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CreekDog

(46,192 posts)
Mon Jun 24, 2013, 08:04 PM Jun 2013

If 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?

14 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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If a boss, or owner tells jokes about black people, in the workplace, can they be trusted? (Original Post) CreekDog Jun 2013 OP
they can be trusted to treat you better because you are white, and not for anything else. bettyellen Jun 2013 #1
If a peer or a superior makes a racist, sexist, etc., remark Betsy Ross Jun 2013 #2
Interesting question. I'd say no..... socialist_n_TN Jun 2013 #3
Sometime people use irresponsible words, but they aren't racists. bluestate10 Jun 2013 #14
If anyone at work, regardless of if they're my superior tammywammy Jun 2013 #4
Yes. Sissyk Jun 2013 #9
What if they're the sole owner?.... socialist_n_TN Jun 2013 #11
Not an issue where I'm at. tammywammy Jun 2013 #12
Absolutely not. Apophis Jun 2013 #5
What if your boss is Carlos Mencia? The Straight Story Jun 2013 #6
trust? nah it would boil down to respect madrchsod Jun 2013 #7
Nope JustAnotherGen Jun 2013 #8
Certainly not treestar Jun 2013 #10
Whether a boss or owner would have dinner with a Black person or invite Black people bluestate10 Jun 2013 #13

Betsy Ross

(3,147 posts)
2. If a peer or a superior makes a racist, sexist, etc., remark
Mon Jun 24, 2013, 08:13 PM
Jun 2013

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)
3. Interesting question. I'd say no.....
Mon Jun 24, 2013, 08:13 PM
Jun 2013

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)
14. Sometime people use irresponsible words, but they aren't racists.
Mon Jun 24, 2013, 08:50 PM
Jun 2013

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)
4. If anyone at work, regardless of if they're my superior
Mon Jun 24, 2013, 08:15 PM
Jun 2013

made a racist, sexist, homophobic or any other inappropriate comment, I'd report them to the ethics office or HR immediately.

tammywammy

(26,582 posts)
12. Not an issue where I'm at.
Mon Jun 24, 2013, 08:32 PM
Jun 2013

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)
5. Absolutely not.
Mon Jun 24, 2013, 08:16 PM
Jun 2013

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.

madrchsod

(58,162 posts)
7. trust? nah it would boil down to respect
Mon Jun 24, 2013, 08:21 PM
Jun 2013

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

(31,681 posts)
8. Nope
Mon Jun 24, 2013, 08:23 PM
Jun 2013
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.

bluestate10

(10,942 posts)
13. Whether a boss or owner would have dinner with a Black person or invite Black people
Mon Jun 24, 2013, 08:37 PM
Jun 2013

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.

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