An interesting case here and one which I guess we can all relate to at some point in our HR careers. I always say to managers OK now imagine what you've just said in a Tribunal transcript, now imagine it as a headline for the Company on BBC News.......it can sometimes do the trick.
So it would be interesting to share what clangers have you had to deal with in your time?
I'll start the ballrolling, I once had a manager who would insist on shouting across the office to a work colleague if they could make him a "gay cup of tea" it was his shorthand for herbal tea which he found hysterically funny. When I pointed out the inference was that gay was something which was deficient or less than 'normal' he found it hard to grasp that some people may found his comment offensive.
Please do share!
Replies
Hi Sarah,
Thanks for the post...I don't have a direct example to share, except the very interesting case recently (from the world of sport yet again!) in which Lucy Ward (who had a well-respected role at Leeds United F.C.) won her unfair dismissal/discrimination case at Tribunal...amongst the many elements of the case, the Chairman of Leeds United is alleged to have said something along the lines that ''a woman's place is in the beauticians or the bedroom...''...As you say, not only did that end up in a Tribunal transcript but pretty much everywhere else too...leaves one pretty speechless...
Shaun