Tsa`ah
08-31-2003, 03:16 PM
I just finished reading an e-mail from the company’s HR exec and I'm more than a little irate.
The letter is two fold so I'll divide the issues.
First I'm being called in Tuesday morning for a meeting to discuss my "racist" remarks.
What apparently spawned this complaint was one of several "heated" conversations between myself and a piece of glorified office furniture that inhabits the office attached to our lab.
The office furniture is a woman (who is of African decent) who has been with the company for 8 years. Word has it that her position has been imperiled numerous times due to poor job performance, yet every time she is counseled she threatens action on the basis of discrimination.
The lab is divided into 4 sections, and each section represents a department or product line. My annex is the furthest away from the office and is the most trafficked by members of my team. Due to the sensitive nature of our testing, I have strictly mandated that no unauthorized personnel enter the annex. Yet weekly this twit pins up articles from web sites and magazines that are geared toward african-americans (sorry to be so PC). I have requested that she refrain from spamming my annex and it is for many reasons.
A: Against corporate policy
B: Against my policy
C: Against ISO standards in testing
D: For her own safety (we use some pretty nasty substances)
E: Due to the sensitive information my department is responsible, no one outside of my department (with the exception of corporate reps) are allowed beyond the annex walls.
The article spam was just a minor annoyance. Her daily remarks have become almost unbearable. Even if I only have to deal with her for two hours every few days.
During the Christmas holiday I had to explain to her that not everyone was Christian, and not everyone celebrated Christmas. Of the 20 people I am over, only 3 celebrate the holiday. The rest are Arab, Jew, Asian etc.. Her decorating our annex not only violated so many policies, it offended half of my staff.
Now this came to a head last week. I was awaiting a call report from the Exec in charge of our department when the office furniture strolls into the lab and starts up a conversation.
Her: What are you doing in her so early?
Me: Big complaint out of Chicago, I'm waiting on Steve to e-mail the call report and travel itinerary.
Her: So you're going to Chicago again?
Me: Third time this month, it's probably just another instance of the customer blaming the vendor for low production. They call, I go. It's the job.
Her: Are they anywhere near JewTown?
Me: Excuse?
Her: You know, JewTown, Maxwell Street.
Me: I'm not familiar with that expression, I'm not familiar with any ethnic portions of Chicago, I know the Lakeshore and downtown areas, and I couldn't name streets though.
Her: JewTown is where all the Jews live, they own all the stores there. We used to go there for good deals. You just have to know how to Jew the Jews.
Me: You are aware that I am Jewish no?
Her: And?
Me: Exactly when should I start becoming offended? Were I to come into your office and say, "My car wouldn't start this morning so I had to (use the N word derogatory of blacks) rig my car", would you not be offended?
Her: That's not the same thing. It's not like I said kike. I will be sure to report your racist remarks to Lori (local HR director). You better hope you have a job when you get back.
Me: What ever, I'm done with you.
This sort of thing just burns my ass. Not only did I NOT instigate this conversation. I never used that "N" word. I actually said "That derogatory word that begins with an N". I used it as a reference to her usage of the word Jew.
That this woman still has a job after 8 long years of this BS goes beyond anything considered "poor" judgment. Now I have to waste a day off defending my job!!! This society is going down the crapper and fast. Faster that we allow people like this to thrive in the work place. I'm just wondering when some employers are going to grow some wrinklies and not tolerate the racial slant.
Second part of this E-mail stems from my Chicago visit. One of the Executives attached to my department does not like me at all. My guess is that I rubbed him the wrong way when our company’s president took the Pepsi account out of his hands and put it under my sole discretion. He's never been afraid to voice his opinion on this and I've always held some respect for him because of this.
Apparently though, this guy talks to the office furniture often. While in O'Hare, I lost my wallet and my travel bag ended up in Detroit. With only 75 bucks in my pocket and not being able to pick up the rental car (no ID). I had to take a cab to the customer's. The cab ride was 62 bucks... ouch. My wife wasn't home and not answering at the office. My supervisor was in Atlanta covering another customer issue, and for some reason, no one was answering at the home plant.
