Racist Remarks from a Client: Confront or Ignore?

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  1

  Marc453

  05/05/08 | Report as spam

  Silence speaks loudly

  I would just look at them, saying nothing. And if forced to reply, I say, "How about them Yankees?" It doesn't work all the time but it usually gets the point across.

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  2

  d_user_name

  05/05/08 | Report as spam

  RE: Racist Remarks from a Client: Confront or Ignore?

  I've tried them all. Subtle. Gracious. Even confrontational. The approach that has the least bad success rate (there IS no success in this situation) has been to hold my hands in the "time out" position and gently and firmly say, "We are legally constrained from anything that even appears racist. Do you consider [word] an example of proffessionalsim?"

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  khansy

  05/05/08 | Report as spam

  RE: Racist Remarks from a Client: Confront or Ignore?

  The fact remains that the world is full of discrimination & Racism, it cannot be controlled by rules, laws and legislations, its a moral and ethical dillema. The example cited here was client made a racist remark, well there are others who do it differently,sometime with bad attitude or body language, or mocking someone, my attitude is if you give attention you are encouraging them and making them happy, and if I am being sensitive to such behaviours then Im bothering myself as I know Im not going to change a nasty or toxic personality, and would be wasting my time and energy, I often tell my friends and family that people love flowers with fragrance, and dislike stale and ones with bad smell, can you eliminate all filth and dirt from this world?, hope this gives some consolation to souls that doesnt get distracted with hate and stop loving the good things in life.
  Syed Khan

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  4

  paraprof

  05/06/08 | Report as spam

  RE: Racist Remarks from a Client: Confront or Ignore?

  It's time to start treating people who make racist remarks like they have the plague. Renounce thoughtfully, distance yourself and bid them a good day.

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  E.Robertson

  05/08/08 | Report as spam

  Weigh your actions carefully!!

  This is a slippery slope. Since the person in question is a client, I guess it would depend upon how valuable a client that person is.
  Will losing the relationship sink the business? If so, then perhaps ignoring the remark is the best course of action. We are not in grade school and we are not that persons Mama. We have no right to "Correct" them. The only thing that we can change is ourselves and our responses to situations.
  
  If the client is not very valuable, then perhaps, we should end the conversation early with a polite and even courteous excuse and terminate the relationship.
  
  The rudeness of others should not in turn cause us to be rude. Anger, hate, and disrespect are self-perpetuating and will never cause anything to change.

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  lsfranken

  05/28/08 | Report as spam

  Reponse to weighing your response

  While on the whole I think you state the correct course of action, I would hope that we don't tolerate bad behavior from a "big ticket" customer but not tolerate from a "little ticket" customer. Our business ethics stance should not be based on the $. I would feel much better to find out that we turned away big #s for taking a strong ethics stance than the other way around. In addition, I believe I would contact the customer's ethics hotline and report the bad behavior. This "customer" is an employee of a large company and represents them in public. This company should want to make sure that its representatives put the company in the best possible light.

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  E.Robertson

  06/03/08 | Report as spam

  Excellent Point!

  As a business owner in bad economic times it is sometimes hard to balance the moral high road with food on the table. (ONLY Insofar as offensive opinions go.)
  Ideally, this would never come into question. However, in the construction business, we exist in a melting pot of racism, sexism, etc. Daily we work with and for people from every type of background and economic status. Over the years, the industry as a whole has made great strides to reduce and eliminate the hindrances to a non-threatening and non-offensive work environment (including relations with clients.)
  
  I am a woman in a male dominated industry. I have worked in this industry for the last 25 years and have seen great changes occur. I have tolerated foul language, innuendos, rude gestures etc, all for the sake of food on the table. My skin is thick, and somehow through it all I remained ever hopeful.
  
  My situation is not unique. Nor am I some martyr for a cause. I am simply realistic when it comes to my business. Someday, I may be able to turn away business because I do not agree with someone's opinion. I have learned that diversity is what made this country. Hate is never the right choice. Hate perpetuates hate, and tolerance might (hopefully) breed tolerance.
  By the same token, I expect my clients and my employees to conduct themselves with dignity and respect for all. Of course, it doesn't always happen. (Back to that ideal world.)
  
  At this time, I cannot afford to turn away business because I disagree with someones opinion. I HAVE and will continue to turn away business for other ethical issues.
  
  My hat is off to all of you. Trust your instincts. Do what your heart tells you - all I want to say is listen to the little voice in your head....sometimes the hardest decision is the one that leads to survival.

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  librarun

  08/23/08 | Report as spam

  RE: Racist Remarks from a Client: Confront or Ignore?

  A very tricky situation indeed. I take it that though the complete details of the business deal are best known to the person hearing the racist comment, I am free to make assumptions. If the racist comment of the client points a finger towards not only me, but also the heads of my organisation, then I am compelled to think on behalf of many, and politely tell the client that he refrains from voicing his negative thoughts. Its the product or service I am selling, not the honour of a "Race". Business is not just the happiness of the client, it is how my "Race" enjoys the profit.

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  bridget hamilton

  08/23/08 | Report as spam

  RE: Racist Remarks from a Client: Confront or Ignore?

  I think there is usually a means to make a simple, straight, but gentle point about your disagreement and or your firm's diagreement with a racist remark: "my/our take on ... is different to yours. I dont think ... is about colour or race." Then you can get back to the real issue. The advantage to calling a client or colleague on racism is as much in the way you say something; no raised voice, no hype, just matter of fact and on you go.

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  TerrieG

  10/16/08 | Report as spam

  RE: Racist Remarks from a Client: Confront or Ignore?

  Never, ever let it slide. Remember silence is agreement and you do not want to give the slightest indication that you condone their behavior. Some racist assume you agree with them if you share the same color or heritage or skin color. Do your self a favor, confront the behavior very calm and rationally, but definitely confront it.