What would you do if you worked with a racist?

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Specializes in RAI/MDS Facility Administrator.

A few days ago my supervisor completely shocked me and my co-workers. She has let all of her nurses know that the reason she changed her child's school was because there were not enough blonde and blue eyed children in the class and her 4 year old was feeling uncomfortable. The class that her child was in was diverse in ethnicities. She makes many racial remarks about the color of our skin and our racial backgrounds. Initially when she joked about it we all thought it was just that- a joke. We did not make any kind of remarks to cease her joking. We have now made it clear that we will not tolerate any sort of racist remarks or jokes. It is too late ,for me anyways, to have any kind of respect for this woman. So now with her true colors showing, my question to all of you is this; How would you maintain your professionalism when working with someone who is an outright racist? :(

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Specializes in Med-Surg.

Any employer worth their bricks and motor has a policy that this would not be allowed. Everywhere I've worked they have a zero tolerance for racism of any sort.

I've seen people get fired for one offensive comment and you say this person has made many. Report the incident to the higher ups immediately, with specific examples because saying "she makes many racist remarks all the time" doesn't cut it, be specific.

If you don't want to do that, confront them face to face and ask them to stop it around you. I've had to do that sometimes when people make offensive jokes, thinking just because I'm a white male I'd laugh.

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Specializes in Medical/Surgical/Maternal and Child.

In most places these days racist remarks are automatic grounds for termination. Even ethnic jokes are a big NO NO in the workplace. It's about time!!!!

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Specializes in 5 yrs OR, ASU Pre-Op 2 yr. ER.

Surely the facility you work in has a policy against this. It constitutes as harrassment.

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OMG. What a stupid person.

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Specializes in CCU,ICU,ER retired.

That sounds like a supervisor I had a few years back. She lost her supervisor job and went to maternal child health an it got worse. I had to work with her a couple of times. She was the most horrible racist I had ever met and no one eversafe from her judgement. My husband was waiting for a liver transplant and she ask why? I told her we had been clean and sober for over 10 years and it was the wreckage of his past. She looked me square in the face and told he should die and let the liver go to someone who deserves it. My jaw hit the ground. and I just wrote her up. She supposed to apoligize. she refused and they let her go. There are just rotten folks out there who don't know any better. and have no social skills.

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Zero Tolerance.

She should be reported immediately.

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Specializes in ICU/CCU/CVICU/ED/HS.

There is no room in this business for that...I was raised in a VERY bigotted household and I hate racism. No place for it...Write her up!!!!

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Specializes in LTC, assisted living, med-surg, psych.
A few days ago my supervisor completely shocked me and my co-workers. She has let all of her nurses know that the reason she changed her child's school was because there were not enough blonde and blue eyed children in the class and her 4 year old was feeling uncomfortable. The class that her child was in was diverse in ethnicities. She makes many racial remarks about the color of our skin and our racial backgrounds. Initially when she joked about it we all thought it was just that- a joke. We did not make any kind of remarks to cease her joking. We have now made it clear that we will not tolerate any sort of racist remarks or jokes. It is too late ,for me anyways, to have any kind of respect for this woman. So now with her true colors showing, my question to all of you is this; How would you maintain your professionalism when working with someone who is an outright racist? :(

This supervisor has a supervisor, doesn't she? And doesn't that supervisor have a supervisor?

YOU BET!!

This must be reported up the chain of command, and immediately if not sooner. If you don't get any satisfaction from her boss, keep on going until you reach someone who will discipline her. There is such a thing as a "hostile" work environment; your employer could face a lawsuit, or worse, if this behavior of hers is permitted to continue.

Whatever you do, DOCUMENT, DOCUMENT, DOCUMENT every single racist 'joke', remark, etc. that she utters. Ask your co-workers to do the same. Life is too short to put up with stupid people in the workplace; she needs to GO.:madface:

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If you and she are face to face alone, there is only one professional in that room. So being concerned about "working professionally" with that person isn't your concern; getting her OUT of a position to be dangerous to you or someone else is. Knowing how she feels about your or anyone else who doesn't fit her very golden-hued world, I'd be worried that she would do something damaging just to hurt you. After all, you're inferior to her in her mind, so if you can be eliminated with a well-placed lie or planting of physical evidence, I wouldn't put it past her. People who think as she does will believe that the end justifies the means. I sure wouldn't be comfortable around that.

Take it up the ladder. Document everything. Get witnesses to as much as possible. And send her blonde-haired, blue-eyed BUTT out to the pavement!

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Or I could have saved myself some typing and said "ditto what Martha wrote" :)

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OMG. What a stupid person.

Must be another racist folk among us.

If I could put my hand around this folk's neck to throw this uncivilized out of this forum.

Well, Let's try to love one another here since we pay our federal taxes.

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