To make a long story short ... Not familiar with Chicago's mass transit, I asked the Plant manager of the company I was visiting about a bus or rail car to O'Hare. He sort of laughed and said "The way you're dressed, I wouldn't risk it after dark." He asked why, I explained. He offered me cash, I declined. He checked the few department heads to see if any of them lived in O'Hare's direction. None did. At that point he started making calls. I told him to not worry about it, the wife would be home soon, or my supervisor would eventually check his VM. At that point I proceeded to the floor to assess their issues when I ran into another person employed by my company. I explained what had happened and asked if he was heading to the airport. He was from another plant in Ohio, and yes, he was heading to the airport that evening. Frickin perfect. And I hitched a ride back with him.
Ok, that was long, but it didn't end there. One of the calls the customer made was to the previously mentioned Exec in our company. I didn't know who was being called, but the plant manager's demeanor was always pleasant and helpful. I've met this guy on countless other occasions and I'm the first person he tries to contact when there is a problem.
Well to shorten it down. An e-mail was sent to everyone and their uncle across the corporate e-mail server in regards to my lack of professionalism and hitting up customers for money, cab fare, a place to stay and a steak dinner.
Right now, I'm two seconds from hopping a plain to MI and ripping this guy's rectum out his nose.
The initial e-mail this sad POS shot off was bad, the subsequent replies to it are even worse. Not one of these corporate twits knows what actually went on, yet everyone is talking suspension. Losing the customer, termination, and legal action. The list is truly impressive. Yet not one of these people bothered to question the customer, or myself. I called the customer at home and the first thing he did was demand to see the e-mail, so I sent it to him through his home ISP. He just called me back and spoke to me person to person and apologized, trying to re-assure me that none of what the e-mail contained was true, he said no such thing, and he would be more than happy to speak with our companies president if need be.
At this point, I'm unsure what to do. On one hand, I actually like my job, even considering the massive amount of hours I put in on a weekly basis. On the other hand, I don't think any job is worth this type of slander.
I'm not sure if I'm going to my professional funeral Tuesday. I'm not sure what is going to happen on Tuesday, but I'm not looking forward to it.
Any advice here? What are your thoughts?
The letter is two fold so I'll divide the issues.
First I'm being called in Tuesday morning for a meeting to discuss my "racist" remarks.
What apparently spawned this complaint was one of several "heated" conversations between myself and a piece of glorified office furniture that inhabits the office attached to our lab.
The office furniture is a woman (who is of African decent) who has been with the company for 8 years. Word has it that her position has been imperiled numerous times due to poor job performance, yet every time she is counseled she threatens action on the basis of discrimination.
The lab is divided into 4 sections, and each section represents a department or product line. My annex is the furthest away from the office and is the most trafficked by members of my team. Due to the sensitive nature of our testing, I have strictly mandated that no unauthorized personnel enter the annex. Yet weekly this twit pins up articles from web sites and magazines that are geared toward african-americans (sorry to be so PC). I have requested that she refrain from spamming my annex and it is for many reasons.
A: Against corporate policy
B: Against my policy
C: Against ISO standards in testing
D: For her own safety (we use some pretty nasty substances)
E: Due to the sensitive information my department is responsible, no one outside of my department (with the exception of corporate reps) are allowed beyond the annex walls.
The article spam was just a minor annoyance. Her daily remarks have become almost unbearable. Even if I only have to deal with her for two hours every few days.
During the Christmas holiday I had to explain to her that not everyone was Christian, and not everyone celebrated Christmas. Of the 20 people I am over, only 3 celebrate the holiday. The rest are Arab, Jew, Asian etc.. Her decorating our annex not only violated so many policies, it offended half of my staff.
Now this came to a head last week. I was awaiting a call report from the Exec in charge of our department when the office furniture strolls into the lab and starts up a conversation.
Her: What are you doing in her so early?
Me: Big complaint out of Chicago, I'm waiting on Steve to e-mail the call report and travel itinerary.
Her: So you're going to Chicago again?
Me: Third time this month, it's probably just another instance of the customer blaming the vendor for low production. They call, I go. It's the job.
Her: Are they anywhere near JewTown?
