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.

@Ticklemelmo
"it could mean losing the house because things are already tight at the moment.
Well they will definitely learn their lesson if they lose their house.

But you @‘d her and she said thank you. When I did it she told me not to

Well we all respond to communication differently don't we? Depending on whether we perceive it as aggressive or supportive etc. I don't think it's that hard to understand is it?

queenofknives I agree with you and will always stand by ideas and concepts being able to be discussed. Especially relatively new, unproved ones, which have rapidly taken hold in the mainstream and we are all expected to agree with without reference to our own thoughts or lived experiences. I think it's dangerous not to

@popcornlover
Maybe just don't be racist and you'll have nothing to worry about

@Quaagars

as you know, any kind of questioning of these newly popular ideas

Wow - OK, really?
That says it all about your opinion.
"Newly popular ideas?"
What, not tolerating racism any more in society? Calling it out?
How very dare black people do that!

aahhhh I really have to go. But no, obviously I'm talking about the Robin Di Angelo school of anti-racism when I say 'newly popular ideas'. I would have thought that would be clear from both my actual words and the context of my posts. But I guess you have to find something to have a go about! Even if it bears no relation to reality or you know, the actual words I've written here!

@Ticklemelmo
You haven't shown an ounce of sympathy for the person who's the victim

@Quaagars

as you know, any kind of questioning of these newly popular ideas

Wow - OK, really?
That says it all about your opinion.
"Newly popular ideas?"
What, not tolerating racism any more in society? Calling it out?
How very dare black people do that!

But they are newly popular. And saying that isn't a bad thing. It's good that this issues are being raised and discussed as a priority. The problem was when they were not!

@Quaagars

But you @‘d her and she said thank you

cos agreed with her, so was a luffly @

When I did it she told me not to
You disagreed, which was norty and very aggressive. Yours was a shouty @

@queenofknives

My phone going ping ping ping and I was already on the thread!

Funny how you don’t mind the pings when it’s @YgritteSnow pinging you don’t worry, we see through you.

aahhhh I really have to go. But no, obviously I'm talking about the Robin Di Angelo school of anti-racism when I say 'newly popular ideas'. I would have thought that would be clear from both my actual words and the context of my posts. But I guess you have to find something to have a go about! Even if it bears no relation to reality or you know, the actual words I've written here!

For goodness sake it was quite clear, unless you have a vested interest in pretending otherwise in order to support the "everyone is racist!" argument popularised by Ms DiAngelo.

"Queen* I find with these discussions it's definitely best to know when to bow out. As long as people keep on talking and asserting alternative views and opinions that's the important thing. You don't need to stick around for the long term repetitive rants which don't really say anything new. I never do

I wish you did, too. I think the world would be a better place if more people felt confident that they weren't racist and acted accordingly.

I think you've missed my point, Queen. My point is that I do not believe your utter certainty that you do not carry any conscious or subconscious prejudice. You've displayed an arrogance and obstinacy on this thread that has bothered many posters. Reading a few books does not make you a paragon of virtue.

I actually can't believe the white lady has told the black ladies to listen to the black people she wants them to listen to but is assured she isn't in any way racist.

yep.

In other words, when you’re called out on your bull shit, and are exposed for what you are, don’t feel ashamed for making a quick getaway

@YgritteSnow only if you are white.

@Temp123999

You illustrated my point beautifully ! booby prize for you!

You've displayed an arrogance and obstinacy on this thread that has bothered many posters.

God the arrogance was breathtaking ...I’m glad I’m not the only thought so.

But no, obviously I'm talking about the Robin Di Angelo school of anti-racism when I say 'newly popular ideas'

You never even mentioned Robin Di Angelo, I was going entirely on the words used in your post, nice try

I have been a Manager of someone who did something similar. In that case, it was a photocopy of an unfortunate cartoon that got distributed to my team. Apparently, it had been on his desk, and he accidentally picked it up and distributed it with some minutes. He had absolutely no previous form for this. The offender offered to resign, which I refused. Instead, we took him through the formal disciplinary process straight to a first written warning. I also discussed this with the one person of colour who might have been offended by the cartoon. He was offended but agreed that resignation was an overreaction.

It is a serious offence and needs to be treated as such, but the response needs to be appropriate.

accidentally picked up and distributed a photocopy to everyone on the team? Hmm

Why would there be a racist cartoon on his desk in the first place?
Not something you usually have lying about, let alone a photocopy of one!

TBF, Quaggars, it happened to me once. I was meant to give a presentation on budget cuts, but instead found myself accidentally reading from my signed copy of Mein Kampf!

Same as the OP's (ex-)colleague's 'I didn't watch it to the end' defence. it don't wash.

The one "inadvertent" incident you mention may be the only incident you witnessed or are aware of.

That doesn't mean the recipient hasn't experienced others, either from the same person or others.

The "oh, sorry, accidental/inadvertent/just didn't know " excuse for racist offence only works once.

I can't understand why people wait before making complaints. Either it's a problem or it isn't, why wait until it's topic of the day or more widespread reporting of similar things are happening.

I can't understand why people wait before making complaints. Either it's a problem or it isn't, why wait until it's topic of the day or more widespread reporting of similar things are happening.

Perhaps someone is scared of the repercussions of making a complaint. Perhaps they have been emboldened and encouraged that they will be listened to by recent events. It's not for you to chastise the victims of racism for not speaking up soon enough for you.

This isn't difficult to understand. Maybe you lack a bit of understanding.

@Staffy1

I can't understand why people wait before making complaints. Either it's a problem or it isn't, why wait until it's topic of the day or more widespread reporting of similar things are happening.

Because sometimes you know that things only get taken seriously when there is sufficient external pressure hence #MeToo. The level overt sexism that existed when I started work in the City a couple of decades ago would have made reporting difficult to impossible.