Free Career and Job Search Advice

quallsie0 · Newbie Joined: 17 Oct 2006 Posts: 2 Career Advice: +0/-0

I was recently fired for being involved in a conversation with three other union employees and me being a company man, about racial slurs. There was a black lady in the group and it was a light-hearted conversation. Nobody was actuallly called by any names during this conversation. I would have kept my job but my boss's couldn't guarantee that I wouldn't have to be around these employees on second shift.

I was working as a contract employee at the time and they told me that the only information that they can give out is duration of employment and the reason for leaving. They said that what they will tell anyone is that "my contract was ended". What my big issue is, is what to tell an employer during an interview? I'm afraid that I will get by with this and possibly get another job but what if they find out what really happend and then I get fired again. Should I just be honest and say that I will walk away from any possible touchy conversation again and not get involved?

The bad thing is was my job required me to be in contact with the union employees a lot and I would have never have done anything to jepordize that. What was even worse was that a couple of days before I even picked-up a black man that was hitch hiking.

I know that this is a very touchy topic please give me any advice that you can!

Robin · Posted: Thu Oct 19, 2006 12:39 pm Post subject: Learn from Mistakes

You are probably better being honest at an interview and stating that while you thought the comments were light hearted someone took offence and complained. It's a real shame, and does nothing for race relations that you were sacked and not cautioned and asked to make an apology. It sets a bad precedent.

Most people know that many minority groups are hypersensitive to comments about their race, religion etc and understand that often comments not intended to hurt anyone are taken out of context.

Having said that, hopefully you have learned something about the fine balance between the hypersensitive minority member and the over cautious employer. Leave your racist comments at home when you go to work and remember that you are also entitled to be treated with courtesy and free from racist comments as well.

quallsie0 · Newbie Joined: 17 Oct 2006 Posts: 2 Career Advice: +0/-0

Thanks for the advice. I still feel that this is going to ruin my life and career. What makes matters worse is that I never initiated the conversation in the first place and all the other employees are still employed. I have also never been able to view the complaint that was written against me.

CareerRookie · Posted: Mon Oct 23, 2006 8:23 pm Post subject:

You do know that it is your right to view this complaint that was written against you, right? That is the first thing that I would do: view the complaint. This will help you to see what you need to tell any potential employer. However, my opinion is that if it isn't brought up then you don't need to talk about it. I'm sure that this is not going to ruin your life though so relax.

leg17mp · Newbie Joined: 14 Mar 2008 Posts: 1 Career Advice: +0/-0

I always find it interesting when someone says that minority groups are hypersensitive about comments to their race, religion etc. You’re just fooling yourself if you believe this. Most people take offence to being talked about, laughed at, joked about, ridiculed etc. especially if the comments are negative and or stereotypical in nature. Hypersensitivity has nothing to do with race. People just need to keep these types of comments to themselves. Why were you having a discussion about race at work anyway? You were asking for it. Most people today know what and what not to say in the work place so the excuses about "you didn't mean it that way” etc. just don't fly. Remember people are always watching and listening so just because you're saying it to someone else is no excuse. If another person hears or sees what you're doing and is offended than you're in trouble as well. On another note if you do slip and say something that hurts or offends another you can start by apologizing. As far as your next job I wouldn't worry about them finding out about why you were let go. Most jobs stick to their word and do not disclose certain information, but if your prior actions do cause you a problem, than consider it punishment because honestly you should’ve known better. Good Luck

Pauloz · Posted: Fri Mar 14, 2008 11:13 pm Post subject:

quallsie0

You're not wrong when you say this is a career issue. Your information indicates that you had a disadvantage: you were on contract, the others were union members. You'd have been much easier to fire.

You were probably made a scapegoat, just a method of being seen to have dealt with the complaint.

You lack information about the exact reason for your sacking, and how you became the only person fired.

That's a blunder on the part of the employer, because the idea that you "might be around" those other guys again isn't exactly a court-standard reason for dismissal.

Any future employer should be able to see that you really didn't participate in any racial slurs, you weren't committing a crime, you were talking about one.

They should also be able to understand that you're still not sure how or why this conversation even became an issue.

You can truthfully say that you weren't given anything like an official dismissal for racist remarks, just a very vague thing about who you were talking to. The fact they're still employed is contradicts the idea that it was a serious matter.

Standard procedure:

1. Don't badmouth the employer,it achieves nothing anyway.
2. Stick to your facts
3. State clearly that you didn't commit any actual breach of any law or policy,
4. Make it clear to any future employer that you do know and understand those laws and policies. That adds a lot of weight to your case.

There's a very big difference between correct procedures on anti-discrimination matters and what you experienced.

Racism is a global curse, it's a disease, and that's not how it's fought.

Any good future employer will know that.

Rockland Cleaning · Newbie Joined: 19 Mar 2008 Posts: 2 Career Advice: +0/-0

Did you receive any kind of verbal or written warning prior to being fired?

Isn't it considered illegal not to have been given the chance to describe your situation and then remedy the situation?

Randy · Posted: Wed Mar 19, 2008 5:19 pm Post subject:

I sure miss the days and practice of "sticks and stones...."

I think humans won't survive long enough to "judge a man by the content of his character" and simply say to hell with the rest of it.

But yes, you'll survive this and life will go on and even as jaded and cynical as I am, I doubt very seriously your now former-employer will give out any of the "details" unless he's as vindictive and spiteful as a few in my past but those like that really are rare.

lexa10881 · Posted: Thu Mar 20, 2008 5:17 am Post subject:

Yes, very touchy. As for the interview question, consider your a lesson learned and though i would not go into specifics this would be a good thing to use on the strengths/weakness question should it come up. The weakness would be sometimes you like to talk too much at work and you have learned valuable lessons that sticking to work really is important, something of this nature.

As for the true nature of it, if you feel you did something wrong then you did. She might have been offended by something you did not intend. I am a female and I have been known to offend other females with my comments [usually something along the lines of 'quit being a girl' and I am by far the smallest, girliest one]. Don't beat yourself up.

http://www.cvtips.com/justification_for_being_fired_interview.html

Randy · Posted: Thu Mar 20, 2008 5:45 am Post subject:

Hey, Lexa....

I once told a guy that I thought his tie and shoes were ugly. (Inside my head I was picturing the scene from the movie "Airplane" in which they've brought the pilot's wife to the airport terminal and one of the characters is criticizing her coat and shoes.)

Five minutes later I was in the president's office. The man had "taken offense" and his "feelings were hurt".

Funny part is that this guy travelled the world giving seminars and lectures to medical professionals and was making close to six-figures a year.

My response, in my typical fashion, was to be rather confrontational:

"You have got to be kidding me! You should be telling him he shouldn't give a damn what I think or say about anything! And if you don't tell him that the next time he has a problem with me he should take it up with me right then and right there, I damned sure will. And you're going to tell me you have absolutely nothing better to do than entertain such childilsh behavior...."

And I went on for a bit more but you get the point.

I then, of course, put this to a "test". I limited my conversations after that to nothing but business. In a few weeks I was again "in the principal's office" only this time it was because co-workers were complaining I was too quiet, not very friendly, and so forth.

You can't "win" in an employment setting. It's a silly game in which mediocrity rules and the most important thing is to be a docile and obedient serf.

God, I hate what employment has become in this country.

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