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.

You know what, this is the third thread I've read on here this week where the nub of the OP is 'a BAME person I know/work with/came across has played the race card without any justification, because of BLM and that'.

It's almost as if some people have an agenda, isn't it?

I feel for your colleague. How awful to be accused and subject to a witch hunt over a mistake for which they have apologised. Is this how things are now? The offence police out to ruin careers over errors?

BLM has shown I was being paid £20k less than white colleagues for the same job. I'm now being paid the same as white colleagues.

I'm struggling to understand how you put something unintentionally racist in any format.

I used to as well. Then I completely unwittingly dropped the most godawful clanger in a work meeting. Think phrases along the line of 'sold down the river', 'tipping point' or 'drinking the kool aid'. They're in fairly everyday, common use and their origins are probably not thought about, but should be. I trotted one of these out without thinking about it or even knowing the origins of the phrase at that stage. A colleague informed me in an icy tone that perhaps it wasn't the best language to be using. And the minute I did think, the connotations were fairly obvious.

I was horrified; absolutely mortified. Not only because it made me look dreadful, but a colleague of African origin was present and I was appalled I might have offended them. I'm at least grateful the colleague pointed out to me or I might have gone on doing this, which I really wouldn't want. I went away and Googled other phrases with these connotations and found how common they are, and how easy it would be to make a mistake. I also learned a lesson or two about white privilege at the same time.

This happened about a year before #BLM. I could have got into serious trouble for this in my workplace, which takes a really dim view of this kind of thing, and am very fortunate that I didn't. I think context played a part as well and people knew it was a genuine mistake. But ignorance is no excuse and the only good outcome is that it taught me a lesson I'll never forget.

@Ponoka7

The BLM has stirred things up so companies finally take a zero tolerance stance, just like campaigns have highlighted sexual harassment/discrimination at work. It's just going to be how it should have always been. Your reaction reminds me of the fear response after the #metoo movement. It's really simple, you just learn about the subject matter and act like a decent person.

@popcornlover, a racist video was shared on a work account. It was a racist act, unintentionally or intentionally and shouldn't be ignored. If you don't act in a racist way, you won't be accused to the point of disciplinary. It's really simple.

I don't think that the, person should lose their job, if it was a genuine accident. But they need reminding of the firms SM policy and a bit of education around the subject matter.

Just to be clear, it wasn't a work account. It was a personal one with people from his work on it.

If it was work then I wouldn't be posting this.

Also my thought is whether companies are being tougher with their disciplinaries because of it, because it's so raw and they won't want to get in trouble..

Now this I agree with, but you only have companies negligence to blame for this. Years of ignoring complaints about racism/sexism etc. People complain about "PC gone mad" but I'm all for calling out bullshit, it's about time.

Companies that were too lenient in the past will now be tougher. The point is that for too long people have got away with too much. Again you sound like the poor men who bemoan that they now have to behave themselves.

Did they actually delete the post? If they’ve left it up I can understand why the person b is now raising it with hr. doesn’t seem very genuine is person a left the post on social media

Any SM account with work colleagues on has to be treated as a work account, most firms are clear on this. It's why some people have separate WA/FB so they can post what they want.

BLM has shown I was being paid £20k less than white colleagues for the same job. I'm now being paid the same as white colleagues.

Good on you.

BLM has really brought out how much casual (and not-so-casual) racism is still out there. And how many apologists there are (looking at you OP with your shitstirry thread). Depressing but really illuminating and useful.

@Cassilis

BLM has shown I was being paid £20k less than white colleagues for the same job. I'm now being paid the same as white colleagues.

Good, I'm genuinely happy for you. I'm not discrediting that BLM has done some great things.

But this post isn't about BLM.

But this post isn't about BLM.

Yes it is, at least in part, because the OP blames what has happened on BLM. She specifically says so in the OP.

@Flynn999

Did they actually delete the post? If they’ve left it up I can understand why the person b is now raising it with hr. doesn’t seem very genuine is person a left the post on social media

No they deleted it straight away.

I would just get used to it. This is life from now on. Every white person can expect to be accused of racism.

I know right?!?! How can it be that someone sharing a video, that has racist remarks in is seen as racism? World gone mad.

That's my thought too. But I'm in not in HR and I don't know if companies are being tougher with the BLM movement coming out.

Um.. the BLM movement has been going on for years. It was being spoken about when I moved to England almost eight years ago. It’s not a new thing. 🙄

HR is going to follow the handbook which none of us knows exactly what it entails and what is the grounds of dismissal. Some companies are stricter than others especially if it can damage their social presence and reputation. If your friend works for a company like that then yes, it could lead to dismissal but again we don’t know. If it does, then it wouldn’t be unfair.

You’re already assuming they’re going to be bias against your friend because of a movement even though your friend did do something wrong. If they broke their contract then what happens, happens and it will be a lesson learned. Don’t post things you’re not prepared to watch fully.

Your racist mate is fucked, OP. Hey ho.

@Tunnocks34

100% agree with you. Why apologise if they didn't see the racist content? Also, by saying sorry it doesn't exonerate the person of fault.

Thanks for the responses, I'll be ending my input here. This is turning into a BLM debate which was never the intention, which was regarding HR common practice in dealing with racism and social media.

Most HR department’s are reasonably careful about imposing consistent responses for similar conduct. Failure to do so might see the company facing a tribunal.

marieVanArkleStinks - I think with idioms ignorance can be an excuse. Phrases have entered into common parlance and long lost any relevance to their original subject. For all we know many, many idioms or expressions could be offensive.

I would also say that there is a divide between us and the US which some people are now confusing: many expressions or words we use do not have anything like the same meaning as they do in America, and so castigating someone using them here in all innocence is a bit of a witch hunt and, indeed, ignorant in its turn.

It is essential to root out racism and any “accidental” racist language. But dissecting old phrases without any obvious offensive motive seems quite extreme.

@AriettyHomily

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

Really? Isn't that what the while discussion in the last few months has been about? People not recognising their own racial prejudice and not not being able to see how some actions, words or events are racists.

The idea that you are only being racist if its intentional is absurd.

I would just get used to it. This is life from now on
HOORAY!

Or were you imagining we all want to live in a world where people have to watch racist stuff and just accept it?
Progress would be this stuff becoming SO unacceptable that it stops altogether.

I work in HR, on the basis of what you've said it's entirely correct that the company should investigate. An investigation into a complaint, then a disciplinary hearing are two separate processes, you must complete the investigation before you proceed to disciplinary action.
I think actually going through a disciplinary process based on what you've said is harsh, I would have expected the investigation to show it was a genuine error and an apology was made and accepted at the time so no further action. I'd probably recommend some form of mediation and training (probably focused more on correct use of social media in the workplace rather than diversity training if it's been accepted as a genuine error). The fact they have done an investigation and then seem to have moved into an investigation would be unfair if what you've described is correct, it makes me think that the investigation produced other evidence you may not be aware of. This is very common in these types of matters, it's all (rightly) kept confidential so may appear unfair to those outside the investigation. How do you feel about your HR team usually? Do you feel they do a decent job? If so trust them, trust me in this job you don't uphold such awful allegations that could take away someone's livelihood without good reason.

I don’t see how drinking the kool
Aid is a racist phrase. I can see it is offensive in a work context, but not any racial connotations.