8 Meaningful Steps to Handling a Racist Boss

Keep Records of Incidents/Write It Down/Document Everything If the boss's racist behavior is ongoing, write down the specific incidents as they happen. Include the time, date and nature of each transgression, and be as straightforward as you can. If the racist behavior takes the form of emails or written correspondence, keep a copy or take a picture with your personal cellphone, as long as this does not violate any privacy laws or other agreements. Whether your situation ends with a lawsuit, a formal complaint or internally within your own company, it will be important for you to have proof of the inappropriate behavior. In the face of a denial by the perpetrator asserting that the abusive behavior did not occur, a detailed account of your situation will be invaluable. Keep your notes in a safe place to which others do not have access. Remember that any evidence you gather could be useful in the future. Speak Up for Yourself Just because your boss is in a position of power doesn't mean you have to accept his racist behavior. Know what you deem as appropriate or not appropriate and don't be afraid to tell the boss when something he or she has said or done falls into the unacceptable category. If you can, it's best to speak up the very first time the boss says something that feels inappropriate. When you say something, you don't need to discuss it in depth. A simple, "Oh, that makes me uncomfortable," will do. Call Him Out Sometimes, asking your racist boss questions or requesting and explanation for his comments or actions can curb their offensive behavior. Instead of accusing your boss of being a racist, or showing anger at his comments or behavior, express surprise. For example, perhaps your boss makes a derogatory statement about Black people. Career coach Alison Green recommends on her website that you should say something like, “Why would you say that?” By making your boss explain what he means, you force him to either admit he used the wrong wording or expose his racist beliefs. However, you aren’t outright accusing him of being racist or starting a confrontation. Directly Confront Your Boss on Behavior People who are not sensitive to race may not realize some of the things that they are doing or saying are racist. Talk about race issues with your boss. Educate him/her. Try to do so without being aggressive so your boss will see that your points are valid. Report the Behavior If your company has a human resources department, you should notify the people in that department of this behavior. They can be very helpful if you are uncomfortable going to your boss directly. Make sure to cite specific comments, actions, dates and locations. If you can prove that your boss discriminated against you because of your race, you can report his behavior to a federal agency such as the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. Just keep in mind that taking your case to the EEOC could make your work life even more difficult because it puts you in direct conflict with your boss until the matter is resolved. If you feel that your discrimination is newsworthy and no one is helping you, don't hesitate to reach out to your local news station or media sites designed to help people of color. Don't Get Emotional Although your boss's actions might be infuriating, it is important that you stay as calm and collected as possible. No one will take you seriously if you are always flying off the handle. When you are calm, you are better able to access the situation at hand and decide how to move forward. Bringing emotions into an already tense situation could result in unprofessionalism and even the loss of your job. Be Respectful This goes along with not getting angry. The easiest way to get respect is to give it. If your boss is not respecting you, there is no reason to stoop down to his/her level. Don't give the misconduct a leg to stand on. If you are planning to bring your case to human resources or an organization like EEOC, you will need to be able to prove that you acted in the most professional and respectful manner possible. Speak with an Experienced Discrimination Attorney If you are subjected to racist comments and you have reported the behavior to management without any results, you should contact an attorney. You should also consult a discrimination attorney before filing a complaint with the EEOC. An experienced discrimination attorney will know how to file the complaint in a way that maximizes efficiency and best protects your rights.

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