so upsetting -- nasty co worker

[Arabella Figg 2003]

I work in NYC, a very diverse community.

we have several employees here who are foreign born and who speak English with an accent.

we've got a guy here who makes fun of those accents. he'll parody our colleagues behind their backs.

worse yet, he overheard tow of our co workers speaking together at lunch time in their native language, so now he's added to the parody -- he speaks gibberish and pretends he's speaking a foreign language.

I can't help but wonder if he thinks he's truly funny? is he really so insensitive that he doesn't realize how hurtful this could be?

 

[CookieGVB]

Apparently, some people never grow up.

Someone should point out that this type of behavior is quite possibly against company policy. Is there a policy manual handy? Make a copy and send it to him.

 

[believe]

At our company that would get the individual in hot water.

 

[BriarfoxinWA]

At my company it would get the individual FIRED!

 

[Deb in IA]

Originally posted by Arabella Figg 2003


we've got a guy here who makes fun of those accents. he'll parody our colleagues behind their backs.

Is he from Tennessee?

 

[WDSearcher]

Originally posted by Arabella Figg 2003
worse yet, he overheard two of our co workers speaking together at lunch time in their native language, so now he's added to the parody -- he speaks gibberish and pretends he's speaking a foreign language.

In my company, that would be considered cause for reprimand and, if it continues, termination. I'd turn the guy in. Or, at the very least, leave a copy of the company's non-discrimination / diversity policy on his desk!

 

[Arabella Figg 2003]

no, he's not, Deb, he's a native New Yorker. you'd think, since he grew up in such an ethnically diverse community, he'd know better.

I don't really feel like being a whistleblower...

 

[NMAmy]

I always like to ask people who do this, "How many languages are you fluent in?" I work with many people from different countries and I'm always amazed by their fluency. I lived in Germany for a time and could barely order meals and find the bathroom! I'm impressed as all get out by folks that are so fluent in another language.

The Italian woman who works with me will sometimes make a little mistake with slang and she'll say, "Oh, that's not right--why do I always forget?" Then I tell her that her English is WAY better than my Italian.

 

[oogieboogie]

As long as he has an audience he will continue to do what he's doing now.

Letting his supervisor know is best, but if you can't do that, then ignoring him would be my second choice.

As a foreign born person working in the US, when I speak my native language with my mother on the phone, my co-workers are usually amazed that I can speak another language besides English. Not once have I been demeaned or chastised for it. The ones that do I just learn to ignore.

 

[Rajah]

Originally posted by Arabella Figg 2003

I don't really feel like being a whistleblower...

So don't -- instead, find the copy of the company policy stating this is against policy and secretly leave it on his desk when he's not around.

 

[Cindy B]

My DH has been the whistleblower for this in many occasions.

And honestly, his HR was very discreet about the identity of the whistleblower.


Of, if want make a copy of the policy page, highlight it, and leave it on his chair.

 

[Keli]

Originally posted by Arabella Figg 2003
worse yet, he overheard tow of our co workers speaking together at lunch time in their native language

Depending on the situation I could have a real problem with this. It is incredibly rude to speak a language in front of others that cannot speak that language in my opinion. Because these two individuals live and work in the US is it correct to assume they both speak english? If they were in front of any co-workers that did not speak their native language also then they should stick to english.

As for your co-worker mocking others with accents, well that is even more rude and he should be stopped (or fired).

I used to live in a town that had a very large hispanic population and the church we attended had an even larger percentage of spanish speaking individuals (although they all spoke english as well and the services were conducted in english). I used to get so frustrated when we would all be working together at a fundraiser and everyone is speaking spanish but me (I do not speak or understand any spanish unfortunately). It was very rude of them and one day the assistant pastor happend to walk in the kitchen where we were all working (he was also hispanic) and called his wife out into the hall and told her loudly (in english) how rude it was of everyone to be speaking spanish when they knew there were folks in there that didn't understand any of it. Thankfully after that most people would speak english when there were those that didn't understand it around.

 

[meandtheguys2]

Keli, was wondering if you would speak a english with co-workers if you were in a different country? I see your point, but then turned it around. I don't think that I would think I was being rude in that circumstance.

 

[ScarlettO]

Originally posted by Deb in IA
Is he from Tennessee?

 

[Talking Hands]

Keli yes it is rude to speak another language that others don't know when you are all working together. The OPs situation was different. The coworkers were having lunch together. At lunch they should be free to speak whatever language they wish.

 

[alabamaalan]

My thought as well Scarlet.

I did take it as a joke because I'm not that thinned skin, but it is an example of what the original poster was talking about wasn't it?

No offense taken here Deb, but it was insulting...

 

[Beauty]

My son and I speak gibberish at Disney World....LOL! We have a blast!! But there are soooooooo many different languages going on there no one would know any better!!!!!

In a workplace I can definatly see it being a problem especially if it bothers the people hes mocking.

 

[Hillbeans]

Has anyone ever confronted him about it? Perhaps he can find a new group to eat lunch with if he realizes his current audience is insulted and they all get up and leave when he starts making fun of people.

No one should be made fun of for speaking english with an accent. I'm sure if he went to another state they'd speak an accent different than his.

 

[CindysGusGus]

One could only hope they were talking about him when they were at lunch..what goes around....

 

[Deb in IA]

Originally posted by alabamaalan
My thought as well Scarlet.

I did take it as a joke because I'm not that thinned skin, but it is an example of what the original poster was talking about wasn't it?

No offense taken here Deb, but it was insulting...

Sorry if you were insulted. It was not directed at anyone who has replied here. A bit of a private joke between myself and Arabella -- and judging from her response, I think she knows who I am talking about.

And so does Scarlett.