View Full Version : Craziness at work
OK would someone please reassure me I'm not going bonkers......
We had a new guy starting in our office on monday. Not to beat about the bush, he's black, which of course isn't an issue but when he and I were in the canteen I started asking him about his roots and ancestory etc in an effort to make conversation.
He was only too please to tell me about how his family are a mixture of Somalian and Jamaican, but his family have lived in the UK since 1936. He certainly seemed to be quite proud of his roots and the whole story fascinated me.
Oh but it doesn't end there. Ohhh no.
Yesterday I was pulled in to the Senior Co-ordinators office and told that I had been reported for inciting racial disharmony in the workplace!!! Someone had overheard me quizzing the new guy over his roots and reported me!!!!
I spoke to the new bloke about this afterwards and he couldn't believe it! He said he'll speak up for me and to not worry.
So just because I was asking someone about their history, I'm a racist?? Wow, what an incredibly perceptive chain of logic!!
timewarrior2001
10-09-2003, 10:38
And that Russ, is exactly why this country is going downhill.
As far as I am concerend the person that made the report is the on trying to entice racial disharmony.
I understand what you are going through and you need to come out fighting mate. It will never stop if you dont.
Dave Stones
10-09-2003, 10:44
Originally posted by timewarrior2001
And that Russ, is exactly why this country is going downhill.
As far as I am concerend the person that made the report is the on trying to entice racial disharmony.
I understand what you are going through and you need to come out fighting mate. It will never stop if you dont.
if it went as far as you getting "disciplined" or fried or whatever, i think you would have a substantial case against the employer here... especially seeing as the one you were supposed to be being racist to has said he will stand up for you...
mehtinks it must have been a manager or a serioous butt-kisser who saw you and wanted to "grease the wheels" and be lookedon favourably by head office...
Sadly there is a race relations 'industry' in this country, costing the public purse millions of pounds seeking out discrimination where there is none. And it has very successfully transferred its paranoia to the population at large, who are in some cases extremely over-zealous to spot discrimination lurking under every stone.
I'm glad your new friend is sticking up for you, but I think you will still have to wait and see whether your HR department is so paranoid about these issues that they want to make trouble anyway.
Don't take it lying down.
homealone
10-09-2003, 11:16
By giving the guy the opportunity to express his pride in his roots, you offered him an opportunity that, imo, gave him a chance to "anchor" himself as a person in his new place of work.
How that could be construed as racist beggars belief.
It is just this kind of "pussy footing" around recognising people are different, rather than sharing the concept, that causes so many misunderstandings.
We have a top bloke working at our place, who is black - the relationship is relaxed enough that he can actually joke about it - both at his & our expense. To an "outsider" I can see that, out of context, him saying "you just don't like me because I'm black", with a twinkle in his eye, could be taken the wrong way. However, in reality, it gets that sh*t out of the way & we can then deal with each other as people.
- thats a round about way of saying "no you are not going bonkers", Russ.
dialanothernumb
10-09-2003, 12:33
Once people hear (from my voice) that I'm Irish, I get the same curiosity and conversation. I have had the odd person get quite snotty about my background (reference to terrorism, thick Paddies etc., but mostly I get a good conversation and the start of a good relationship with that person.
That's my experience and I don't equate it with the experience of those who have been at the end of regular and repeated racism. However, managing racism at work in this way helps accentuate the isolation that minorities can feel at work. I bet your mate feels embarrassed and a bit responsible for your trouble... nobody wins.
As an aside, what happens now Russ. Is there further action or an enquiry or is the incident just going into your HR records with no more followup?
That really stinks. I would press for a full apology and demand to know who reported me, if I was you.:(
What right has anyone else got to complain, if the supposed recipient has no complaint ????
Russ, that stinks. Whoever overheard you has not right to report you. I don't believe there was any cause for reporting you at all, but if there where, the only person with the right to do it was the person you were talking to.
