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Original poster

99% sure I'm going to resign tomorrow - would you?

50 replies

acnebride · 15/11/2006 20:17

Plenty of frustrating things about my workplace, the pay for a start, but the job is flexible, quite fun and within walking distance of home.

Today the big boss (there's only 12 of us) used the 'n' word in a meeting (as part of a phrase, not a direct insult). I have experienced a lot of racism here (see posts passim) but this coming from the boss has put the lid on for me. I'm off.

I guess if I were in a different state of mind I might stay and make a complaint, but I'm too scared to do so. Would you stay and fight, resign, stay, or resign and fight? It's going to take all my pitifully few guts to even say why I'm resigning, although I'm determined to do that.

OP posts:
morningpaper · 15/11/2006 20:18

What industry?

What exactly was said?

Bimblin · 15/11/2006 20:20

Considering you could sue them for that I think you should go for it. Why let them win? I put in a complaint about my boss saying he wouldn't consider me for promotion b/c he knew I have 'family commitments' and I think he deserved it.

lemonaid · 15/11/2006 20:21

I'd talk to a specialist solicitor and get advice before I did anything.

Are you in a union? Could you join a union?

Original poster
acnebride · 15/11/2006 20:22

NHS.

We were discussing a decision we have to make, quite a large one. The big boss is definitely on one side of this decision, and feels a bit isolated there. To express this, he said 'I guess I'm the n in the woodpile...'

OP posts:
morningpaper · 15/11/2006 20:24

Did no one say anything?

Whereabouts in the country is this? (Is it just ignorance, or wilful offensiveness?)

lambchop2 · 15/11/2006 20:29

are you in a trade union? They will advise and help. Citizen's advice, is perhaps an option if not. If you resign and do nothing, he gets away with this behaviour and won't change. Easy for me to say but be strong if you can. Either way, you should fight whether you stay or go. There's a thing called 'constructive dismissal' whereby you leave because working conditions were made unbearable - in effect he dismissed you by behaving in this way and you can take it to an Employment Tribunal. I know that when I did the 'employment rights' bit of my degree though, there were exemptions for firms employing less than a certain number of people - if i could remember how many it'd probably help you more - sorry!

Original poster
acnebride · 15/11/2006 20:30

Oxford. This is an educated professional we are talking about (allegedly).

Nobody said anything. Don't know if you saw my thread about the member of staff who told me not to shortlist any black applicants for a job advert?

Should have gone then. Somehow feels different when it's the head of the organisation.

OP posts:
Original poster
acnebride · 15/11/2006 20:35

oh btw bimblin, the next boss down from this one asked me how old our shortlisted candidates were for the last job (obv we didn't know as I have followed age discrimination legislation) and said 'oh i hope we don't get anyone with a young family, they're never here'

still don't know if that was a direct insult to me with ds aged 2.10 or not?

OP posts:
JoolsToo · 15/11/2006 20:39

tbh it doesn't sound like he was trying to offensive, just an ill-judged remark.

I'll bet he's an older guy and sayings like this were in normal usage for years and sometimes they're out before you realise, like older people saying 'coloured' instead of 'black'. They are not meaning to cause offensive just they find it hard to change their vocabulary.

PeachyClair · 15/11/2006 20:48

Agree to an extent Joolstoo but the comment about not shortlisting black applicants unacceptable.

But it's hardder to change things from the outside- stay, kick up a V bg fuss, and make life way uncomfortable- you can still go in a few weeks if you wish, but make them sweat first, and do speak to CAB or race relations people

PeachyClair · 15/11/2006 20:48

Agree to an extent Joolstoo but the comment about not shortlisting black applicants unacceptable.

But it's hardder to change things from the outside- stay, kick up a V bg fuss, and make life way uncomfortable- you can still go in a few weeks if you wish, but make them sweat first, and do speak to CAB or race relations people

lambchop2 · 15/11/2006 20:51

Jules, i think you're right

smittenkitten · 15/11/2006 20:53

its a surprisingly common phrase - i've heard people use it at work without realising how offensive it is.

if this is part of an ongoing series of racist events then you are protected by race discrimination legislation. you will of course have to prove it if you want to take legal action.

