The first time I had experienced discrimination at work was in 2013. I was a new graduate at the time, tasked to provide CRM training to our sales associates from around the world. A tall responsibility for a young lad. I was too green to also recognize the political challenge of establishing credibility as a migrant minority preaching to white folks.
So, when the question came, I was knocked off guard. “Why are you here? Why don’t you work in your country?”.
It came from our Sales Director in Australia – who now, according to her LinkedIn posts, is a vocal activist supporting women in the workplace.
I ignored the question because I did not know how to respond and what to say and because I had learned from a lifetime of racist abuse that my reactions will get nowhere. Public advocacy was a rare thing ten years ago. Fortunately, I had a fantastic boss, who demonstrated through action that competency and hard work matters most to his business.
Last week, our CEO blurted out at team meeting that he thought my compatriots “untrustworthy” and “dodgy” and prefers to hire outside this country or to work with expatriates. This is the contempt he holds for a people from whom he intends to rake millions.
Again, I kept quiet.
Despite a state policy of non-discrimination, despite a token form that I was required to read and sign, despite now knowing precisely what I should say, I kept quiet.
I kept quiet because now I have learned a different lesson. The principles of equality and respect are a privilege the minority extends to each other. In business missions and values are marketing gimmicks used for corporate roleplays. It only hurts when you fall off a high horse – as did Ellen who proselytizes kindness, Bon Appetit who promotes diversity, or that Away lady.
I kept quiet now because I know it can often be futile to challenge beliefs from the outside. Misguided as those beliefs may be, people defend them ferociously when questioned.
I kept quiet now because I know British laws do not extend to me here, and moral authority doesn’t get you far.
I kept quiet now because it takes courage to put your livelihood and reputation on the line and challenge a company’s leadership, and I have no such courage.
Frankly, I wish for the sake of those in similar plights that I had a better message than “endure”.
But I don’t.
By not objecting to discrimination, by not challenging the toxic, stigmatized environment created, perhaps I am its enabler and thereby commit the sin of complicity. Maybe I can redeem my part in this when I leave this company in the coming months, though a scathing farewell email.
So I keep calm, keep silent, keep my pay-check, and carry on.
#00117F 