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Hi,
On the day of the presidential election in USA, a colleague who sits next to me in the office asked me who I wanted to win. Before I could even answer, my immediate boss interjected and said, "Mugabe". We both ignored him and continued our conversation but it got me thinking as I am a person of colour and also originate from Zimbabwe where Mugabe is 'president'. It may also be useful for me to state that I hold that same Mugabe's administration responsible for my father's death. Would I be justified to raise an issue? For a start, Mugabe is not American and I never said I like him anyway. Please help.
I guess you could raise it, but I know from experience that things can get quite nasty. It may just be preferable to keep quiet and keep a diary (contemporaneous notes) and only use it when or if things get worse.
Make sure your witnesses have noted that conversation, if they are trustworthy, get them to also keep a diary, but don't tell them what to write in it. Otherwise if you are not too sure about you witnesses, parhaps start a conversation along the lines "you know when XYZ said that Mugabe thing, I was really hurt and shocked, I felt it was racist, what did you think?" to make sure they will remember the conversation, note this in your diary too.
You could take the issue to Employment Tribunal, but you may find that even if you win, the award for injury to feeling, will be small probably in three figures.
Alternatively if your organisation is enlightened, it might be useful to make a formal complaint.
Good luck in whatever you do.
I am not a lawyer, so all my advice is provided on the basis that you will check them with a trained legal professional with legal insurance.
Whilst sympathising with Scirocco's feeling towards the appalling Mugabe regime, I do wonder just how significant the episode described really was. Should Scirocco's understandable dislike of Mugabe mean that no-one may utter the name in his vicinity? Are serious discussion allowed but not hunourous references?
I ask because I have a Zimbabwean friend who until recently I worked with. His family had also suffered under Mugabe, but was not offended by mention of the name, either in jest or as part of a discussion.
Of course only Scirocco knows how he feels, and if this incident was genuinely distressing, then of course he should act upon it. I suggest a quiet word to educate the individual responsible - at least then if it happens again you'll know it's deliberate.
Sorry, not trying to detract from the seriousness of your thread!
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Please post on a thread before sending a PM. My opinion's are not expressed as agent or representative of The Consumer Action Group. Always seek professional advice from a qualified legal adviser before acting. If I have helped you please feel free to click on the black star.
I am sorry that work means I don't get into the Employment Forum as often as I would like these days, but nonetheless I'll try to pop in when I can.
I think a better first step might have been to approac the person and state you felt that the content of their interjection may have been inappropriate. I'd say too much time has passed to do this now, I doubt they will even remember.
Assuming it was an isolated incident, I don't know if it would be serious enough for you to consider spending time persuing the matter.
To be honest, 'raising an issue' as you put it because someone says 'mugabe' seems very petty. And talk of taking it to an Employment Tribunal is quite frankly overkill. I dont think this has got anything to do with your colour, race or your father's death, its just a silly off the cuff remark.
Hi,
Thank you for all your comments. In the circumstances, I think prudence dictates I should go with the majority and forget about the incident. Thank you again.
Conundrum
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