reported but nothing has been done. The lady in question came to the UK as a student and has worked exceptionally hard and studied in her spare time and I have nothing but admiration for her. The other two I consider as lazy and ignorant.

Not at work but my mum used to say coloured, or worse 'our coloured brethren' in a derogatory way. I pulled her up and she stopped, in front of me at least.

Whatimeisitrightnow, when it is something people genuinely don’t know, I will correct them in a nice way. Admittedly, it does get tiresome. As for the blatant racism, it is done deliberately to dehumanise.

Yes both from clients and colleagues. Clients refused to deal with me based on my name and then googling my image on the website. From colleagues it's mainly micro aggressions (I bet you like basketball, can I touch your hair, you know about spicy food don't you).
I'm planning to leave the industry as I've had enough of working with mainly old white men and having to prove myself both because of my skin colour and my gender.

I complained multiple times about an old colleague of mine who made racism jokes frequently. Nothing was done.

Outside of work my DM is what I would consider quite obviously racist, but hates when I say this to her. She recently asked me what I thought of the BLM movement, then went on for about half an hour about how all lives matter, ‘they’ shouldn’t think so highly of themselves, she’s never experienced white privilege etc etc.

Made me very ashamed to be related to her if I’m honest.

I have, several times. It was one of the reasons I became self-employed years ago. I never wanted to be in an office again where racism happened and wasn't dealt with.

Although when doing contracts it still happens at times. But I'm not there permanently, mostly a few days at each place so I tell them where to get off, and when I can see there's a culture of 'jokes' that aren't really jokes I don't interact at all. Do my work, and go.

Pre-Covid I did a contract and an aggressive customer came to office. Despite me not being permanent I was asked to deal with him - It's not part of my job. Before I could say 'No' the quietest young man in the office - White English in his late 20s told them "No - YOU deal with him it's not the 'scarey black woman's' job!" I knew what he meant. Good man.

It wasn't directed at me (I'm black) but it was still racist. A colleague was complaining about a nurse being crap at their job because they couldn't understand English very well. There were also other micro aggressions from this colleague too like talking about the wigs of the black women. I wish I pulled them up on it at the time tbh. :(

I've experienced racism in the workplace on many occasions. I've been loudly asked to confirm whether black men's penises really are as big as they're made out to be, heard black people referred to as "darkies," whenever I refer to my boyfriend I constantly get asked what colour he is (nobody ever asks my white colleagues this), whenever I change my hair I am treated like an animal in a petting zoo, constantly expected to know and explain "black" phrases/dances/culture, I was referred to as having gangster hair because I had my hair in two large braids, asked where I'm "really" from - the list is endless. The other day someone on my team suggested playing a game where we submit baby photos and guess who is who and someone said, "no prizes for guessing Este," as I am the only black person on the team and I just felt so uncomfortable to be called out in that way. It is so draining to be constantly othered, especially when it comes from people who claim to "not see colour." It is also frustrating that whenever I attempt to talk about race I am made to feel I am playing the race card or have a chip on my shoulder, yet it's perfectly fine for my white colleagues to use my race as the object of banter/to ask me insane and just plain stupid questions. I've been working since I was 16 and I'm now 32, I have lived in several cities in the North and in London. I have never not experienced racism whether it is either covert or overt and I am honestly so so tired of it.

Oh and I forgot constantly being accused of being aggressive or intimidating when I am usually being as passive as possible and nowhere near as vocal as my colleagues, who usually just get called assertive or nothing at all. I have minimised myself so much over the years due to this. Then I have been pulled up for not being approachable or interacting enough with the team. I have lost count of the number of times I've heard, "oh I thought you'd be scary/mean etc. but you're actually nice." Whenever I ask them to explain why they made these assumptions, they ALWAYS start waffling in a really awkward way and can't articulate what it is about me that made them decide I'd be angry or have an attitude.

for everyone sharing their experiences.

It can be so difficult pulling people up on racism because the levels of defensiveness that you then face is astounding.

The baby photo thing. I hate it too.

Yes. I can list the two most notable times.

A white female manager targeted me when I was on a graduate training scheme. She had previously targeted another another person who was from a different ethnic background but had exactly the same skin tone as me.

From a male "colleague" who was removed from his post as he was not only racist but sexist. An older experienced white male colleague realised what he was up to so "encouraged" me to take holiday while he helped deal with his removal. When I went back after 10 days he was gone. My colleague ensured everyone who dealt with his removal on performance grounds was white and male.

RedRumTheHorse,

It is SO important to have supportive colleagues, especially in senior positions. They can make such a difference. Sadly, majority of the time, they are part of the problem.

Just wondering how many people know their race stopped job progression/ career development.

Yes, being referred to as the ‘Asian one’ and the ‘oriental one. I work in an FE college and this was only last year 🙄

Yes. Whilst working in England (I’m Scottish), being constantly referred to as ‘The Jock,’ suggestions being made that ‘curtains don’t match the drapes’ (that I must be a closet ginger, when I’m blonde), sun cream being left on my desk on hot days, and being interrupted during a presentation to be ‘jokingly’ asked to talk into google translate so the whole room can understand me.

Just wondering how many people know their race stopped job progression/ career development

This made me think of The Old Vic in London for example. Based in South London, but yet zero black staff. So in their case the progression/development is stopped by not hiring black people in the first place. Despite being funded to put on diverse arts events amongst other things. Like many organisations of their type, they are fine to hire in black staff temporarily to deliver a project that will enable them to tick the boxes and keep their funding monies going. But they don't want black staff around permanently. That kind of thing is purposely done.

I read an article on it yesterday so it seems it's causing some waves now

DeeCeeCherry,

Oh yes, agree with the noticeable absence of BAME people in those places. I also find that In places like that, any of us with any career aspirations get firmly put back in our place every so often