Coworker accused me of making racist remark to boss
Posted: Sat Oct 01, 2011 1:05 am
So a mexican coworker went down to human resources and made a formal complaint because i made a racist remark to him.
The incident began when i asked if we didnt have to listen to the spanish radio station in the work truck. We both speak english and i requested that we at least listen to a staion that we could both at least understand. We argued for a minute over it an he became very angry and accused me of making racist remarks. I shrug my shoulders and settle for no radio station at all and go to work. Later that day he files the complaint.
The next day unknown to me i get a call to meet my boss and the department head in the conference room. I sit down and they fill me in on the complaint. The main question they have for me is what i exactly said. My coworker said that i said a racist word that they either couldnt understand or a word they werent familiar with. I told them i never said a racist remark at all. The department head basically askes me to replay the argument between me and my coworker. I replay the argument between us to the best of my memory. Half way through my story i see the department head kick my boss under the table and their faces turn red. They look at eachother and ask me to leave the room for a moment. I step outside
I wait outside wondering if im gonna have a job in the next few minutes and overhear laughter in the conference room. I dont know what to make of it. I know racist remarks and sexual harassment type stuff has gotten people fired right on the spot before.
They call me back in and i sit down. Their faces showed signs of uncontrolled laughter but they look serious. The department head tells me that my co worker must have misunderstood me when i told him " spanish is nothing but jibberish to me" isnt a racist remark and that he will be informing my coworker that "jibberish" isnt a racist word. I thanked them and closed the door behind me to an erruption of laughter in the conference roommas i left. My co worker is a dumbass.
The incident began when i asked if we didnt have to listen to the spanish radio station in the work truck. We both speak english and i requested that we at least listen to a staion that we could both at least understand. We argued for a minute over it an he became very angry and accused me of making racist remarks. I shrug my shoulders and settle for no radio station at all and go to work. Later that day he files the complaint.
The next day unknown to me i get a call to meet my boss and the department head in the conference room. I sit down and they fill me in on the complaint. The main question they have for me is what i exactly said. My coworker said that i said a racist word that they either couldnt understand or a word they werent familiar with. I told them i never said a racist remark at all. The department head basically askes me to replay the argument between me and my coworker. I replay the argument between us to the best of my memory. Half way through my story i see the department head kick my boss under the table and their faces turn red. They look at eachother and ask me to leave the room for a moment. I step outside
I wait outside wondering if im gonna have a job in the next few minutes and overhear laughter in the conference room. I dont know what to make of it. I know racist remarks and sexual harassment type stuff has gotten people fired right on the spot before.
They call me back in and i sit down. Their faces showed signs of uncontrolled laughter but they look serious. The department head tells me that my co worker must have misunderstood me when i told him " spanish is nothing but jibberish to me" isnt a racist remark and that he will be informing my coworker that "jibberish" isnt a racist word. I thanked them and closed the door behind me to an erruption of laughter in the conference roommas i left. My co worker is a dumbass.