Public/private life

[Bruce Wayne]

I could subtly discriminate against a fat employee, or a ginger one, or an ugly one, due to my personal thoughts, where does it end?

No, you have to draw a definitive line, and that line should be work related, direct and obvious, as otherwise people could take any form of harmelss comment and twist it using their own subjective opinion, into something sinister.

It's contextual though isn't it? If you ran a dieting group or were a personal trainer or something where the weight of people you work with was a major thing, then I'd imagine you taking the mick out of fat people would be an issue.

 

[Tubey]

Who says his texts are racist though? I'm a bit of a midget, If somebody calls me a midget, then I take no offence. If I genuinely believed somebody refused to consider me for a job because I was vertically challenged, then I'd be concerned.

You're labelling McKay a racist as if he's said "I'm not working with any blacks mate, can't stand those N-words"

He effectively has - not by using those exact words, but he has anyway.

Like Bruce says, if you were a personal trainer who took the mick out of fat people privately, that would have a bearing on your job as a professional if disclosed. Mackay's job is multi-cultural; as such, what he's said has a bearing on his ability to do that job and maintain the trust of those he manages.

Put yourself in the players shoes in that scenario - you're an asian guy and Mackay comes in to manage you now. Intolerable. It's like if someone I know privately despises Scousers was managing me and it was public knowledge.

 

[mythbuster]

He effectively has - not by using those exact words, but he has anyway.

Like Bruce says, if you were a personal trainer who took the mick out of fat people privately, that would have a bearing on your job as a professional if disclosed. Mackay's job is multi-cultural; as such, what he's said has a bearing on his ability to do that job and maintain the trust of those he manages.

Put yourself in the players shoes in that scenario - you're an asian guy and Mackay comes in to manage you now. Intolerable. It's like if someone I know privately despises Scousers was managing me and it was public knowledge.

The key word is "disclosed" mate. I agree that his career will be damaged by this.

What I disagree with is that his privacy has been invaded, over what may well have been tongue in cheek comments sent in confidence.

He might be a racist - I can't say he's not. However, I've seen no evidence that proves he discriminates when buying/managing a player.

 

[rascal]

I have nothing to contribute except prostitution should be made legal so that ugly guys like myself can still plough whilst the government can take extra tax income.

 

[chicoazul]

If he's used work apparatus to send their remarks electronically then he's been very foolish.

Seems a bit rum from that high belted pervert Tan after settling with him prior though, hope someone knocks him out soon.

 

[Eggs]

...folk need to walk on egg shells these days, particularly in respect of e-mails. Press a button, they've gone and can easily be misunderstood, even if there is no malice meant. It is a very difficult area in employment circles, so easily accused of bullying and harassment. Glad I've only got 2 years to retirement, a very nice cheque and final salary pension. Hate to wish my life away, but can't wait.

 

[red1]

Legalise it all. Racism, all types of phobias, sexism, all of it. Bring the 1st amendment to our shores.

 

[roydo]

...folk need to walk on egg shells these days, particularly in respect of e-mails. Press a button, they've gone and can easily be misunderstood, even if there is no malice meant. It is a very difficult area in employment circles, so easily accused of bullying and harassment. Glad I've only got 2 years to retirement, a very nice cheque and final salary pension. Hate to wish my life away, but can't wait.

That is so true Eggs. On here, we have often had posts reported where offence had been taken, when in fact, all that has happened is they have been read wrong, or there is missed punctaution or something. Also, some people get offended by something that I might find amusing or unoffensive, but you have to look at it through their eyes. Not easy some times.

 

[Eggs]

That is so true Eggs. On here, we have often had posts reported where offence had been taken, when in fact, all that has happened is they have been read wrong, or there is missed punctaution or something. Also, some people get offended by something that I might find amusing or unoffensive, but you have to look at it through their eyes. Not easy some times.

.....absolutely. It's very difficult to adjudicate, as you say what is offensive for one might not be for another and words/phrases can be ambiguous. Written word is more contentious because an audit trail exists. Advice I offer is to count to 10 ahead of writing a reflex note in anger and always re-read before pressing send. Difficult, though.

 

[Moomin]

Not another debate on the mollycoddled public sector workforce in the UK but....

Can racism/sexism ever be acceptable? Or at least not criminal or reason to be dismissed from employment?

To be clear I hate any form of intolerance but equally I feel an adult has a right to do what the hell they want in the privacy of their own lives - or with other consenting adults.

So for expample prostitution (with safeguards) is something I think should be legalised when between two adults.

The racism/sexism angle comes in when say a person sends a racist/sexist text to a friend. The recipient is a willing reader but somehow the text gets to be read by a third party.

Whilst racism/sexism is of course wrong does it trump a persons right to a private life?

This issue has sparked up in my life where one employee has made a formal complaint against another and part of the case is unsavoury jokes being sent back when they were friends. I've called in HR so won't be dealing with it personally but I just find it a fascinating issue.

In this instance the phones used to send a text was a private phone although there was/is an allowance for calls. Bit of a grey area it seems.

Thoughts?

So they fell out and grassed the old mate up.

You should bring a Stanley knife into work and slice the face of the grass up and sack the other one.

Id sack them both to be honest. Just imagine you got on the wrong side of the grass and the damage they could do to you.

 

[Tramps_mate]

Is it racist if it's funny though?

 

[formerly manx toffee]

Is it ok to have anti semetic views. is it ok to have paedefilia (sp?) like private conversations.

Of course not.

Book 'em Danno.

 

[ThebanksoftheBramleyMoore]

if sexist, homophobic and racist views are not allowed publicly then why is the bible still allowed to be sold?

 

[peteblue]

That is so true Eggs. On here, we have often had posts reported where offence had been taken, when in fact, all that has happened is they have been read wrong, or there is missed punctaution or something. Also, some people get offended by something that I might find amusing or unoffensive, but you have to look at it through their eyes. Not easy some times.

Ffs it's punctuation.......post reported........