I'm just like 98% of white people.

[letty2001]

I am a white employee of a large company in Seattle, WA. I supervise a young Hispanic woman who has had some work performance issues recently. I was consulting my boss, who is Asian, regarding the situation, and she told me that I should make allowances for my employee because she's Hispanic. My issues with the employee have nothing to do with her ethnicity, and I stated that to my boss. My boss then told me that I'm just like 98% of white people and that she would have been shocked if I was any different. She said that it isn't my fault that I'm ignorant because I'm just a product of my upbringing. I told my boss that I was very upset about her statements and left the meeting.

Since then, my boss refuses to apologize, she's refused mediation, and upper management hasn't done a thing. This is adversely affecting my work performance, and I am stressed, anxious, depressed, and unable to perform my regular duties as well as I did before. Management has even started to blame me for not handling the situation better.
Help. I don't want to quit my job, but I feel terrible everyday that I'm here. Is there something I can do?
Thanks,
Letty

 

[wildthing]

No there's really nothing you can do. And your boss is right, you are like 98% of white people. Most of us are sick and tired of people saying "I'm a minority so I deserve special treatment".
But it's the 2% that represent our elected officials that are still catering to the minorities that as a whole make up the majority.

 

[AnonNonOn]

IT WAS ABOUT DAMN TIME!!!

This actually happens someplace in the USA???
Ha, ha ha ha ha well GOOD!!! I'm glad you are stressing, depressed and can't do your job!! Give me the names and numbers of your boss and co-worker so I can give them a commendation for finally giving a white person in authority (yes that's the 98%) what they deserve!!! Yeehaw!! You have made my day!!! Let me know when you finally give up and quit so we all can throw you a get-the-hell-outta-here-and-never-come-back party!!!

Don't cry, what do you have to lose? White people have it easy and can get whatever they want, right? I bet you're one of those lame yuppie types who drink Starbucks and watch stupid shows like Friends or Seinfeld - that gives you the bigger advantage ya know.

So get to it, quit now and makes everyone's lives easier!


And don't let the door hit ya!

 

[JETX]

One question... have you documented this issue IN WRITING to management??? It can be done none aggressively.... in the form of a report or incident. Then, send a copy to the corporate HR department with your concerns that this 'attitude' is affecting your job performance. By documenting it properly, you can get your point across AND maybe protect yourself at the same time.

In your report, be professional, factual and do not be aggressive or biased. Report the facts only as they happened and your concerns.

 

[Yolie]

I would suggest that you take this issue to your HR department and ask for assistance in helping to resolve the performance issues you are having with the young woman. it sounds like you would like to help her with these problems and that is why you consulted your manager. you may want to suggestion or encourage training classes or seminars on these performance issues and give her a timeline on improvements by setting goals. unfortunately, people have the right to their opinion and you may just have to let go of your feelings about your manager. i'm sorry that you received such ridiculous responses to your request for help. good luck. and, by the way, i'm hispanic and most of my professional colleagues (of all colors) do not feel that way about 'white' colleagues.

 

[letty2001]

Re: AnonNonOn Post

Companies have policies set up to protect ALL employees, regardless of age, race, religion, sex, or disability, from the type of remarks you and my boss have made. Everyone is entitled to their own personal beliefs, but my manager (who is Asian, and who is in a substantial position of authority) has violated company policy (by ignoring my request for help) with a personal attack. I've since contacted a lawyer and am working with the HR and Diversity department of my company. They believe I have a legitimate complaint. Education and sensitivity is the goal, not mean-spirited angry replies like yours.

You're obviously not a lawyer, and you're part of the problem in America. I hope you feel good by making other people feel bad. You, like my boss, made a snap-decision about a person without knowing anything about them. You've reduced me down to only the color of my skin. I have a child whose father is black - I would never, ever, endorse the type of hatred that you promote. My son deserves a safer, more loving, place to live than the one you would imagine for him.
I wish you luck on your journey to acceptance and peace.

 

[aramorra]

Re: AnonNonOn Post

To AnonNonOn,

I agree with Letty2001!

I am NOT WHITE and it is people like you, AnonNonOn, that give OUR people such a BAD RAP!!

Grow Up AnonNonOn!!

Companies have policies set up to protect ALL employees, regardless of age, race, religion, sex, or disability, from the type of remarks you and my boss have made. Everyone is entitled to their own personal beliefs, but my manager (who is Asian, and who is in a substantial position of authority) has violated company policy (by ignoring my request for help) with a personal attack. I've since contacted a lawyer and am working with the HR and Diversity department of my company. They believe I have a legitimate complaint. Education and sensitivity is the goal, not mean-spirited angry replies like yours.

You're obviously not a lawyer, and you're part of the problem in America. I hope you feel good by making other people feel bad. You, like my boss, made a snap-decision about a person without knowing anything about them. You've reduced me down to only the color of my skin. I have a child whose father is black - I would never, ever, endorse the type of hatred that you promote. My son deserves a safer, more loving, place to live than the one you would imagine for him.
I wish you luck on your journey to acceptance and peace.

 

[jaxonbrown]

Re: IT WAS ABOUT DAMN TIME!!!

AnonNonOn's horse**** rant

You disgust me. There's a special place in hell for racists like you. I agree with aramorra, scum like you promote racial polarity that has NO PLACE in the USA.