MY BOSS SENDS QUESTIONABLE "RACIST" EMAILS..... I want to hear from all races.?

Question

I have a boss who has sent questionable "racey" emails in the past. ex.....
She sent an email that is referencing why "african american mexican, jewish, asian and other minorities have support groups, ex NAACP. Some of you have probably seen the email, I think it is titled "YOU ARE CALLING ME A RACIST? The whole email compares these groups and how minorities would feel if there were "white groups and such" and how would we feel. The point is, it does not matter on how she feels about the groups and their support system, what DOES BOTHER me is she is a "manager" (not a co-worker on the same level) who sent this to our dept as if it was appropriate, I voiced my feelings already to her and she apologized, then turned around a week or so later and sent ANOTHER questionable email, she does not get it! This is discrimination and we do work for a well known nationwide company. What is your input on this? I start boiling everytime I think about it!

FYI - I don't play the "race card", so please don't go there.

ARE YOU CRAZY? OF COURSE I SAVED THE EMAILS!

She is obnoxious and happens to be white. Her so called sense of humor stinks and as I said before, she apologized and then turned around and sent another questionable political/racey email.

I am appreciating all comments, but the point is "I DON'T CARE ABOUT HER FEELINGS WITH THESE SUBJECTS, THERE ARE MINORITIES THAT FEEL THE SAME WAY" MY POINT IS .............. IT IS INAPPRORIATE FOR YOUR SUPERIOR TO PASS THESE EMAILS AROUND THINKING IT IS OK.

Answer 1

Yes that is very very unprofessioal coming from a "leader" Irregardless on what view anyone has.

Answer 2

Other races has full justification to have support groups because they have been oppressed throughout history, and we, the whites, are the guilty party. We don't need a such group. We're in control. (Don't take that the wrong way). Think of slavery, the Holocaust, internment camps, etc. The whole white supremacy thing has been going on for ages, and it is not about to go away. I don't have to deal with it, personally. I have never been accused of being racist, and I don't know many people who think that all whites aare racist. But some do, and if your boss thinks the minorities think that way, she may just be insecure.
Racist or not, it is not appropriate at all. MY translation is either she fears very greatly being called racist, or she is a racist and is in denial or trying to excuse her racism.
Maybe you should take it up with someone higher than her on the food chain.

Answer 3

Have you ever thought that maybe she views everyone as a friend and is treating you all like a friend first? Not that I'm saying that is right from a boss or anything; but maybe she isn't thinking about it as a "Work" way but more as a "Friend" way. Not to say that as her friend you would find the email acceptable but what I am saying is if she thinks of you enough to look at you as a friend then maybe you should return the favor and go to her a friend and ask to be excluded from it all adn not just part of it. Then if it continues treat it like a work problem and not a friend problem. Ask yourself how you would feel if it came from a Co-Worker of the same level? Would you care? What if it came from someone of the same race; would you care then? Maybe she is new to management and is still learning the dos and don'ts and just needs a reminder that it isn't right and needs to watch what she sends. Trying to get her fired??? Put yourself in her shoes for a moment and see how you woudl feel if someone that you considered a friend and was treating like a friend didn't give you enough respect to point it out but just started making a battle out of it and trying ot get you fired? My advise...go and tell her to exclude you from it all. Don't leave it up to her to decide what is ok and what isn't because her deffinition of what is ok and what isnt' might greatly differ from yours. THat is where you made the mistake the first time.

Answer 4

Hi,
How insensitive can a person get?
I just did a little google search to find out what this was all about. I also read the bottom part which forces someone to send this mail...why do people feel they have to be so manipulated to pass this garbage along.
First I would do a little investigating, like making sure she was really the person who sent it..you never know.

I don't believe you should take this with a grain of salt. I would report it (if you can remain anonymous).

2nd Choice-(tell her you do not want to receive any entertainment e-mails in your inbox anymore because you need to have your box for only business mail.

3rd Choice- Tell her exactly what you told us! Let her know you were offended!

I don't know what your everyday relationship is with her so it makes it harder for me to help out..but you really have to do something because she sounds like she is having too much fun with her new found entertainment.

I'm surprised she doesn't know anything about policies in the workplace.. Is there any other area in your business you can transfer to?

Stand up for your Rights!

Answer 5

I think she's stealing from the company by sending out non-work related emails to anyone, let alone employees, on company time, whether she's a manager or not.

However, to answer your question about the content, no, they aren't "racist", they are "political". She's protesting the political fact that minorities can have advocacy groups and the majority cannot. To see that, simply toss AARP into the list of groups.

But it's still inappropriate to do so on company time.

Answer 6

Well it's inappropriate for the work place even though it happens quite a bit. Perhaps she finds it funny and passed it along thinking you guys would to. Regardless though she is a supervisor and she's putting herself out there for possible litigation in the future. My advice document and save the emails in your private email for future reference if needed.

That's my advice, but just so you know I would agree that's a wierd phenomenon, look at the statement Black Pride, denotes postive images of being proud to be black, proud of your heritage, civil rights etc. You look at White Pride and it's immediately a negative connetation meaning not that you are proud to be white but rather that you are a bigoted racist. Interesting Note, Some say it's because of the relation to the KKK with regards to white pride, but think about it they don't do the same thing with black pride. Black Pride has the Black Panthers, White Pride has the KKK. They neither define nor determine black pride or white pride, so it's interesting the differing results, just thought I'd give my two cents on the issue, however I won't be sending you any emails at work regarding it =)

Answer 7

Yes, that is illegal. Go to the Labor Board in your local area and report it. In all actuality, you are only required to work 8 hrs. a day and no more that 40 hrs. a week. Anything over that is suppose to be overtime. You are being taken advantage of by your boss, and the sooner you take care of this matter, the better off you will be.

Answer 8

Move on, and get to work.

If the email is truly offensive to some races then it will be forwarded and addressed by the appropriate human resources personnel.

Nationwide companies will typically resolve these type of issues quickly.

Answer 9

Well if you don't like it you have some options.
1. Don't read the emails
2. Report her to her superiors
3. Get a different job
4. Look at things from a different perspective. Look at each issue from her shoes. Is she white? or is she from one of your so called minority groups?
5. Take it with a grain of salt, she probably just thought you would find it funny

Answer 10

Why is she wasting company time sending those emails in the first place?! Sounds like the public employee workers here in Milwaukee who have been caught on video taking 15 minute outdoor smoking breaks 8 times a day.

Answer 11

That is awful. Work Office E-mail is not suppose to send racist e-mails, or anything that is not pertaining to the work environment. I believe he should be reported. That is not acceptable from anyone especially not a Manager. He should be made to take some sensitive training courses.