Manager said something covertly racist

Nurses General Nursing

Published

I was at a leadership conference recently with my manager and several other supervisors (1 manager, 4 supervisors total). During the conference, we were asked to simulate how we would communicate with a housekeeper that went above and beyond by doing something outside of their normal job duties to help a patient.

One of my fellow supervisors says, "I'll be the housekeeper."

My manager says, "I wanna be the housekeeper!"

I say, "----- said it first, she can be the housekeeper."

My manager says to my fellow supervisor, "------, you're name is NOT Juanita Lopez" ****I have changed this name*****

To the best of my knowledge, Juanita Lopez is not a real person who works at my organization, but has a very common sounding Hispanic name. I believe she was insinuating that housekeepers are generally Hispanic. The rest of us supervisors were kind of shocked and looked at each other for a minute, felt uncomfortable, and then went on with the exercise.

What makes it even worse, is that one of my peers IS Hispanic. She is also my friend.

I feel this should be reported to HR, however here is my hesitation: In the past I have gone round and round with HR reporting bullying and inappropriate behaviors, along with MANY fellow employees including other supervisors, doctors and staff. My manager has a long history of bullying and incivility and retaliation, and there is a long history of HR not doing anything about it. It's a "Good ole' boys network." Everyone who feels her wrath just eventually winds up leaving the organization.

Out of the the 3 other supervisors:

My Hispanic friend does not want to make a big deal out of it, and absolutely hates confrontation, and actively avoids it. She does not want to say anything, nor be dragged into anything. She said she is used to these sorts of incidences and just lets it roll off her back.

The other two kind of just do their own thing, and have had the chance to stand up in the past, and/or support others who have been bullied, but they just don't.

I don't know if I have the energy to deal with this again, out of need for self-preservation, and also knowing that I will not have any back up, and knowing HR likely won't do anything. My plan is to find something else by the end of the year.

Here are my options:

*Confront my manager - she does not do well with confrontation, becoming extremely defensive and wrathful

*Report to HR openly - this did not go well for my last fellow supervisor who reported bullying, and she went through months of stress and heartache, and finally resigned.

*Report to HR anonymously - this did not go well for myself and about a dozen other people I know over the years, and I don't believe my anonymity was actually protected.

*Send an anonymous letter.

*Go to the news.

*Do nothing.

Regardless of what I pursue, if any investigation is opened, my friend will be dragged into it. None of my options feel good or right.

Has anything dealt with anything similar?

During the conference, we were asked to simulate how we would communicate with a housekeeper that went above and beyond by doing something outside of their normal job duties to help a patient.

Are housekeepers a different species or something?

The whole scenario is a good example of the difficulty of not just aiming to be genuine and treat others the way you would want to be treated.

Specializes in Pedi.
Are you serious? You're going to go to the news over what was an insensitive remark? I cannot imagine any news outfit wanting to make a story about something of this nature.

My thoughts exactly. What is the OP going to tell the news? "My manager made an off-color remark at a conference"? What would the news care?

Specializes in ICU, LTACH, Internal Medicine.
Hispanic is not a race, it's an ethnicity. A lot of housekeepers are Hispanic. There's nothing wrong with being a housekeeper. There is no need to create offense on your friend's behalf.

If the imaginary housekeeper had been named "Jane Smith", how would you feel about your friend running to the boss/HR/media?

With that being said:

assuming you and your peers play this role play. You are learning how to approach patients in need of social support services. The three final roles chosen for the play happen to be:

- Ms. Lakeischa Williams, a single 17 year old African American expecting mother who lives alone in inner city;

- Mr. Josayah Zion Johnson, a 19 year old African American male who just got out of jail;

- and Mrs. Juanita Lopez, a housekeeper in hospital and mother of 6 whose husband was just deported back to Honduras.

Would you feel OK continuing with this activity? Even if every single "story" looks realistic enough? Even if your local ER is drowning in scores of just such patients?

It is not "rasism", though. It is rather "stereotyping" but it still doesn't make it professionally acceptable.

What to do next, is a good question and it has no simple answer in modern American society. Too frequently, it is a battle with windmills - that's why many of us immigrants and minorities just learn to let it be and fall down off our shoulders. But, personally, I do let people know that I do not appreciate stereotyping toward anybody. After all, many and many good things in the history of humankind happened just because people finally started to take stuff very personally.

Hispanic is not a race, it's an ethnicity. A lot of housekeepers are Hispanic. There's nothing wrong with being a housekeeper. There is no need to create offense on your friend's behalf.

If the imaginary housekeeper had been named "Jane Smith", how would you feel about your friend running to the boss/HR/media?