PeachyClair · 15/11/2006 20:53

I would stay and fight, whilst I would agree with joolstoo if it were just this comment, the history makes it far worse.

Far easier to make them sweat from the inside- and you can always go in the future and you'll have lost nothing.

Do speak to the CAb and have a look at this

PeachyClair · 15/11/2006 20:53

oops- pc crashing again

lemonaid · 15/11/2006 21:00

Depending on his age the comment he made is inappropriate (unacceptably so) rather than necessarily actively racist, I think (i.e. would be possible to say it as a phrase without engaging your brain and actually thinking about what the individual words mean) - he's in serious need of re-education, though. But the not shortlisting thing is . The general atmosphere is very worrying and I definitely think you should take legal advice.

RanToTheHills · 15/11/2006 21:06

are you in Unison? If not or as well as this contact yr HR department, diversity/equality officer or similar. You may not feel like fighting it but do you really want to go on this basis? He should not get away with this, however old he is there's no excuse (i guess you know that!)

Original poster
acnebride · 15/11/2006 21:07

Thanks for all your comments.

I know what you mean jools re the generational thing but this is a guy who graduated in 1975, not 1925!

and my grandmother, who was born in 1900, told off my mum for using the same word in the 50s.

I think this is why I want to resign. Leaving aside whether or not it is ill-judged or offensive, the fact is that I am not prepared to sit in meetings waiting for this sort of crap to come out. I don't want to fight tbh partly because this guy is so much less offensive in his thinking than most of our clientele and some of the staff! I know that I would not be prepared to carry on to a tribunal with this, so best not to start what I'm not willing to finish I think.

OP posts:
morningpaper · 15/11/2006 21:11

Why don't you speak up? (I'm sure you have your reasons, but I don't see what you have to lose?)

Have you kept a note/file of offensive comments?

lemonaid · 15/11/2006 21:12

I don't think anyone would argue that it wasn't offensive -- the only thing that I'd say was open to question is whether this particular bloke is fixable or beyond help...

RanToTheHills · 15/11/2006 21:13

but wd it have to go to tribunal? Can you check out BME-targetted policies on staffing/support with HR? Yr trust sd have a race equality scheme in place, it sdn't have to go to tribunal, they sd have ot sort it out before it gets anywhere nr that stage. seriously, are you in unison? if so, let them handle it for you.

RanToTheHills · 15/11/2006 21:18

not menaing to be a nag, but you're going to regret giving up on this, aren't you if you just resign? If you can't face situation, ring in sick for a couple of days to give yrself breahting space, then get some advice, then resign if you still want to.

expatinscotland · 15/11/2006 21:20

I'd find another job, then leave.

Blu · 15/11/2006 21:24

Acnebride, I do remember your previous thread.

The thing is, if you resign now you are equally a victim of the culture in your workplace as those being kept out by the abhorrent and illegal discrimination they are operating. I am horrified that this is the NHS - a public body flouting every aspect of equal opportunites.

It isn't your job to put the world to rights, and it's your choice as to whether you simply walk away to somewhere more conducive. But if you do go, unless you make a big official statement / complaint about why, you might as well not bother because they won't care and no-one important will hear it. All they will do is make jokes about you after you have gone ...doubtless includinhg the phrase 'pc gone mad'.

If you walk, would your job opportunities be within other NHS facilities, or can you look further afield? I can see it's a big thing to make a complaint of this nature on your own.
I would at least talk it over with an Employment Law lawyer, your union (if there is one)...and possibly the CRE.

Original poster
acnebride · 15/11/2006 21:37

what do i have to lose?

references, for next job and UCAS application
reputation as non-troublemaker, or lack of repuatation as troublemaker
good relationships with some people there
money - they're not going to want me to do overtime if i'm suing them and I'm only paid for the hours I do, not a salary

acting hr manager is the wife of the person who made the remark

etc...

OP posts:
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