WEBVTT 00:00:05.915 --> 00:00:11.786 A customer just told me I should go back to where I came from. 00:00:13.416 --> 00:00:16.954 This isn't the first time I've heard that. And... 00:00:16.965 --> 00:00:21.515 in fact, I'm almost used to it. But sometimes it's really hard to take. 00:00:23.119 --> 00:00:26.862 I'm so sorry. I can totally relate to that. 00:00:27.887 --> 00:00:28.866 Are you okay? 00:00:28.980 --> 00:00:31.461 I'm... I'm tired of it. 00:00:31.880 --> 00:00:34.969 I wish it would stop happening. But there's... 00:00:34.980 --> 00:00:36.974 nothing I can do about it. 00:00:37.127 --> 00:00:41.964 My co-workers keep telling me 'don't let this bother you'. 00:00:42.312 --> 00:00:45.781 They say, 'those types of people are just ignorant'. 00:00:46.071 --> 00:00:50.838 They say, 'ignore them'. And… that's exactly what I try to do. But... 00:00:50.849 --> 00:00:52.909 after a while... 00:00:52.920 --> 00:00:54.920 it's just too much. 00:00:57.090 --> 00:00:58.728 It hurts 00:00:58.739 --> 00:01:00.503 hearing things like that. 00:01:02.165 --> 00:01:04.520 And it makes it hard for me to do a good job. 00:01:08.650 --> 00:01:12.657 Racial, ethnic and religious epithets and other expressions of bias 00:01:12.668 --> 00:01:14.826 are more common than we realize. 00:01:15.519 --> 00:01:17.983 Organizations must protect their employees 00:01:17.994 --> 00:01:22.309 and make it clear that these behaviors are unacceptable wherever they come from, 00:01:22.320 --> 00:01:23.746 including customers. 00:01:24.211 --> 00:01:26.324 Have you told your supervisor about this? 00:01:26.365 --> 00:01:29.454 No, I don't think she'd understand... 00:01:29.464 --> 00:01:31.972 and I don't want her to think I can't do my job. 00:01:32.157 --> 00:01:34.157 And, really, what could she do? 00:01:34.329 --> 00:01:38.764 Even though I was born in the U.S., the same thing happens to me sometimes. 00:01:39.001 --> 00:01:41.734 My grandparents immigrated here a long time ago. 00:01:41.998 --> 00:01:43.596 I'm a real American! 00:01:44.165 --> 00:01:46.998 Since just about everyone here came from somewhere else, 00:01:47.009 --> 00:01:50.041 maybe everybody should go back to where they came from, huh? 00:01:50.287 --> 00:01:54.187 Then only the First nations, the Native Americans, will be left. 00:01:54.333 --> 00:01:56.198 I have a couple of ideas. 00:01:56.441 --> 00:01:57.754 They’ve worked for me. 00:01:58.649 --> 00:02:02.663 First, I think you should give your supervisor a chance to be supportive. 00:02:02.978 --> 00:02:05.785 Let her know what’s going on and how it affects you. 00:02:06.348 --> 00:02:08.070 And see what happens. 00:02:09.056 --> 00:02:12.513 Another thing that worked... was having a plan 00:02:12.524 --> 00:02:15.360 for taking care of yourself when these things happen... 00:02:15.972 --> 00:02:18.223 since you say they happen a lot. 00:02:18.337 --> 00:02:20.606 A plan... it can be empowering. 00:02:20.713 --> 00:02:22.462 It can give you a sense of control. 00:02:23.553 --> 00:02:25.734 What do you mean? Give an example. 00:02:25.913 --> 00:02:28.470 Well, I worked it out with my manager. 00:02:28.506 --> 00:02:32.525 If someone insults me racially, I'm supposed to excuse myself 00:02:32.536 --> 00:02:33.825 and call my manager. 00:02:33.894 --> 00:02:36.928 Our company doesn't expect us to work with that kind of customer. 00:02:37.178 --> 00:02:40.014 You make it sound so easy. 00:02:40.662 --> 00:02:42.618 But I'm willing to give it a try. 00:02:43.074 --> 00:02:45.818 I'll talk to my boss and see what we can come up with. 00:02:46.479 --> 00:02:49.350 When this happens again, I'll have a plan... 00:02:49.361 --> 00:02:50.366 and support. 00:02:50.505 --> 00:02:54.546 It's good to know I’m not expected to work in a hostile environment. 00:02:55.204 --> 00:02:58.136 When racism or bigotry impacts an employee, 00:02:58.147 --> 00:03:01.676 the organization must step in and take corrective action. 00:03:01.972 --> 00:03:05.533 Whether its co-workers, customers or the general public, 00:03:05.544 --> 00:03:09.831 organizations have a clear responsibility to protect their employees. 00:03:10.104 --> 00:03:13.171 Employees need to know what to do in these situations. 00:03:13.357 --> 00:03:17.540 Managers and supervisors need to be proactive in their support of employees, 00:03:17.553 --> 00:03:22.420 anticipate potential problems and step in if these situations occur. 00:03:22.631 --> 00:03:25.999 Any corrective action taken must be timely, 00:03:26.017 --> 00:03:29.007 must end the behavior and prevent its recurrence, 00:03:29.018 --> 00:03:32.536 and must not result in reprisal against the employee. 00:03:32.754 --> 00:03:35.552 Beating racism means paying attention 00:03:35.563 --> 00:03:39.273 to disruptive, distracting, or disrespectful behaviors 00:03:39.283 --> 00:03:41.099 that could lead to a hostile environment.