Least it is in the open

[RedMarauder]

First a disclaimer

Just in case this thread pops up in “Active”. This is a contribution to the Black Mumsnetters board which was established to be a safe space for black women and allies to discuss issues of interest black women, from racism to African history, from black hair care to culture-specific issues in relationships. If you feel triggered, nothing here is an attack on you. I would hate for a thread centering black experience to be hijacked so that it ends about centering those who may have hurt feelings because this discussion may be uncomfortable for them. Thank you!

One of my siblings caught out a manager making a request like this to a recruitment consultant. I've also been told by recruitment consultants that a particular company was giving me the run around. I've also had friends sacked in the past due to their looks.

I guess companies like this will learn not to be so overt.

www.theguardian.com/world/2021/nov/02/mayfair-casino-guilty-of-race-discrimination-tribunal-finds

An exclusive London casino racially discriminated against one of its dealers by allowing a request by a patron not to have black dealers at their table, an employment tribunal has found.

The casino had tried to argue that the reason for not allowing Tesfagiorgis and her colleague to deal to the patron was not because of race but because of the perception that it was necessary to accommodate patrons’ request, no matter how unreasonable, in order to the further the interests of the business. This was rejected by the three-person panel sitting at London central employment tribunal, led by Judge Elliot.

In a written judgment, it said: “Our finding is that the claimant and her black female colleagues were held back from going on duty because they were not ‘fair-skinned, female dealers’ or ‘western-looking female staff’ …

“The accommodation of the request was direct race discrimination of the claimant because but for her race she would have been asked to deal to the patron. The granting of that request was less favourable treatment by the managers because of race.”

Tesfagiorgis, an inspector/dealer at Aspinalls between 2007 and 2020, claims millionaire members aimed racial slurs at her and black colleagues, including use of the N-word, comparing black people to gorillas and calling them “stupid fucking black girls”. She alleges the casino not only failed to bar offending patrons but acceded to their requests to not have black dealers at their tables.

I'm glad that she is vindicated. How blatant it all was is disturbing.

Usually these racists are not as overt, the covert shit still is rife.

The time it's taken to reach that tribunal verdict is shocking. So glad that she won.

BIWI I agree. Employers trying to wear complainants down by dragging things out through legals etc, is a common tactic also.

Driven out of her career, I hope the damages are punitive, but no doubt recouped on the tables, within an hour or so.

Thanks for posting OP. To think this sort of discrimination still happens today is appalling. Hopefully the court's favourable outcome will set a precedent and deter offending companies from such practices

Op I hope you don't mind me posting (I'm white)
I used to work at this casino, it used to be part of a larger company and dealers were often moved between their 3 casinos.
1 night myself and my black colleague were asked to work at this casino by our pit boss, we agreed, when we arrived at the casino we were left waiting outside (on CCTV) for about 10 minutes. Eventually a man came to the door, asked my name and let me in, I was told where to go. I presumed my colleague would follow after. I was sent to the staff room to change, colleague didn't arrive, I was taken to a table to deal, still didn't see colleague, my first break I txt her to ask where she was. Turned out the manager had sent her away saying they didn't need her, despite the casino being short staffed and us all having to work longer shifts, long story short this wasn't the first or last time she experienced discrimination in work due to her race and the company did nothing to protect her. She left very shorty after the internal review found no discrimination and I was quite quick behind her. I offered to be a witness in a tribunal but she had no confidence the system would protect her
This article proves things haven't moved on at all.
Sorry if I've overstepped commenting but I thought it relevant to the conversation. I will delete if you don't agree.

@purpleboy, not overstepping at all! Important that we heard this.Thank you for supporting your colleague.

I hope the Gambling Commission gets involved now re licence.

@EchoNan

I hope the Gambling Commission gets involved now re licence.

Unlikely.

Companies only care about negative publicity that decreases their profits.

All this company will do is reduce the number of black staff they employ.

@EchoNan

BIWI I agree. Employers trying to wear complainants down by dragging things out through legals etc, is a common tactic also.

Driven out of her career, I hope the damages are punitive, but no doubt recouped on the tables, within an hour or so.

This is so true. Similar to the pitiful fines that football clubs have to pay when their fans abuse the opposition players.

Fines for all big companies in any situation like this should be a % of their gross profit. Companies with no morals clearly only notice when it hits their bank balance.

When I worked in A&E we occasionally had patients ask to be only treated by white staff. This was of course refused and they were seen by the next available and qualified doctor (regardless of ethnicity). So unfortunately this story is not a surprise to me at all. I'm so glad the tribunal called out this racism

@purpleboy you were a supportive colleague in a clearly toxic atmosphere.

I hope you work somewhere now that appreciates all your co workers.

Things like this really rattle my spirit because I'm always so aware of my race in certain places, particularly where you just KNOW someone in there doesn't think you deserve / belong to be there.

Of course, a halfway decent establishment would have called the clients out for making such an overtly racist request in the first place.

Glad the tribunal upheld this.

Interesting read Op - imagine the stress she was under to take this on and for the company to continue the case in public view. So the C.E.O of these companies think it's ok that the staff are treated like this!