|
How do I deal with coworkers talking crap bout me everyday in spanish?
I'm 24 and these ladies at work keep talking crap about me behind my back/when they think I’m not listening. These ladies are around my age and talk about me in Spanish. They also make racial comments like calling me a mayate. I understand every word. I want to avoid confrontation since I don't want to work in a hostile environment. All that would do is make them more hostile toward me and they’re really popular. I really doubt they would get fired since they've been there for years. I've only been there for 1. I should also mention that I don't do anything wrong. I’m nice, but quiet and will help with work if anyone asks. I work very hard and don't talk to them. I'm not mean or cold, I say hi and goodbye, but I never tell people about my personal business. I know the second I share a detail about my life they will turn around and talk crap. This happened to me at another job, coworkers talking crap in Spanish and not knowing I understand and I just quit, but I don’t want to quit this job. How can I deal with this?
[ ]
Want to answer more questions in the Relationships category?
Maybe give some free advice about: Work/School Relationships?
I want to be another vote for following advicemans suggestions. HIs point that a boss may not understand Spanish and just assume everything they are speaking is just normal conversation in their more familiar language. You might be the first who knows the language well enough to know what they are saying. This falls under racialremarks which do not belong in the workplace or anywhere in public. If someone is racist at heart, the only place they can do so without getting into trouble is at home.
I looked up Urban dictionary to find out the current meaning of the word. It states that Mayate has 2 meanings, the older one of mayate being a dung beetle. I saw a documentary once on dung beetles and found it interesting.(however the likelihood that they have been talking every day about dung beetles is not possible at all.
So that brings up the other meaning and most used now.
2 Mayate is a word used by Spanish speaking people as a racial name calling of anyone with darker skin. Even if by chance you are not black but white, it is still being done in an uncomplimentary manner. I am sure theres a word they use for white poeple they hate as well. Either way, they are trying to get away with racial bullying.
I did some looking up for the term. Racial profiling and racial discrimination don't seem to fit since they are not cops or your employer. But racial bullying is a real thing and what you want to have addressed at work so it no longer happens. So the boss needs to be made aware of it. If they don't handle it or the people don't stop, they can't fire all at once and be without employees so I can't say what a boss might do. I would make sure to check if its certain people or if you have heard all of them use the word or agree with it. You wouldn't want the one who is innocent and just doesnt want to get on their bad side so they stay silent, to be one who also gets in trouble. But if it doesn't stop, you'll need to report it as adviceman mentioned.
]
You should not have to work in a hostile work environment. It is up to your employer to provide a safe work environment. It is obvious these ladies do not realize you understand every word they say or they would close enough o you for you to over hear.
You say you left your last job because Spanish speaking employees caused a hostile work environment for you. I wonder how many others left there or your present job for the same reason.
Federal law is on your side. If you are in a hostile work environment then you go to the HR department, if there is no HR Department you go to the owner or managing supervisor and report the problem. By law the must correct the problem. If by correcting the problem it gets worse you tell them and they have to take more effective action or you can file a Federal EEOC Complaint.
Not only are these women causing a hostile work environment. But there actions in do so are racial harassment in doing so. They may be long term employees but you may be the first person to actually understand their language where as the employer doesn't and accepts them saying they are just talking in a language they understand better.
]
More Questions: |