Racism at work

[NCforobviousreasonsok]

I'm interested to know peoples take on this.
A colleague used an offensive word (go it letter beginning with a p) to describe a type of place. They seem somewhat remorseful but it's still wrong.

It's being dealt with formally, but I want to know how you would expect this to be dealt with at your workplace? It's upset a few people and rightly so - I'm just debating if it's a sackable offence or warning and if so, how severe?

What a massive over-reaction.

@Anotherdayanotherhangover can you be more specific in what sense?

Definitely

This will boil down to a couple of things - primarily is there a policy in place and has that been adequately made aware to all employees and also trained? And secondly if it was directed at someone. Oh and also if the employee already has any disciplinary warnings on file.

For this reason i think they should be dismissed. Told to stop but continued... presumably trying to be clown acting as if they had no awareness it was offensive.

Dummy.

I would reprimand the first time , second time - out x

I wouldn’t class referring to the P* shop as intentionally racist

its not PC but for older generation that was the norm and wasnt ever said with malice and important previously was never an issue in terms or discipline

unless company has done Diversity training not everyone would be as aware of company rules etc

if someone said that in my presence i’d be shocked but wouldn’t be out for blood and would simply remind them it’s not appropriate. and i work in place that offers diversity training annually but i appreciate new starters may not be as familiar

if they said it maliciously and to a person that’s different situation completely but either way evidence of training would be key

@DiamondTriangle store suggesting a final warning?

I wonder if instead of just considering how many times the perpetrator gets to be racist before being fired we could think about how many times people of colour have to hear racist rhetoric while working before action is taken. If each person gets 2/3 chances that's quite a lot of times...

@NewNameNigel completely see your point

I'm thinking OP is HR and is a bit torn as to how to proceed.

@Demonhunter that's right I'll admit, you're correct. Although this forum people tend to get a bashing when asking for such advice hence why I decided not to say.

I guess I'm just looking for a bit of reassurance that's all

It wasn’t just the older generation who said it and still do, it is and was ignorant, stupid and racist people who said it. I’m tired of hearing this. I grew up in the 70’s and never said it, nor did anyone in my family. In 2024 if you still say it - you bloody know it’s offensive.

Totally unacceptable in 2024. I would expect them to be sacked.

My PIL are in their late 70s and would never have said p*

I was born in the 70s. Widely used in the 80s. By racists. It’s always been fucking racist and to use it in this day and age is a fucking disgrace.

They sound as thick as horseshit so probably best for the business to find a way to get rid.

If they kept saying it in front of ethnic minorities who found it personally offensive, then this is a case of harassment.

I don’t see how anyone could argue that they weren’t aware it’s a racist expression. The fact that they repeated it and only feigned remorse is also not a good sign

As a Black woman id want this person sacked

It's no sackable offence, its at worst a written warning.

Nope sorry, not buying that. Not acceptable to the older generation. My parents are in their late 70s, grew up and lived in London, we had a lot of friends with diverse backgrounds and I've never heard either of them say that word. completely unacceptable to my parents . I'm 50 and even at school in the 80s everyone knew it was wrong.

I know someone who used the word mong at work
Apparently he didn't know the origin of it

Entire mumsnet thread just yesterday rubbishing EDI training as unnecessary, patronising, and a waste of time. As I mentioned in that, I facilitate EDI for volunteers, a lot of them older and having been out of the workplace for a while, and this sort of language is still remarkably common and you still meet the odd one who is genuinely surprised to have it pointed out that it's no longer accepted or acceptable.

Load of pointless, waste of money shite though, apparently.

it wasn't said with malice but was in front of quite a few people - some who personally took offence. They then repeated it after being told not to

Sounds like malice to me. & doubling down on it too.

They deserve to be sacked for racism.

I'm a South Asian woman and would find this a very hostels environment if serious action wasn't taken against this person.

Meant to type hostile environment