My boss is an older man, and very prejudice against employees with children that have disabilities, older employees with health problems, mixed race employees, women, etc. How do I deal with him since I am an AA female with a child with a disability?
Anonymous
Favorite Answer
Unfortunately, there isn't any caregiver protection law.
If he's being racist or sexist, you might have a claim.
I'd say get a new job. You said he's old so you can't change him.
Zizi
The key is documentation. What ever claim you make you must have evidence. You can also simply say: My life is already difficult for me as it is without you making discriminatory comments about my color and my child. How would you feel if you were in my skin and if you had a child like mine? Why not just let me do my job to the best of my ability and leave me be? I used a similar argument with my boss, but for very different reasons and along different lines.
Anonymous
Dear Sister, you can deal with such a boss by proving wrong all his presumptions and false beliefs. In such cases, how you react is what matters the most. Remember racism is PREJUDICE and PREJUDICE survives on negative reactions. Your boss seems to have developed his belief system over the years and only your PATIENCE, OPTIMISM and RIGHT APPROACH TOWARDS your work can compel him to take a check and analysis of his own behaviour. We can compel a person to introspect by proving all his prejudice and negative thinking wrong. No human being can successfully run from his or her conscience. So my sister, for you boss to hear the voice of his own conscience, it is very important that you remain your natural best self unaffected by what is in the mind of your boss. ALL THE BEST.
docjp
Prejudice most often comes from fear and ignorance, and one must not take its projection by another personally.
How would you relate to this person if he had a small tree growing from his ear? Mentioning it would frighten him, and if he was in denial of it, he would have to fire you to get rid of someone who was frightening him.... right?
So, be as polite as you can, accepting his comments and slurs as simply the cost of doing business... and never ever forget that he has a small tree growing out of his ear. And the pressure of this growth is causing him to be as he is.
Peace
Pixie
Document everything racist exchange with him. If it gets to the point where his racism affects your paycheck or your future with the company, it's time to take the documentation (notes, times dates and what actions he took) to your nearest EEOC office and file a complaint against him.