A Friend of a Friends Sisters Husbands MotherFollow

So I know this person who recently (June) Hired for a position within their company. After going through an exhaustive process of phone interviews, In person interviews, In person second interviews with other staff members, Those staff members filling out a matrix on the candidates and saying which one they think would be best to hire it come down to a White Dude and a Black Chick. My Friend, of a Friend's Sisters Husbands Mother decided to hire said white guy since he was the better person for the job hands down and everyone agreed (even a black lady that interviewed him).

FFSHM we will call them: Told HR that they wanted to hire white guy and was waiting on the paperwork when FFSHM got called into the COO's office out of the blue. While in office FFSHM was asked to hire the Black Chick since they are trying to diversify. Not liking it but feeling like they had no other choice FFSHM hired the chick.

Ever since then the girl has gone to HR on many occasions to complain about FFSHM and has even tossed around that she thinks FFSHM hates her because she’s black. Now... FFHSM rolls with the punches and from the start decided to do everything they could to make this employee the best they could at the job since they could do the job, if not as well as the other person, still alright enough to pass.

FFSHM noticed that said employee has issues feeling confident in her work and has gone out of her way to send e-mails telling employee that she is doing a good job (Even though that may not always be the case). Employee has no reason to think FFSHM hates her for any reason let along the color of her skin. FFSHM does not care if the employee was blue with purple hair as long as the job is getting done and has no idea where employee is getting the idea, especially after all the nice head patting and "good job" e-mails she is getting.

Today FFSHM gets a call from HR saying that employee came to her office. Saying that FFSHM does not let her go to the bathroom with out permission and won't let her take her lunch... FFSHM is shocked because FFSHM has gone out of her way to make sure employee is taking a lunch and has on many occasions had to tell employee to take her lunch. The one time employee had to work though lunch FFSHM told employee she could leave an hour early... now employee is salary so this wasn't necessary on FFSHM's part. Also, Employee is the person that answers all calls into company so when she is away she is suppose to let someone know so they can jump on the phones. Not ask permission just let someone know.

FFSHM is at wits end with employee since they are threatening with the "Race Card”, at least 3 times. Once in an e-mail, Once to HR, and once to another employee) or so FFSHM says.

FFSHM is not sure what to do with said employee. Any suggestions or information that might help FFSHM?


tl;dr : Being a manager sucks when your employees are stupid. or so I'm told.

FFSHM works at a small company where everyone knows everything so its wasn't so much that they gave HR 2 names but that HR already knew because they saw employee come in for interview.

FFSHM agrees with standing ground. FFSHM was in such shock at the time and felt like they could be punished if they didn't "Play along". FFSHM liked their job and was afraid of rocking the boat. FFSHM agrees that they made the wrong choice.

Oh, and to fix the problem I'd recommend meeting with the ****** employee with HR present (as a witness) to go over the issues. If she gives a different story with HR there then they'll know there's something up.

And no, that won't be easy.

This. 1000x.

I am a white guy in my 30s managing a strategic development group. I had to fire 2 people last year. 1 was a 20-something white kid who was too wrapped up in his own perception of his position in the universe to care about anything else. The other was a 50+ woman of Persian descent who was dumb as a box of rocks and misrepresented herself in interviews and on her resume.

Guess which one was harder to fire? Fortunately, I have my handy, dandy NOTEBOOK (YAY!!!!!). It still took nearly 6 months to get her out the door for good.

Document everything and an "intervention" with HR is about due.

Like Bel said, it could be a miscommunication and misunderstanding of preconceived notions (I love it when my boss uses that phrase to call someone out). But it makes it sound non-threatening so everyone can safe face and makes the workplace smoother afterwards.

FFSHM has a e-mail to HR to set up a meeting. FFSHM is over it and is calling the stupid ***** out. Thing is FFSHM does not hate the girl because she is black. She hates the girl because shes a back stabing stupid lieing ***** with a complex using race as her escape goat.

Thanks everyone for your help.

Don't go into the meeting all fire and brimstone, that's just what she wants. Go in there with the goal of being open and settling whatever differences may exist between the two of you. If HR can see that you genuinely want to be a part of the solution and she doesn't, you'll come out smelling like roses.

You mean FFSHM has been documenting everything?

It could be like those people who buy reusable bags to say they're green and drive away from Walmart in their hummer.

You can't start there. There are rules to this kind of thing.

First the cross burning, then the lynching.

Yeah, they should get rid of all those Totally usless people at your job.