Racism wwyd question

[mommyatty]

One of my employees (he reports to my direct report) is Asian. He told my direct report and another coworker that he’s really struggling with racism he’s facing as an Asian in the midst of Covid-19. My direct report is concerned about him. He took Friday off as a sick day because he was feeling really run down, and we think a lot of it is his stress level.

He hasn’t mentioned anything to me. We have talked several times over the past couple of weeks about work stuff, so he’s had opportunities. He’s doing an excellent job. In fact, at this moment in time, he’s my highest performer in the group. I’ve given him tons of positive feedback and lots of praise for how he does his job (as opposed to what he does, which I’ve also praised).

What would you do? If you are part of a minority group, what would you want? Would you want to be approached? Is there anything I can say that would offer any sort of comfort? My heart hurts for him. He’s young enough to be my child, and I’m fighting the urge to make him soup and tuck him in to keep the bad stuff away.

[waverly]

I don’t know. I wish I knew. One of my teenage employees was sexually and racially harassed at work by a member of the public (Another teenager), and it just makes me want to punch someone. I asked the director to send a letter to the parents but I don’t know if he did. A letter might not sound like much but his are scathing and the board can ban people from entering the building. I don’t think they did, but I’m retrospect a one year ban would have helped a lot. If it’s not happening at work I’m not sure what you can do. If it is happening at work reign the fire down on them. You might also suggest the employee assistance program. I think counseling could help a lot. I just feel it ripped her innocence away since she was a teenager, and it was a time when political leaders were glorifying racism.

[librarychica]

We have been getting a lot of communication in how to support employees who are experiencing or have experienced racism from our upper management. There have been webinars on the topic, a special EAP communication has gone out (we have always had an EAP program, but this one had specific details). Since he has reached out to his manager, I think he would appreciate your support as well. I think my plan would be to reach out to him directly, assure him of your appreciation of his work but also of him as a person and let him know that you would like to be notified personally of any incidences at work, encourage the EAP (a anecdote of how you’ve used it if you ever have might help remove the stigma of seeking mental health support). Also, if there is someone you trust who could be a mentor to him, someone who may have relatable experiences in your region or company, I would try and facilitator a mentor relationship. It’s obviously not directly comparable, but I really appreciated having a woman as a mentor the one time it happened in my primarily male work environment. Previous mentorship had all been with older men and skill-focused, which was helpful, but talking to an older woman who had been-there, done-that was very reassuring.

I was promoted to a leadership position mid-pandemic so this is obviously new to me, but they’ve sent me to almost too much training and the key seems to be genuine communication with your employees that let them feel seen as people, not just efficient cogs in the machine. Good for you for not just brushing this off. You’re half was there already.

[ECB]

As he's talked to your DR about it, I would recommend that your DR follow up with him and ASK him if there is anything you all can do, what does he need. Are their resources that your firm offers? Counseling, or... something/ anything? Depending on what the employee says, your DR could then maybe direct him to certain resources.

Or- maybe the employee just needed an ear and doesn't want anything else. But, as I said, as the DR has already been involved, I'd ask the DR to try and check in with the employee again.

THis is all assuming that this is a general issue he's dealing with in his day to day life, not actually AT work. If it's happening at work, then that's a whole different story.

[mommyatty]

Thanks, guys. It’s not at work. He’s really well liked and respected in our organization. If it were at work, I would be on more solid footing and am all about hell, fire, brimstone, and termination for racism. It’s in the community.

We have free counseling and a robust EAP. I’ve encouraged all my folks to call and sent them the links.