My company refuses to make statements about racial injustice. They say that whatever people say or do is never good enough. I feel it is a solution, but if I complain I am afraid there will be a reply. Can I be reprimanded for organizing employee protests or petitions asking management to make statements and commit to doing more to fight inequality?
If we have learned something from the #MeToo movement, then silence and no action is not an option. The issue of race is at the top of national talks, and just because your company stays silent doesn’t mean you have to do it. You can try measurable ways to encourage dialogue and influence changes that are not provocative and potentially risky for your work. Think about the responsibility for who is actually asking the organization to move. Start a dialogue with the leaders. If that doesn’t work, then take your case professionally to the top of the company, whether CEO, CHRO, general counsel or board of directors. If you still don’t make progress, then you have a stronger platform to manage grassroots pressure. You stand on a firmer foundation if you keep all your efforts professional and can defend yourself if there are efforts that have a negative impact on your work.
The restaurant where I worked last summer said that they would hire me back for this season, and a few weeks ago, the manager confirmed that they would bring me back. Now he says they won’t, because I didn’t come for last year’s Labor Day weekend even though I had good reason. Is that legal? And can I collect unemployment because they technically fired me?
If not offered the same job as being fired, then almost everyone is fired many times. And if not offered jobs that qualify for unemployment benefits, then the country will go bankrupt. If the restaurant fired you for not showing up for work last year, you might be eligible for unemployment benefits – now, not so much. There are many restaurants that are looking for staff, so go work there.
Gregory Giangrande has more than 25 years of experience as chief executive of human resources. Send your questions via email to GoToGreg@NYPost.com. Follow Greg on Twitter: @greggiangrande and at GoToGreg.com, is dedicated to helping New Yorkers get back to work.
