Legal issue to do with conduct

[Wanderer]

Yes racist

Get your camera phone and discretely record it next time.....

[mudskipper]

It sounds like a horrible situation, and I don't think you were wrong to raise the issue and hope it would be resolved. It seems as if the PM did not handle it well. My thoughts were also that if the comments are racist, you could go to the police. But it's for you to decide whether it's worth the ongoing aggro and hassle, or whether you just want to move on.

[tractor]

...

Get your camera phone and discretely record it next time.....

^This. Exactly. Anyone in this situation should always keep copious notes about everything said, dates, times and people present. Several times have I seen a court case given the way of the party with the best, most convincing recollection.

There are many organisations outside of the police that may take up your fight, should you decide to take it further. The fact that the clients' complaints procedure only applies to employees is a bit of a red herring. They have an obligation in law not to allow this kind of behaviour. What if the jerk was abusing a cleaner from an FM company. The client would still be obliged to investigate and take action if appropriate. The fact that there are racist undertones take the issue outside of a 'spat between contractors that simply don't get on'.

[northernladuk]

Are we sure that the PM handled this badly..... or there is there another side to the story?

[SandyD]

Yes I should have recorded it or immediately reported it when the contractor claimed to be racist in front of everyone while everyone was there and heard it... but at the time I was still hoping things will settle.

The PM followed the process correctly, he forwarded to the directors who forwarded to HR who decided the agency is best placed to perform the initial investigation.

Anyway now they took statements from both of us and frankly I don't care what happens next, am focused on my new role.

The last thing I want is to take this further and be like that contractor woman who took her client to court when they let her go claiming its because they knew she got pregnant.. not sure if anyone remembers that case? I know its not the same situation at all, but I don't want to attract so much attention and as you know the contractor world is very small, now every new contract I start I end up meeting someone I worked with previously.

[stek]

I am British, but my family is all Irish, all my youth I've been called 'Paddy' - 'Mick' - 'Spud-thick Mick' - live with it, don't play the racist card, especially if you are proud of your heritage, what's the problem...?

[northernladuk]

Yes I should have recorded it or immediately reported it when the contractor claimed to be racist in front of everyone while everyone was there and heard it... but at the time I was still hoping things will settle.

The PM followed the process correctly, he forwarded to the directors who forwarded to HR who decided the agency is best placed to perform the initial investigation.

Anyway now they took statements from both of us and frankly I don't care what happens next, am focused on my new role.

The last thing I want is to take this further and be like that contractor woman who took her client to court when they let her go claiming its because they knew she got pregnant.. not sure if anyone remembers that case? I know its not the same situation at all, but I don't want to attract so much attention and as you know the contractor world is very small, now every new contract I start I end up meeting someone I worked with previously.

You seem to be making quite a fuss to say you want to go any further with it.

[northernladuk]

I am British, but my family is all Irish, all my youth I've been called 'Paddy' - 'Mick' - 'Spud-thick Mick' - live with it, don't play the racist card, especially if you are proud of your heritage, what's the problem...?

You want to be the only Yorkshire guy at Cheshire client. Nowt more racist than posh folk!!!

[SueEllen]

You seem to be making quite a fuss to say you want to go any further with it.

It's probably because it's the first time it's happened to him.

People are shocked that some people are more than jokey with their racist and sexist comments.

Until it happens to them or in front of them to someone they are close to, they believe everyone who complains about it is making a fuss.

[SueEllen]

You want to be the only Yorkshire guy at Cheshire client. Nowt more racist than posh folk!!!

Just tell them you know they were actually born and brought up in Stockport or Warrington