Racism allegation at work

[Ticklemelmo]

Without outing I know someone that made a genuine mistake at the beginning of the year by putting something unintentionally racist in a work social media group, someone of colour in the group said it wasn't appropriate, and the person I know apologised directly straight away because they didn't realise.
Months later and a week into the BLM coming out they've come back and accused that person and several others of racism in the work place.

I can't speak for the others impacted by the racist allegations, but this person is now going through a disciplinary with a potential of dismissal?

Aibu to think that this is completely unfair? Anyone work in HR who has dealt with this and can give some expection of outcome.

A complaint was made and it is being investigated. This seems like a normal process to me, the company would be on thin ice if they didn’t investigate allegations of racism.

What is it that you think is unfair specifically?

Hard to know if it’s unfair without more of the story, but on the surface, it does seem unfair that someone who made a genuine mistake, accepted that and apologised should have to go though a disciplinary months after the event.

I'm struggling to understand how you put something unintentionally racist in any format. Sounds like it is being dealt with appropriately.

Totally depends on what they actually sent

It may not just be the social media post though? Maybe they have experienced racism in the workplace other than that.

I don't think it is unfair, no. Something racist happened, they complained and it is being investigated. I don't think, depending on what it was, that it will lead to a dismissal or anything, but clearly more awareness is needed in your office, if you unintentionally put something racist on social media? Not wanting to stick the boot in or anything. I'm sure you didn't do anything deliberately.

Of course the company needs to investigate any allegations of racism and take action if the complaint is upheld.

I imagine the action taken will depend on the nature of what was said.

It was a video related to one thing funny (completely not racist) and right at the end of the video there is someone shouting something racist. The accused person said they didn't watch the full thing because the funny thing ended and didn't realise it went on longer.

I think unfair because they'd apologised, the offended person didn't even respond to the apology so the accused couldn't have done anything else and assumed it was all dealt with.

It was investigated but now it's come back they're going through an official disciplinary.

No-one can say without knowing the details.

If it was a genuine mistake and yet also a genuinely racist comment, it might suggest your coworker has blundered in other ways that are illustrative of a wider issue. Maybe that’s why it has been raised again now - if the colleague who was subjected to the racism feels that they haven’t actually changed their behaviour. As others have been accused as well it does suggest a wider issue with racism in your workplace.

Or maybe the victimised colleague thought they could move past it but haven’t been able to and now want it dealt with professionally.

Either way, if it is now being formally investigated it sounds like a proper procedure is in place. I can’t really be that sympathetic to your colleague - there isn’t much of an excuse for being ‘accidentally’ racist in this day and age.

@BranchAndPoppy

It may not just be the social media post though? Maybe they have experienced racism in the workplace other than that.

I don't think it is unfair, no. Something racist happened, they complained and it is being investigated. I don't think, depending on what it was, that it will lead to a dismissal or anything, but clearly more awareness is needed in your office, if you unintentionally put something racist on social media? Not wanting to stick the boot in or anything. I'm sure you didn't do anything deliberately.

The accuser is only reporting the accused on this one sole incident. If there was more is understand more.

Could it be possible that your someone has done something more than once? They may have apologised for whatever it is in the beginning of the year, but doesn’t mean they hadn’t done anything afterward. You’re only hearing their side and what they consider or don’t consider racist may be different to the person who has said they were.

It's not unfair.
It needs to be investigated since nobody should have to put up with racism in the workplace.
You can't know someone's true intentions and whether they are apologizing because they were rumbled as a racist rather than true ignorance. Apologizing is a hollow gesture from a person who has done it before or may also say homophobic or sexist stuff too (they often go hand in hand) . There are more racists around than you think and while some of it might not be as bad as using the n word, it's unacceptable. Too many people use "pc gone mad" as an excuse when rumbled.

I'd assume that the fact that there was no reply as the person being shocked or angry and would have tried to see them face to face or messaged them privately too.

Now I've seen your update, no I really don't think this is unfair op, sorry. As I said^^, it may not be a firing offense or anything, but clearly, it was careless and offended someone. Someone at work posted a video with racist language shouted in it. That is something which probably needs to be investigated. I'm sure it's very stressful, but no, it isn't "unfair" I don't think.

The accused person said they didn't watch the full thing because the funny thing ended and didn't realise it went on longer.

