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Dave
Dave asked in Business & FinanceCareers & Employment · 1 decade ago

Too new of an employee to speak in certain areas of the building? Discrimination?

I have been threatened with suspension, due to the statement that I am too new to talk to other employees. I was advised not to talk in other departments, but see people right next to me talking in other departments all the time, and they havent even been talked to. I will say that I would never go out of my way to say anything rude to anyone, so I know I did not say anything mean.

One of my examples is that I was at a sink putting some water in a bucket, and I spoke to another employee and tolod him I was ver familiar with the software program he had up on the computer screen near the sink. we were both from a different dept, and just happen to speak for about 1 minute about the software and label printer he was using, becuase it seemed he was not very quick with the software, and I was trying to be kind, I went back to my desk and my Sup. said I was talikg in a different dept, I explained that it was someonefrom our dept that I was speaking to, and I got in trouble, but he did'n

Update:

Basically I am not allowed to use my voie in these "certain areas" where other emplyees talk freely? But descrimination seems unlikely because I am a white male.

Also my friend next to me, He is Afro-American, talks to more people than I do because he has been there a month longer but he ha never recived a cdomplain, aqnd we both agree that they willnot say anything because then the complainers will sound racist.

My Sup. said about other areas of the building that complaints came from were not caused by me using harmful lamnguage, just that I spoke in general.

He would not tell me whn, where or who I spoke to when this was reported, ( can't figure why it is against company ethics either?) but I may have responed to someone that said hello to me or asked me a question, and the complain could have come from someone that sat near them, but the person that i was speaking to was not in trouble?

Update 2:

No I dont do the cleaning, part of the rebuilding of some of this equipment that i do requires degraseingsome of these industrial printer parts. Thanks for thinking I am the cleaning person, just because i was near a sink and a bucket.

Update 3:

The employee I spoke to in section 1 wasconfused after I told him ( at his desk where it was "ok to speak") that I got in trouble, so I know he did not say anything, it was someone near by.

Update 4:

Most of the employees are Men, not sure if that is a factor, but I do not understand what the deal is?

I did not interrupt or really go out of my way to speak to these people, but rather while i was getting parts or, heck I may have asked where a part was, and someone thought I was talking socially to a co-worker and was not even involved in the conversation.

Update 5:

Any other answers or thoughts on this one??

4 Answers

Relevance
  • imisidro
    Lv 7
    1 decade ago
    Favorite Answer

    I have worked in several organizations and not once have I been discouraged from talking to someone else. In fact in many of them, my boss introduced me around so I can get familiar with people from other departments, what they do and for them to know me. Interdepartmental cooperation is always encouraged.

    Evaluate whether this is an organization you really want to be. Then check your options and see if you want to pursue working for this company or not

  • ?
    Lv 6
    1 decade ago

    It's not discrimination....well it is of a sort....you see ....when you are new ....people don't trust you too much....especially since it sounds like you do the cleaning and the other guy runs a computer. Your boss probably thinks you will tell him something that will screw up their system. The employee you told it to probably realizes that you know more than him and he has a degree, so that ticked him off. Personality factors alot into the workplace and it's not fair but it's like that everywhere. So...stick to your job and department and when you move up then you'll be allowed more opinion freedom.

  • Ceci
    Lv 4
    1 decade ago

    This sounds really strange. What kind of a company is this? I haven't worked everywhere, but I've never heard of this happening. Maybe you could start looking for another job.

  • Anonymous
    1 decade ago

    WHERE do u work?! I've never even heard of such a thing...unless it's top secret stuff, that policy is crazy. go talk to HR people.

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