If a co-worker or the person under the supervisor. Made racial jokes to you. And you filed a complaint with the company and no really action was taken becasue this person been there for a long time or his a good worker. Can this company be in trouble?
2006-11-26 11:44:12 · 5 answers · asked by Anonymous in Business & Finance ➔ Corporations
Depends quite a bit on several factors:
-Were the jokes geared toward your racial group? Did s/he make the jokes in a negative connotation toward you to essentially say that they hated your racial group? The person is to blame. If they were about another racial group that you had nothing to do with, then really, nothing could have been done.
-Let's say you're african-american and the jokes were geared toward other african-americans. If the complaint was handled by other people who shared the co-worker's feelings, then you may be in a racial prejudice situation. Talk to a lawyer. The company is at fault.
If neither of these really applies, the person may have just been trying to joke with you, assuming that you two shared these feelings. Racism isn't good, though, so make sure you inform this person that you don't agree and ask them not to make these kinds of jokes around you.
Good luck to you!
2006-11-26 11:56:44 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Keep in mind you may not know if anything was "really" done about it or not. The person who made the comments has a right to privacy - so you wont' know what corrective action has been taken. Have you directly told the person that when they make racial comments in front of you it bothers you? If not then there may not be anything you can do about it. I'm a manager at a bank, we had the same situation, and our attorney told us that unless the offended said something to the offender there was nothing that could be done. Having said that - if you have, and you went to management, yet it still continues, I'd go to the highest level I could within the company and let them know that you fully intend to file a hostile work environment or harassment lawsuit unless this is resolved immediately.
Side note: I'm in MI - your state may have different laws - but this is the rule of thumb that our attorneys told us to go by
2006-11-26 12:47:52 · answer #2 · answered by playing_shy 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
This is a tricky situation. First off, you did what you should have done, you reported it and filed a complaint. If your company has a handbook or some other type of "printed" reporting procedure, be sure to secure a copy for yourself. Next review it and make sure you followed the steps listed to report such a complaint. It may be something as simple as verbally telling a supervisor it may also require you to make the complaint in writing.
Now the tough part is, the company may have already done what it is supposed to do according to it's policy. It may (I term this loosely as it varies from company to company) have given a verbal warning, next complaint a written warning and sensitvity training, final offense firing. You need to find out that something has been done. What the action plan is and what will be done to protect the race that has been offended from further offenses. You may need to contact a lawyer or the aclo for help. Document all your experiences with this so show you are in the right and try to discreetly get names and personal phone numbers to your coworkers so that if they need to be contacted legally for your case it will be easier
Good luck
2006-11-26 12:00:31 · answer #3 · answered by whirlwind_123 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I would think so, esp. if they have policies/procedures in place in your company manual. Who did you file the complain with...your supervisor or the HR Dept?
I have been through a similar situation where I work with a coworker (*relational agression). Fortunately, I have my supervisor on my side.
And I have learned to stand up to her and not be fearful. She is like a two-headed snake in that she is one way in private (an angry hateful bully) and her other personality is quite charming. My supervisor is on to her.
If you can get someone else to witness what you have seen - or start journaling about it with dates and experiences - that would be great.
Good luck - I am sorry that you are experiencing this. Sure make going to work difficult. If you can, avoid the person and just be professional around him.
2006-11-26 11:52:36 · answer #4 · answered by what's up? 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If all you say is true then you have a very good case. I would document everything that has happened so far, keep good records of events, when, where, and what was said to you, by who and who it was reported to, also if you didn't go any higher than your supervisor, you maybe should before you go any further. after you talk with upper management and nothing is done, and the harassment continues, then file a case with the department of labor. hope this helps...jack
2006-11-26 12:11:23 · answer #5 · answered by jack 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