Monday, May 4, 2009

offer tips to employees for dealing with workplace diversity

The Delaware Department of Transportation (also known as DelDOT) recently devoted two pages of its employee newsletter to a "Diversity Spotlight," which is a list of tips aimed at enhancing communication and relations between different sorts of employees.

However, rather than recommending what to say or how to say it, the tips consist entirely of things not to say.

What do you think of the Department of Transportation's advice? Do you get official advice like this on your job? And do you ever get questions like this from your coworkers?

The entire two pages can be found here (PDF).


Comments you never want to make to a coworker
WORKPLACE FAUX PAS


Curiosity is natural; and with a diverse workforce, inquiring minds always want to know. How you communicate your inquiries can keep you from offending your co-workers.

How can you go about interacting with your colleagues without putting your foot in your mouth? How do you keep from getting the cold shoulder and creating friction in the workplace? . . .

It is always better to be honest and acknowledge your unfamiliarity when you are curious about a person or a topic. It is never inappropriate to build a better working relationship with your co-worker by getting to know them. You can never go wrong by saying “I really don't know that much about...” or “I’m curious about this, would you be offended if I asked you….?” People will have greater respect for you when you are sincere and admit you are genuinely interested in learning about them.


Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender Co-workers

Employees who make the decision to “come out” are usually apprehensive about the kinds of reaction they will receive from colleagues.

What did your family say?

This is personal and not an opportunity to start gossip.

I don’t consider you gay.

This is insensitive.

Have you thought about getting help?

You are stereotyping, telling the person there’s something wrong that should be fixed.

Never call a coworker a “fag” or “homo.”

This is derogatory, rude, and totally insensitive.

I didn’t need to hear that.

If you are not interested in the person’s personal life, simply say “Thank you.”

African American Coworkers

The “N” word

You may have heard comedians or African Americans use the word “nigger” casually. It is never, ever acceptable to use this word in any context. You are asking for trouble; leave this one alone.

You people

Let’s just say you are asking for trouble when you make this reference. Your focus should be on the individual, not the race or culture.

Should we order fried chicken or watermelon for you?

This is stereotyping and shows ignorance.

You are articulate, or you speak very well.

As opposed to what? You may be implying that most African Americans are not well spoken or well educated. Remember a vice presidential candidate made this mistake.

I am not prejudiced against black people, my neighbors are black.

You are saying it’s all right to treat people differently because you know a few people of the same race.

Asian Co-workers

You must be the new IT person.

All Asians are not IT professionals.

You speak English very well, or did you learn to speak English in America?

You are assuming that everyone who speaks with an accent is foreign born. The fact is that we all speak with an accent; e.g., New England, Southern, British, etc. The appropriate approach should be “I’m not familiar with your accent, may I ask where your accent is from?”

What’s your native language?

Don’t assume because people look differently or speak differently that they are not natural-born Americans or are from a foreign country. Remember we have military bases all over the world; and don’t forget the Peace Corps or Fortune 500 companies with employees and families spending the bulk of their lives overseas.

Can you recommend a good Chinese restaurant?

All Asians are not Chinese. Take some time to study a world map. The world is made up of continents with many countries, regions, cultures, and sub-cultures. Remember the news reports about a vice presidential candidate who thought Africa was a country.

Wow, you are from India! My neighbor Ashok Shah is from India; do you know him?

Think for a minute … do you know every American - or everyone who lives in Dover or Wilmington?

White Co-workers

That’s how a typical white person acts.

You are suggesting that all white people are the same by putting them in the same category. The behavior may have nothing to do with the person’s race.

I don’t trust white people; they are all racists.

This is stereotyping and totally insensitive. Get to know the person or discuss why the actions may have offended you. Don’t generalize.

White trailer trash.

Why would you think that referring to someone as trash is acceptable? This is derogatory, and should never ever be used.

Hispanic/Latino Co-workers

You know we should send all of you back across the border.

Don’t assume because people look differently or speak differently that they are not natural-born Americans. Where did your ancestors come from?

It is never ever acceptable to refer to a Hispanic/Latino co-worker as a “spic” “wetback” or “hot footer.”

This is derogatory.

Can you help me out with my landscaping?

Why would you assume that all Hispanics/Latinos are landscaping experts?

Can you recommend a good Mexican Restaurant?

This is stereotyping and shows ignorance. All Hispanics/Latinos are not Mexicans.

15 comments:

  1. "All Asians are not IT professionals."

    What, just MOST of them are?

