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Work

Formal Complaint of Racism- Help!

646 replies

OhBollocksFuck · 26/10/2016 11:14

I've NC as this is quite outing.

I work in the back office (10 people, all women, desk work) doing logistics for delivery drivers (27 people, mostly men, out and about all day).

We've had a bloke called Steve (not his real name) working as a delivery driver for years. Steve is black. Then another Steve came. So the original Steve became known as 'black Steve', which he's completely fine with, and new Steve became 'white Steve' which he's also fine with. We also have 'Short Trev' and 'Tall Trev' for two blokes called Trev. They're descriptions just to differentiate.

A new woman has started in the back office with us and asked me the other day what to do with an order which needed express sending. I told her to give it to 'black Steve' for various reasons. She's seemed quite nice, a little bit up-tight perhaps but that's usual when starting a new place.

Fast-forward to today and my manager has called me in the office to let me know that this new woman has put in a complaint about me using racist language. He's arranged a formal meeting with me and her for next Friday to talk through the complaint and see 'where we go' (his words). I'm in a union so I've got a union representative coming with me but I'm completely flawed by it.

I don't know what to do. I'm trying to remain calm and professional with this woman but I'm angry and upset. I don't want to mention anything to black Steve but, at the same time, it feels odd that there's all this going on with him being at the centre but him not really knowing. I also know that if I did mention it some of the drivers would take issue with her and I don't want them to get themselves into any trouble either.

I don't know what I'm asking really TBH. just some words of wisdom and advice from MNers would be breat!

OP posts:

Report

exWifebeginsat40 · 26/10/2016 14:56

...and I would tell you once again that we were not here to discuss other people's behaviour.

and then I'd fire you.

OhBollocksFuck · 26/10/2016 14:57

SuperFly suppose you move towns/jobs still think this is ok eh??

I don't understand what you mean by that.

OP posts:

CrazyDuchess · 26/10/2016 14:57

No.. bit now I know we are on the same movie wavelength I am going to check them out!!!!

That scene where he is chucking all sorts of random shit at them to dodge still has me howling!

yes sorry for the derail!

KimmySchmidtsSmile · 26/10/2016 14:59

Bullshit superfly her last post does nothing of the sort, it simply means she will NOT be the flaming office scapegoat - if it is institutionalised racism they ALL need hauling in, not just one person. "Oh we're no longer racist now cos we dealt with OBF" . Fuck that, they ALL get a bollocking, drivers an 'all.

OhBollocksFuck · 26/10/2016 15:00

Fictional He has this nickname from a football team he used to play on where there were two people with the same name.

OP posts:

KimmySchmidtsSmile · 26/10/2016 15:03

m.youtube.com/?#/watch?v=hCttyRcnLDs

There you go duchess

The job was two seasons only. Not sure how well it holds up, it's been a while but it made me laugh when DD was little.

Southallgirl · 26/10/2016 15:11

OP - You have a troublemaker in your midst, probably a regressive leftie. You must inform black Steve about this, and also white Steve. Because if referring to the first is racist, then so is the second - going by the Ultra Left's bible of 'how to fuck up a happy office'.

KimmySchmidtsSmile · 26/10/2016 15:13

^Actually The Job has a workplace very similar to the OPs. Diane however kicks ass and you need to see the whole series duchess x

DiegeticMuch · 26/10/2016 15:16

It's unfair that the OP is being singled out. However, this nickname nonsense needs to stop and it's a good opportunity for the manager to do it.

CrazyDuchess · 26/10/2016 15:17

Watching as we speak! Thank you as was struggling with half term viewing!

ItsAllGoingToBeFine · 26/10/2016 15:18

So if "Black Steve" chose this nickname, and specified that's how he'd like to be known, does his right to choose how he is referred to trump racism? Or is he being a racist to himself?

CrazyDuchess · 26/10/2016 15:20

He cannot call himself whatever he likes..... as long as it doesn't offend or incite racial hatred to others.

I am not sure he can insist that other people call him "black steve"

Southallgirl · 26/10/2016 15:22

Also OP, as you say, it is a male-dominated business and I doubt that any bloke would care that much. It's this particular woman; she;s the type that feels a pea under 5 mattresses.

