Hostile workplace? Discrimination? Or is it just Cultural Insensitivity?
Question:
I am working for an attorney who is almost 80 years old at a large firm. He made some racially inappropriate comments to me, which I immediately alerted my supervisor about and HR got involved. Of course, being a law firm, they’re covering their bases as quickly as possible, but here are the issues I am dealing with:
- When I had to sit down with the attorney and HR for a face-to-face, his reasoning was that he is old and of a different generation and therefore is unaware of these things, and that “next time” I should just call him out on it. Meaning, I still have to work for him and he’s admitting he’s bound to slip up and say more inappropriate things to me.
- This large firm has NEVER had a cultural sensitivity training.
- No matter how many times I express the fact that I am uncomfortable working with him, the managers insist on seeing what happens.
- Because of this I am miserable at work and it is taking a toll on my health.
Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
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4 Responses to Hostile workplace? Discrimination? Or is it just Cultural Insensitivity?
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@wiemercats, jeeper_peeper321 and David L, you’re ALL wrong.
For HR to say that he is old and from a different generation and is unaware of these things is inexcusable, especially coming from a law firm. Just the fact that they make his age an issue is age discrimination towards you because they single him out and make it “ok” for him. Seems the “old man” has a little catching up to do. Such comments can cause the firm to lose in court.
It is the company’s responsibility to keep abreast of the law and make sure that ALL employees are in compliance, and yes, David L, WITH sensitivity training to make employees aware that certain behavior and comments are NOT tolerated. It’s not about being “thin skinned” and unable to tolerate comments, it’s the law to not even go down that road in the first place.
For HR to take the wait and see approach “to see what happens” means they haven’t flat out instructed him to stop “or else”. They are ALLOWING it to happen. Again, should this ever make it into a court room, that firm will lose.
Download my free report to find out how to deal with morons like this.
This depends greatly on the state you live in and what was said and further what was "meant" by what was said? There is a big difference between him being "old school" and actually saying things that he knows will be hurtful to you.
In a lots of states you have to document what was said and then you have to come out clearly stating that you do not condone what was said and then only AFTER that you MIGHT have a case against him.
Cultural sesitivity training is pure rubish! People know what is right and wrong and don’t need that kind of liberal rubish!
Depending on what was said this could be hurtful to you or could be you just being overly politically correct and/or trying to weasel money out of the company!
Seems like the system worked.
He made comments he shouldn’t have made.
He was called on the carpet for making them.
What more do you think should happen ?
You don’t actually think they are going to fire an 80 year old attorney, who has probally worked there for 50 years, just because of one complaint ?
Yoiu were hired to do a job, part of your job includes interacting with this attorney.
As long as he doesn’t continue to make insensitive remarks.
Whats your problem ?
If you are that miserable, then go find another job.
The company did what they were supposed to do.
You are just looking for an easy payday at his expence. Quit if you can’t handle working with people that have different views. You are the one that sounds intolerent . He IS of a different generation. One that knew the meaning of free speech.