Racial problem at work???

[Meri D]

I need some sound advice here please!! I am a manager at a local resturant and have recently found out that we are haveing a "racial" problem (not sure what else to call it)with a 17 year old black girl (Keshia). I have had to deal with this sort of situation before to an extent but the problem is that ever since Keshia started working for us she has had an attitutde towards some of the white and hispanic workers and I have heard that she has even been rude to customers (although I haven't witnessed that personally). Another black employee has told me that Keshia says she hates white people and believes that they "owe her". (whatever that means) Anyway, I have tried talking to her about this because she is a good worker and I don't want to loose her, however she doesn't seem to be taking me seriously and I believe it is because I am white. Last night Keshia got very rude with one of our white emploees and told her she was nothing but white trash. This upset the girl very much and I pulled both of them to the side to find out what started the whole thing and Keshai says that she was just picking with her and wasn't serious. Here is my problem....Knowing that this young lady has a problem with whites due to past statements how do I get my point across that this is not acceptable behavior at work, make her understand that I don't wont to have to replace her because of this since she is a good worker and not make it sound as though I am coming down hard on her just because she is black? The last thing I need is for her to start a real problem by saying that I am prejudice and picking on her becuase of the color of her skin. Any advice is gratful!!!!!

[Amy2]

I think you should leave race out of it completely. Let her know that it is unacceptble for ANY employee to be rude or disrespectful to ANY co worker or customer. Period. Attitude is very important in the restaurant business, and while she is a good worker, her attitude stinks and she needs to pull it together or she'll be terminated.
Amy

[Meri D]

Thanks for the advice Amy. I plan to try talking to her again tonight I just hope that she can leave the race issue out of it. Will let you know how it goes.

[Amy2]

Mari, good luck tonight. One last piece of advice; don't worry about if SHE leaves race out of it, YOU leave it out. If she brings it up you can say "We can talk about that another time, but now I want to talk about attitude" and just keep going there. Don't even engage if she brings it up, because it's not relevant to what you are discussing with her! You go girl! Amy

[Diane]

I couldn't agree more... Amy gave you some GREAT advice. :) I hope it all works out well. Let us know. :)

Diane... :wave:

[Jeff]

other things that would be helpful is to document the discussion and have a witness to the discussion. A non-biased witness would serve you well or one that is less likely to be perceived as a biased one.

[Mickey]

I totally agree with Amy! Leave race completely out of it and focus on attitude. I would even do something in writing documenting what you discussed--try to come up with ideas with her...what she can do and how you can help her to contribute positively to a happy work environment for everyone, including her. Explain that you would never allow anyone to be hurtful or mean to her and encourage her to come to you with any problems she may encounter. Also, specify consequences if things don't improve. Good luck, Meri! Let us know how it goes!

[Meri D]

Well everyone, I talked to her last night and took everyones advice and completly left race out of it. Basically I just told her that her attitude was reflecting on her work and that in turn reflected on the business. That she was a good employee and that I didn't want to have to replace her but that if her attitude didn't change then I would have no choice. I had a witness and wrote everything down. Well, I thought evverything was going to be okay until she left the office walked to the front counter and told two girls up front that they were good for nothing white trash b____ (Dinning room was full of customers) and kept saying that everyone here was prejudice and always treated Nigers (her words) like slaves. I got up there and asked her to come to the back with me and she went off.. Telling me that I was the worst prejudice person there and was just looking for a reason to get rid of her. I had no choice but to tell her to clock out I didn't need her as an employee anymore. I thought she was going to go off on me again but she didn't, she clocked out got her purse and things and left. About 15 minutes later there were two police officers in the resturant and the owner on the phone. She called the cops on me telling them that I fired her because she was black and even told her that was why I was firing her and that she had witnesses. I guess she thought the other black employees would back her up. Well the cops took statements from everyone that was on the clock last night and found that she was lying and what had reallly happened. My boss told me that I did the right thing and the cops told me that they would make sure that they would have an officer there when we got ready to close to make sure that she didn't try anything afterI locked up and was going to my car. She wasn't there and I got home safely!
Thanks everyone for your advice!

[Mickey]

Oh, Meri! How awful for you! I'm sorry it went so badly! I'm glad it's over and I hope things go more smoothly now that she's gone.

[kat]

What an ordeal. I think you handled it well. I'm a little late on the advice end, but definitely in these situations have written documentation and have the employee sign off on it and give them a copy and keep original in their files. Hope there aren't any further problems. Sounds like she has a huge chip on her shoulder anyway. By harboring that attitude she is absolved (in her mind) of any responsiblility for her actions.

[Diane]

I'm sorry that it had to turn out the way it did. It seems to me that she was the only one who had a problem with color... You did your best and you should feel good knowing that you did the right thing. What nerve she had calling the police on YOU... Ugh!!!

Diane... :wave:

[Meri D]

Thanks everyone for your advice and support..

[RCT]

Originally posted by Amy
I think you should leave race out of it completely. Let her know that it is unacceptble for ANY employee to be rude or disrespectful to ANY co worker or customer. Period. Attitude is very important in the restaurant business, and while she is a good worker, her attitude stinks and she needs to pull it together or she'll be terminated.
Amy

wow amy said it all....this isn't about race, its about attitude...and her's sounds poor