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Diversity

Glenys

Perspectives welcome

A potential customer asked over the phone what our cultural mix was and elaborated, two other organisations they were also looking at were predominately, Muslim ethnicity. I replied I didn’t really know, on their insistence, I said I could only hazard a guess, but they were welcome to make an appointment to visit and see if they like our environment. They continued probing and I asked if they would like to hold whilst I asked senior staff.  I asked the question to a group of approx. 3 SLT staff one said we wouldn’t want that type of person here, if they are asking such questions.  I replied I can understand the question as I have been in a minority myself and can understand if someone would feel uncomfortable and asked if I replied 10% would that be approx.

An hour later I was confronted by my manager and told that I may be disciplined for racism.  The reason was and I struggle to understand, SLT say that there is no minority and I shouldn’t recognise minority.

Thanking you.

Parents

  • The potential customer was Imo clearly displaying racist behaviour. Selecting where you frequent based on the ethnicity of the staff is racist.

    Therefore the question you and your directors are grappling with is how to respond. Personally I am more with the Director who in response to a (imo) clearly racist customer said to refuse to answer as they weren’t the type of customer you wanted.

    I think however both you and your Directors probably need to work through the whole issue and develop an approach and education for the whole team.

  • in reply to Keith

    Thank you for replying.
    In this case the customer would be spending long periods in the environment and they wanted to make sure they felt comfortable. I believe it was an honest question and in adhering with valuing diversity, respect for other peoples beliefs and the customers choice. I have been in situations where I felt uncomfortable in my environment so did empathise with customer.
    The question of being in a minority no matter what minority and should we recognise that fact and make adjustments? We would for someone using a wheel chair, at the risk of rambling... I once organised a staff party visited the venue asked if it had wheel chair access etc I was assured everything was and at first look it appeared so. The event went off to a flying start until wheel chair user need the toilet. I went along with her it was horrendous we had to go outside around the building in a cold wet night, into the ladies to be met with a cubicle door that was too narrow she had to crawl on the floor to reach toilet whilst I stood blocking the doorway to salvage some of her dignity.

    From my past experiences I have no problem with people checking out what they are in for beforehand.

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  • in reply to Keith

    Thank you for replying.
    In this case the customer would be spending long periods in the environment and they wanted to make sure they felt comfortable. I believe it was an honest question and in adhering with valuing diversity, respect for other peoples beliefs and the customers choice. I have been in situations where I felt uncomfortable in my environment so did empathise with customer.
    The question of being in a minority no matter what minority and should we recognise that fact and make adjustments? We would for someone using a wheel chair, at the risk of rambling... I once organised a staff party visited the venue asked if it had wheel chair access etc I was assured everything was and at first look it appeared so. The event went off to a flying start until wheel chair user need the toilet. I went along with her it was horrendous we had to go outside around the building in a cold wet night, into the ladies to be met with a cubicle door that was too narrow she had to crawl on the floor to reach toilet whilst I stood blocking the doorway to salvage some of her dignity.

    From my past experiences I have no problem with people checking out what they are in for beforehand.

Children