General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsIf a boss, or owner tells jokes about black people, in the workplace, can they be trusted?
say the owner, boss, manager or supervisor tells these jokes.
but in other respects, seems like a nice person, perhaps even, outside the jokes, seems nice to the African American staff.
can they trust that boss, owner, manager, supervisor?
should they trust him/her when they want a promotion, raise, should a prospective employee trust the owner, etc. when they are interviewed?
is the person who not only sees humor in a derogatory joke, but thinks it should be re-told, in front of others, even staff, even staff of color --is that person going to have bias? is it possible that if the boss, etc. has bias, that they would not even realize they had it?
African Americans can't read minds of white people any more than those of other races can.
so what should they, or what should people of any race do?
ignore the words of the boss described above, because one can't read that person's mind?
or should they confront the boss described above, or take appropriate actions because whether or not they can judge the mind of the person, the actions of the person, their words, are inappropriate in the workplace, period.
what do you say?
bettyellen
(47,209 posts)Betsy Ross
(3,148 posts)I will call them on it immediately. I have, and gotten some to back down. If the offender is an hourly, as opposed to salaried, I will report it to HR for them to handle. If I get my ass fired for objecting to unacceptable behavior, that's on me and I am will to take the risk.
socialist_n_TN
(11,481 posts)But I'm not African-American, so maybe the response would be different.
Although I'm white I recently had a boss that, SORT OF, fit these parameters. Always going on about "nigger this" and nigger that". I finally got fed up and, in as nice a way possible, told him that I had family members and friends that were black or half black and that I preferred the generic term "dumb ass" rather than making it racial. Needless to say, I didn't hold that job long after that. Him I wouldn't have trusted NOT to discriminate. He later stole wages earned from me too.
bluestate10
(10,942 posts)I knew of a situation years back where a supervisor casually used the derogatory term "Japs" to refer to Japanese people. The person stopped using the term after being educated on his nature. How do I know the person wasn't a racist? I saw the person aggressively promote, mentor and defend performing people of all races and sexes, real actions that bettered the economic positions and professional positions of those people - and the person never used derogatory terms when referring to anyone from those racial, sexual and ethnic groups.
tammywammy
(26,582 posts)made a racist, sexist, homophobic or any other inappropriate comment, I'd report them to the ethics office or HR immediately.
This.
socialist_n_TN
(11,481 posts)tammywammy
(26,582 posts)A previous employer was family owned. I had an awful boss there, though she was not part of the family. I found a new job.
Apophis
(1,407 posts)If I had a supervisor who behaved that way, I would call him/her out on it and/or turn him/her in to his/her supervisor.
"Off-color" jokes are never appropriate.
The Straight Story
(48,121 posts)madrchsod
(58,162 posts)i've had a couple of these types during my working years. thankfully i worked at places that were union or the bosses didn't have the power over my wages.
JustAnotherGen
(33,057 posts)If a boss, or owner tells jokes about black people, in the workplace, can they be trusted?
]
should they trust him/her when they want a promotion, raise, should a prospective employee trust the owner, etc. when they are interviewed?
Another nope - I wouldn't.
is the person who not only sees humor in a derogatory joke, but thinks it should be re-told, in front of others, even staff, even staff of color --is that person going to have bias? is it possible that if the boss, etc. has bias, that they would not even realize they had it?
I don't care - its work. Get to work - its not funny.
so what should they, or what should people of any race do?
I'm only one person but my personal abilities do not allow e to read minds. So own your words.
ignore the words of the boss described above, because one can't read that person's mind?
Prior to today - I would have called a Labor Attorney. Now that I can't, I guess I have to just take the, "Just kidding."
or should they confront the boss described above, or take appropriate actions because whether or not they can judge the mind of the person, the actions of the person, their words, are inappropriate in the workplace, period.
Prior to today - Sue them. Now you can't get your day in court.
treestar
(82,383 posts)They will have some "reason" for promoting white people but not black.
bluestate10
(10,942 posts)into his or her home for social events is irrelevant. People have preferences, some people like blondes of the opposite or same sex, others prefer sleek elegant brunettes, Blacks, Hispanics, Asians, ect. But when a person acts on his or her preferences to deny people not of their race economic opportunity and the right to better themselves and provide a better life for their families, then that person is a criminal that should be thrown in jail. A racist boss or owner is carrying out an economic crime that is as serious as that person walking into a bank with a gun to rob that bank. As a nation, we must take a hard line on discrimination on the job, once we get serious about that, corrective programs like affirmative action can be eliminated because there truly would be no need for them - until the day we as owners, stockholders and bosses get serious about stomping out racism on the job, we will continue to witness the economic damage that racism does to our nations wealth and mental well being.