Report that guy for eavesdropping and invasion of privacy (a private conversation).
Originally posted by dialanothernumb
As an aside, what happens now Russ. Is there further action or an enquiry or is the incident just going into your HR records with no more followup?
The matter is being 'investigated' apparently.
When I get summond to the HR office (standard procedure in matters like this) I feel like acting dumb (not too difficult) and saying something like "Me? Racist? But I watch Trisha all the time!!"
lol
Reminds me of a story a friend told me about his friend in the NHS.
Manager (my friend's friend) sacked a woman simply because she was no good at her job.
The sacked woman played the race card and it went to tribunal.
First question asked of the manager: Are you married?
A: Yes, for the past 10 years
Q: And where does your husband come from?
A: Nairobi :D
Atomic22
11-09-2003, 18:41
surely russ could attempt to get the eavesdropper up on the race relation charge because if anyone is guilty it is them for trying to create racial tension where there clearly isnt any , this will come to light as soon as russ's new friend stands up and says it was all tosh and someones stirring it :dunce:
gawd i hate socialists and do-gooders :disturbd:
it would never have happened if maggie was still pm :nono:
Right, after an entertaining day at work, I have the following to report.....
The person who overheard me admitted she (yes, I even found who it was, 'someone' left the case notes lying around carelessly.... :angel: so I had to have a quick nose :)) only heard the start of the conversation and thought that I was asking Ahmed about his roots to form an opinion on him. She said that in this day and age "you can't be too careful" and felt she was "doing her duty for race relations" by reporting me.
Fair play to the Senior Co-ordinator who presided over the matter, she told "Miss X" (or more accurately, Miss A M) that she was wasting the company's time by being over-zealous. Ahmed stayed true to his word and spoke up for me and as a result, Miss X has been spoken to regarding her actions within the workplace.
I wonder if it had anything to do with the fact she's up for a promotion in 2 months?
The Co-ordinator apologised to me for any undue stress and worry but explained that all allegations of racism etc need to be followed up (totally understandable) and that i can walk away from this incident completely innocent!
All's well that ends well :)
Atomic22
11-09-2003, 18:55
nice to see your new bezzie m8 stood up to be counted russ
if the woman in question is up for promotion in 2 months whoever puts her up for it needs a slap :batty:
homealone
11-09-2003, 18:56
Good news - glad to hear you are exonerated Russ:)
Graham F
11-09-2003, 18:57
Glad to hear that it all worked out well for you Russ :)
Thanks all, I was never really bothered in the first place because of the sheer pettiness, but it's nice to be told that all is ok :)
My best mate,(was also my best man when I got married) is French.For as long as I have known him I have called him Kermit. Am I living on borrowed time before some do-gooder reports me ? lol
Originally posted by Russ D
Fair play to the Senior Co-ordinator who presided over the matter, she told "Miss X" (or more accurately, Miss A M) that she was wasting the company's time by being over-zealous. Ahmed stayed true to his word and spoke up for me and as a result, Miss X has been spoken to regarding her actions within the workplace.
Ha Ha i love it when a brown noser gets exposed to be an utter ****. Makes me feel all is well in the world:)
Russ D saidSo just because I was asking someone about their history, I'm a racist?? Wow, what an incredibly perceptive chain of logic!!
Just because you were open, honest and clearly comfortable asking these questions is the reason why. I find that people who would feel uneasy asking these sort of questions are the ones who make complaints. I remember a while ago on another site (you may do as well Russ) when I was accused of being a racist, I didn't feel the need to explain myself on a public forum but suffice to say a few people in ntl actually had a good laugh at that attack on me as they knew more about me.
I would not be afraid to enter a conversation with a black person asking the same questions as you did, it's the small minded people that cause all the trouble in these situations
aliferste
14-09-2003, 01:40
Jeepers......there is doing whatever you can to combat racism an dthen there is just plain daftness. Its a pity because what may happen is that people will feel uncomfortable working in that kind of environment !
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