    I wonder who wrote these tips. Loads of cluelessness!

    No, i don't get advice like this at work, and actually don't get any about "diversity." At least this state office is . . . trying?

    ReplyDelete
  2. Linda: What, just MOST of them are?
    (in response to All asians are not IT professionals)

    How on earth is that implied?

    The brochure is correct, not all asians do IT. Some do, but the point of the brochure is to remind delaware workers that automatically connecting "asian" and "IT" is stereotypical.

    Saying "Asians are Never IT professionals" would also be racist.

    ReplyDelete
  3. I read it the same way Linda did, which is that it's suggesting that *most* are in IT, just not *all* Asians. A better way to write it would have been "Many Asians are not in IT" or "Most Asians are not in IT."

    ReplyDelete
  4. I read it the same way Linda did, which is that it's suggesting that *most* are in IT, just not *all* Asians. A better way to write it would have been "Many Asians are not in IT" or "Most Asians are not in IT."Erm. I didn't. Because that's not what it says. These tips are pretty clueless though.... It's like Racism 101 back in 1980 or something.

    ReplyDelete
  5. What is telling to me about all these being couched in the negative, is it's being indicative of how our culture still views "diversity." It's a minefield to navigate - not the comfortable melting pot advertised in the brochures.

    It takes people of all races working to overcome their stereotypes and preconceived notions to make diversity truly operate...and there doesn't seem to be a right way to do it. Only a wrong way.

    For now.

    ReplyDelete
  6. I read this and was first, speechless. Then I sent it along to some colleagues (and got back interesting responses). Then I wrote about it. And to some extent, I'm still not sure what to say.

    ReplyDelete
  7. wow. this was put out recently?

    ReplyDelete
  8. This was bizarre to me, but I found moments for humor - like this:

    You may be implying that most African Americans are not well spoken or well educated. Remember a vice presidential candidate made this mistake.Actually, the articulate comment IS implying that. And the guy wasn't a vp candidate when he said it - he's just the vp NOW. [I still can't believe it.]

    I also like the comment after the question about good Chinese restaurants:

    Take some time to study a world map.That's good advice, and well-put.

    We had a diversity board once, at my job, but they never did much. Once they planned an International Food Fair event during Ramadan, and then canceled it [instead of postponing it] after I said something to HR. That was 2 years ago. They haven't done anything since.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Anonymous, I don't know exactly when these tips appeared in the DelDOT newsletter, but the vice presidential candidate references indicate that it appeared within the past year. I agree with Doreen--It's like Racism 101 back in 1980 or something.

    ReplyDelete
  10. looking at the full spread, I saw that the publishing date indicated is Spring 2009. but I wonder if this can be real...because of the 'Older Coworkers' section.

    • You know Wal Mart is hiring.This is not funny. An older employee has
    experience you could benefit from.
    • When can we start planning your retirement party?With this kind of attitude you are creating an unfriendly work environment.

    i laughed out loud at the sentence: "This is not funny." and again at the second question...can this really be real?

    ReplyDelete
  11. Far as I can tell, these tips are real. It's on the web as part of the "DelDOT" site, sadly enough.

    ReplyDelete
  12. I've had coworkers that could've used those tips.

    ReplyDelete
  13. Love the slightly testy tone of some of the admonishments:
    "You are articulate, or you speak very well. As opposed to what?"All Asians are not Chinese. Take some time to study a world map."Don’t assume because people look differently or speak differently that they are not natural-born Americans. Where did your ancestors come from?"

    All that's missing is the sound of my own irritated voice, and a "...dumbass!" on the the end.


    [Nitpick: "all Asians are not Chinese" is a false statement, and ≠ "not all Asians are Chinese."]

    ReplyDelete
  14. I personally love the State of Delaware's Beliefs and Principles:

    "In valuing people, there are diverse views".

    You don't see that kind of candour in a mission statement often.

    ReplyDelete
  15. This is a relatively old post, but I couldn't help commenting when I saw this part: "What’s your native language?"

    My (White) mother went to university in Quebec City. While there, she met and had a daughter with a Togolese man who was studying there too.

    One day, she was walking with said daughter, who was still pretty young (less than 1 year old). Too young to talk and too young to walk.

    Someone approached my mom and asked "Does she speak French?" (our mother tongue being French).

    She didn't even speak yet! And language isn't inherent to your skin's color, obviously.

    As her biological father left after a couple of years or so, she never did learn any languages beside French, as well as English an Spanish (from school).

    ReplyDelete

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