Is my boss a racist?

Question

I am the office manager and i am in charge of hiring everyone. Well my boss who is a white woman always wants to know if they "sound" black on the phone or if they are black. Then she will ask me what zipcode they live in to see what race area they are from. She also asks me to hire a spanish girl because she says "spanish people" clean good. what do you think i am upset by all of this?.

Answer 1

Yes, your boss is racist. I feel for you, because mine is too. Only she is Hispanic and racist against white people (me, I'm the only white person there). Being that you are an office manager, it seems you have the skills to find a new job. Or, you could take your concerns to H.R. They are supposed to be able to resolve things like this confidientially. I'm sure you know that isn't always the way it happens though. To answer your question, yes your boss is racist. You could say to her "You know, I'm not entirely sure how black people sound..." or "Oh, they clean good? I was thinking it would be great to have a bilingual person in the office but cleaning never crossed my mind..".

Answer 2

I think that your boss is a racist. What your boss is doing is called "racial profiling." She's asking you if the person that you are hiring sounds "black" and she's not even supposed to be doing that. The fact that she told you to hire a "spanish people because they clean good" raises red flags above my head and you should feel the same way. You have every right to be upset. You could talk to her about that, and if this approach doesn't work, talk to human resources. If all doesn't go well, quit. You don't deserve to be in a work environment to the point that your boss is a racist. Hope this helps. Best of luck.

Answer 3

Yeah I would say so, at at best, she stereotypes, either case isn't cool. But then on the other hand I was a recruiter once for a telemarketing company and my boss was black and he would ask if certain people sound black - and began giving all applicants an oral exam with words blacks commonly mispronounce, like "ask or specific." If they couldn't get it right, they weren't hired. Which I guess I kinda understood because if you have a telemarketer call your home and they can't speak correct English they're not going to successfull in selling. Also, these issues are important to the success of your job --if you're a public speaker black or white and you can't articulate what you're saying, you're not considered "sharp and proficient." But the asking what zip code they live in is kinda over the top to me.

Answer 4

I think your boss is a racist, everyone who is black doesn't have to sound black. And all Spanish people don't clean up good. That would make me upset to, you have a Right to be mad about the comments she made.

Answer 5

Racism is alive, and well in this country. I also was an Office Manager with a small Quality Control company, with direct contact with the boss. He had me put a small "B" on top of their application so he was able to tell what race they were. Needless to say I didn't work there for long, and I reported him to the EEOC...

Answer 6

if a person sounds (black) like your boss says and you answer yes, what happens then? it can go two ways, but you need to ask her why she asks that. see what she says, and tell her you don't feel comfortable with her asking that because it sounds racist. she can't fire you over it, it would be wrongful dismissal. i don't think she would want to you bring up that she is a racist!!!

Answer 7

Well, so here's how the American Law seems to work today with hiring.
If you hear that someone is black on the phone and decide not to hire them, it's discrimination and you'll probably be sued.
If you hear that someone is black on the phone and decide to hire them because of that, you're a diversity hero.

Answer 8

Honestly I think she is racist. Either talk to the hag or go to someone that is above her. I would be upset too. She needs a good slap in the face.

Answer 9

Yes!

Your boss's boss needs to know about this. Your business could be open to lawsuits if this manager's antics are discovered.

If your boss HAS no boss, I say get out if possible. This is an ugly, ugly position to be in.

Answer 10

If you are of a different race I would say she is more ignorant and stereotyping... bordering on racism. Tell her not to believe everything she hears. She might get quite pleasantly surprised!