That’s on them really. If you’re going to post videos at work without watching them fully, you’re opening yourself up to problems.

I completely agree if this person had a history of anything else but they haven't and the accuser has raised it on this sole incident, nothing has happened since and there's no other evidence that there has been anything else.

The other allegations may be completely fair enough and if there has been I have no issue with this being raised. I think this one against this person I know has been picked up as a wider problem. However this sole incident is minor in my opinion.

Due to covid they ouldn't have been able to speak face to face, they're still friends on facebook.

@Ticklemelmo

It was a video related to one thing funny (completely not racist) and right at the end of the video there is someone shouting something racist. The accused person said they didn't watch the full thing because the funny thing ended and didn't realise it went on longer.

I think unfair because they'd apologised, the offended person didn't even respond to the apology so the accused couldn't have done anything else and assumed it was all dealt with.

It was investigated but now it's come back they're going through an official disciplinary.

Ok that does sound like a genuine mistake

@Ticklemelmo

It was a video related to one thing funny (completely not racist) and right at the end of the video there is someone shouting something racist. The accused person said they didn't watch the full thing because the funny thing ended and didn't realise it went on longer.

I think unfair because they'd apologised, the offended person didn't even respond to the apology so the accused couldn't have done anything else and assumed it was all dealt with.

It was investigated but now it's come back they're going through an official disciplinary.

Posting racist things and then apologising does not make it ok though and I don’t think that the other person was under any obligation to acknowledge the apology. So I think this information is not really relevant to the process.

The way you describe it as being posted inadvertently is more relevant and is probably what will stop this from being a dismissal scenario assuming this appears genuine.

I do think that it was reasonable to follow through to a disciplinary process though, it sounds like this individual needs to take more care and be more mindful of their conduct in the workplace. A warning seems reasonable.

@phoenixrosehere

The accused person said they didn't watch the full thing because the funny thing ended and didn't realise it went on longer.

That’s on them really. If you’re going to post videos at work without watching them fully, you’re opening yourself up to problems.

I agree with that, and they've learnt their lesson now. 🙄

The problem is the person does not know it was a mistake, just an accident etc. Sure you can say it is and apologise but Covert racism is real and happens all the time. Disguised often as jokes "just banter" and if the person has more examples from different people, then I'm inclined to believe they have suffered racism. So what's happening at your work is completely the right thing, Investigation then disciplinaries for those found involved.

If you're going to post a video on social media of any form, then you need to be certain of what you're posting. You're essentially putting your name to the views displayed in the video.

The employer is following the correct procedure. The fact that your friend has apologised will go in their favour, whether it will be enough to save their job depends on the individual circumstances of the case.

Florencex

'The way you describe it as being posted inadvertently is more relevant and is probably what will stop this from being a dismissal scenario assuming this appears genuine.

I do think that it was reasonable to follow through to a disciplinary process though, it sounds like this individual needs to take more care and be more mindful of their conduct in the workplace. A warning seems reasonable.'

This was my bigger concern more than the disciplinary itself, maybe I've not been clear.

I think dismissal is completely unfair, however my thoughts would be an educational punishment be the best case scenario. Or the potential lose the yearly bonus.

If this person is putting up with more than one person sending these minor incidents then the company needs to look into whether there is a corporate culture of minor racism being ok.

Apologizing for racism is often not enough and it's work not fun so perhaps this person needs to consider whether or not sharing funny videos is professional

I agree with that, and they've learnt their lesson now. 🙄

But the lesson hasn't been learnt at your workplace, because you're judging this is 'unfair'. Why not let the investigation take its course, especially as there have been other incidents?

If people don't make a fuss this shit just keeps on happening and no one 'learns their lesson'.

How long has the person worked at the company? The worst thing they can do, is try to minimise the issue, or deflect that it was only brought up because of BLM.

What education would help this person?

@netflixismysidehustle

If this person is putting up with more than one person sending these minor incidents then the company needs to look into whether there is a corporate culture of minor racism being ok.

Apologizing for racism is often not enough and it's work not fun so perhaps this person needs to consider whether or not sharing funny videos is professional

I agree, I think that is what's been picked up. Like I've said previously, I'm not discounting the other allegations, if that's how this person has felt then it fair for them to point it all out.

Also it wasnt work social media as such but a group with work people in it so more of a group of friends. Also the frustrating part because they were friends before .