With that being said:

assuming you and your peers play this role play. You are learning how to approach patients in need of social support services. The three final roles chosen for the play happen to be:

- Ms. Lakeischa Williams, a single 17 year old African American expecting mother who lives alone in inner city;

- Mr. Josayah Zion Johnson, a 19 year old African American male who just got out of jail;

- and Mrs. Juanita Lopez, a housekeeper in hospital and mother of 6 whose husband was just deported back to Honduras.

Would you feel OK continuing with this activity? Even if every single "story" looks realistic enough? Even if your local ER is drowning in scores of just such patients?

It is not "rasism", though. It is rather "stereotyping" but it still doesn't make it professionally acceptable.

What to do next, is a good question and it has no simple answer in modern American society. Too frequently, it is a battle with windmills - that's why many of us immigrants and minorities just learn to let it be and fall down off our shoulders. But, personally, I do let people know that I do not appreciate stereotyping toward anybody. After all, many and many good things in the history of humankind happened just because people finally started to take stuff very personally.

I am actually Hispanic, myself, and was born with a very common Spanish surname. If there's anything to get offended about regarding the original post, I'd say it's the insinuation that housekeeping is so horrific and degrading that even the loosest association with it is insulting.

One could argue that criminal behavior is shameful, but a responsible adult with stable employment is not. I would be irate if a coworker complained on my behalf about something that I did not find offensive. I'm not a child and am fully capable of speaking up for myself when the need arises.

Specializes in ED.

Wasn't Juanita Lopez the maid in Manhattan?

I appreciate the replies here:

To clarify a few things.

*I said 'going to the media' somewhat in jest. My post did not convey that, and I realize it. I supposed I mentioned it though because my manager has a long history with being reported to HR for various offenses and nothing has ever been done about, and this is just one more example of her incivility. Yes, it would be absolute career suicide for me.

*I personally DO NOT have a long history reporting people to HR as someone convoluted what I said. In my 10 years, I have only dealt with HR in regard to my manager, when I was asked to come forward during an investigation (about her).

*I agree with those who said to approach her in the moment. That is the healthiest and most grown-up and professional option. I guess I felt if that was a viable option I would. I generally am ok with directly approaching people with concerns. She, however does not like to disagreed with in any sort. Last time a fellow supervisor approached her about her behavior, it ended very badly for the supervisor. I am honestly afraid to approach her, because I feel my life will likely become miserable due to getting the cold shoulder from her. It's her MO. She ices people on out.

*Maybe the comment wasn't 'racist', but as the above poster mentioned, it is in fact stereotyping, and it's unprofessional and not befitting of professionals, let alone of upper management. At a conference. A leadership conference.

*And yes, if HR has never done something prior, they won't now.

*It's clear to me that I need to think about an exit strategy. I've almost exited a few times, and stopped the process for various reasons, but I need to make it a priority for this year.

*One more thing, though my Hispanic friend and fellow supervisor was bothered, and is choosing to let it go, it did upset her. Again, if she wanted to pursue it, I would back her, but I just don't have the energy on my own.

Thanks for all of the input.

My thoughts exactly. What is the OP going to tell the news? "My manager made an off-color remark at a conference"? What would the news care?

Some people seem to have too much time on their hands.

I am actually Hispanic, myself, and was born with a very common Spanish surname. If there's anything to get offended about regarding the original post, I'd say it's the insinuation that housekeeping is so horrific and degrading that even the loosest association with it is insulting.

One could argue that criminal behavior is shameful, but a responsible adult with stable employment is not. I would be irate if a coworker complained on my behalf about something that I did not find offensive. I'm not a child and am fully capable of speaking up for myself when the need arises.

Sour Lemon,

I would just like to comment that in my few interactions with you, I have noted that you leave the sourest of sour lemon-type posts. So good job at living up to your display name!

Glad you can speak up for yourself, it's a skill. A lot of peeps, like my Hispanic peer, struggle with it. She hates and dreads any sort of confrontation.

Some people seem to have too much time on their hands.

Like you, reading and leaving only trolling comments that add nothing of value to the discourse? Oh, the irony!

Wasn't Juanita Lopez the maid in Manhattan?

I have no idea. I made that name up. My boss made up another common Hispanic name and I chose not to repeat it.

Sour Lemon,

I would just like to comment that in my few interactions with you, I have noted that you leave the sourest of sour lemon-type posts. So good job at living up to your display name!

Glad you can speak up for yourself, it's a skill. A lot of peeps, like my Hispanic peer, struggle with it. She hates and dreads any sort of confrontation.

Thank you?

Thank you?

You're welcome :)

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