The point is as follows. Despite this newcomer hearing YOU referring to Steve, your employer could be said to be treating you "differently" to the other women in the back office, i.e. unfairly. If these are the names by which both Steves are referred to by EVERYONE, then you alone cannot be disciplined. Do you by any chance remember who first came up with the prefixes?

You MUST tell black Steve about this, otherwise they will stitch you up.

Southallgirl · 26/10/2016 15:25

Ask your Union Rep: What is wrong with being black or white; what is derogatory about those terms? Afterall, police bulletins have to give a description including ethnicity. There is nothing inherently bad about being any colour.

SuperFlyHigh · 26/10/2016 15:26

OhBollocks

right then - if you move jobs to a different town etc with the attitude you've had up until now you seem to think this is ok.

I am guessing but could be totally wrong that this isn't London or SE.

Trust me there have been lawsuits brought eg by Irish people for them being called 'Paddy' before now so this is hardly new news.

I think if I spoke to my colleagues and said "hey girls is it ok for me to call you Black Zara?" they'd say yes. eg if we had eg another Zara join us who happened to be white there is no way I'd ever differentiate by using their colour of their skin.

SuperFlyHigh · 26/10/2016 15:28

Aaarrgghh my colleagues would say "no it's not ok to call them black Zara if one of them was called Zara and happened to be black".

CrazyDuchess · 26/10/2016 15:29

Southall girl have you read the full thread?

CrazyDuchess · 26/10/2016 15:31

I could not go into my office and have people call me "Black Crazy" it's just not on and I am so surprised in this day and age people still don't get its not right

CrazyDuchess · 26/10/2016 15:33

And for all those of you who don't see an issue I would also ask you to check your work place policies and see whether they agreen with you, or whether you would find yourself in the same position as the OP if you did same thing!

Southallgirl · 26/10/2016 15:34

It seems that there is a rather backward culture in your workplace
MovingonUp Jeez, ladies, they work in transportation. This is not Goldman Sachs ffs. Have you ever worked in a Portakabin for a site manager on a construction site? It's a different world with its own language and do's and donts. Have you heard how men talk to other men?

Some of you are trying to snuff out the cultures that organically grow in each trade and industry. If I was HR, I would have a quiet word with the newcomer and find out WHY she is so sensitive, and suggest that if she cannot deal with backroom culture and no doubt the banter between the drivers, then this may not be the job for her.

CrazyDuchess · 26/10/2016 15:36

Hahaha good thing you don't work in HR.. the culture my ass

Southallgirl · 26/10/2016 15:38

if you move jobs to a different town etc with the attitude you've had up until now you seem to think this is ok.

No, people adjust their language, their dress and adjust formality/informality to suit the job they are in. When I was working in oil & gas exploration where all the engineers and riggers were men, I work jeans to work. Tidy, but nevertheless jeans.

When I worked for J.P. Morgan I was very formal in behaviour, dress and speech.

YOU ADJUST to your surroundings and the culture within that job.

CrazyDuchess · 26/10/2016 15:40

SuperFlyHigh · 26/10/2016 15:44

Southallgirl you are missing the point by a mile here - maybe 20-30 etc years ago you could have got away with racist and sexist comments. A few people would have still raised eyebrows. but that was the culture back then.

Nowadays racist and sexist language is covered by strict HR and other rules especially in the workplace.

I cannot believe you think this is acceptable - and if you're from Southall eg the area of London I think you're in then you should be even more fine-tuned to racist/sexually appropriate behaviour and language.

I would worry about employing an employee like yourself Southallgirl with your attitude which I would say is bigoted at the very least.

I will give you an example - in my workplace there are 3 Jewish people working here - 1 doesn't practice but the other 2 do. One of the younger paralegals (aged 26) called them in a blanket term Jew meisters (sp?) - I immediately pulled her up on this and said if she was heard using this sort of language she could get in trouble for being xenophobic - which she could do. It transpired that her father (also a lawyer but retired) used that term.

CrazyDuchess · 26/10/2016 15:48

Superfly said it perfectly.....

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