Me: Excuse?
Her: You know, JewTown, Maxwell Street.
Me: I'm not familiar with that expression, I'm not familiar with any ethnic portions of Chicago, I know the Lakeshore and downtown areas, and I couldn't name streets though.
Her: JewTown is where all the Jews live, they own all the stores there. We used to go there for good deals. You just have to know how to Jew the Jews.
Me: You are aware that I am Jewish no?
Her: And?
Me: Exactly when should I start becoming offended? Were I to come into your office and say, "My car wouldn't start this morning so I had to (use the N word derogatory of blacks) rig my car", would you not be offended?
Her: That's not the same thing. It's not like I said kike. I will be sure to report your racist remarks to Lori (local HR director). You better hope you have a job when you get back.
Me: What ever, I'm done with you.
This sort of thing just burns my ass. Not only did I NOT instigate this conversation. I never used that "N" word. I actually said "That derogatory word that begins with an N". I used it as a reference to her usage of the word Jew.
That this woman still has a job after 8 long years of this BS goes beyond anything considered "poor" judgment. Now I have to waste a day off defending my job!!! This society is going down the crapper and fast. Faster that we allow people like this to thrive in the work place. I'm just wondering when some employers are going to grow some wrinklies and not tolerate the racial slant.
Second part of this E-mail stems from my Chicago visit. One of the Executives attached to my department does not like me at all. My guess is that I rubbed him the wrong way when our company’s president took the Pepsi account out of his hands and put it under my sole discretion. He's never been afraid to voice his opinion on this and I've always held some respect for him because of this.
Apparently though, this guy talks to the office furniture often. While in O'Hare, I lost my wallet and my travel bag ended up in Detroit. With only 75 bucks in my pocket and not being able to pick up the rental car (no ID). I had to take a cab to the customer's. The cab ride was 62 bucks... ouch. My wife wasn't home and not answering at the office. My supervisor was in Atlanta covering another customer issue, and for some reason, no one was answering at the home plant.
To make a long story short ... Not familiar with Chicago's mass transit, I asked the Plant manager of the company I was visiting about a bus or rail car to O'Hare. He sort of laughed and said "The way you're dressed, I wouldn't risk it after dark." He asked why, I explained. He offered me cash, I declined. He checked the few department heads to see if any of them lived in O'Hare's direction. None did. At that point he started making calls. I told him to not worry about it, the wife would be home soon, or my supervisor would eventually check his VM. At that point I proceeded to the floor to assess their issues when I ran into another person employed by my company. I explained what had happened and asked if he was heading to the airport. He was from another plant in Ohio, and yes, he was heading to the airport that evening. Frickin perfect. And I hitched a ride back with him.
Ok, that was long, but it didn't end there. One of the calls the customer made was to the previously mentioned Exec in our company. I didn't know who was being called, but the plant manager's demeanor was always pleasant and helpful. I've met this guy on countless other occasions and I'm the first person he tries to contact when there is a problem.
Well to shorten it down. An e-mail was sent to everyone and their uncle across the corporate e-mail server in regards to my lack of professionalism and hitting up customers for money, cab fare, a place to stay and a steak dinner.
Right now, I'm two seconds from hopping a plain to MI and ripping this guy's rectum out his nose.
The initial e-mail this sad POS shot off was bad, the subsequent replies to it are even worse. Not one of these corporate twits knows what actually went on, yet everyone is talking suspension. Losing the customer, termination, and legal action. The list is truly impressive. Yet not one of these people bothered to question the customer, or myself. I called the customer at home and the first thing he did was demand to see the e-mail, so I sent it to him through his home ISP. He just called me back and spoke to me person to person and apologized, trying to re-assure me that none of what the e-mail contained was true, he said no such thing, and he would be more than happy to speak with our companies president if need be.
At this point, I'm unsure what to do. On one hand, I actually like my job, even considering the massive amount of hours I put in on a weekly basis. On the other hand, I don't think any job is worth this type of slander.
I'm not sure if I'm going to my professional funeral Tuesday. I'm not sure what is going to happen on Tuesday, but I'm not looking forward to it.
Any advice here? What are your thoughts?