So, if you're manager asked you to use a nickname...
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...because it sounded "Islamic" and he doesn't want customers to "make associations", what would you do? (Yes, this is actually happening to someone where I work.) Marc
Imperative to Functional Programming Succinctly Contributors Wanted for Higher Order Programming Project! Learning to code with python is like learning to swim with those little arm floaties. It gives you undeserved confidence and will eventually drown you. - DangerBunny
I would tell the manager to rephrase the request to: "We're making a new policy which restricts the use of nicknames." that way the whole world is happier with the mess they created. because, believe me, if you want more rules just keep suing people over stuff like this and there will come a day when you'll be reading 1984 as a policy guide.
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How the hell did you arrive at that conclusion?
"the debugger doesn't tell me anything because this code compiles just fine" - random QA comment "Facebook is where you tell lies to your friends. Twitter is where you tell the truth to strangers." - chriselst "I don't drink any more... then again, I don't drink any less." - Mike Mullikins uncle
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Rather than go straight for the lawyers, I would ask for a private meeting with the boss. Politely explain that what has been suggested could be viewed as discriminatory and not unacceptable in this day and age. Say that you are proud of your name and heritage and will not use a nickname, and leave it with him. See what happens - he will likely either quietly back down or will double down on the insult, in which case at that point consider bringing out the lawyers. I would consider having HR (or some other person) present at the meeting, though that would raise the temperature a bit. I appreciate this may be a quintessentially more English way of dealing with such issues...
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You may not be aware of it, but "chimp" (used derogatorily) is commonly considered a racial slur. ("Chump", by contrast, has no such connotations as far as I know.)
Never heard of it used as racial slur, I meant 'chimp' as in lower on the evolutionary scale, knuckle-dragger.
"the debugger doesn't tell me anything because this code compiles just fine" - random QA comment "Facebook is where you tell lies to your friends. Twitter is where you tell the truth to strangers." - chriselst "I don't drink any more... then again, I don't drink any less." - Mike Mullikins uncle
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Slacker007 wrote:
Isn't that against the law? If not, it should be.
I would think so, but I don't know of any laws that address that issue, though of course that is not my area of expertise! Marc
Imperative to Functional Programming Succinctly Contributors Wanted for Higher Order Programming Project! Learning to code with python is like learning to swim with those little arm floaties. It gives you undeserved confidence and will eventually drown you. - DangerBunny
Being illegal has never stopped those in power. Getting away with illegal acts, nearly always makes those in power worse.
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...because it sounded "Islamic" and he doesn't want customers to "make associations", what would you do? (Yes, this is actually happening to someone where I work.) Marc
Imperative to Functional Programming Succinctly Contributors Wanted for Higher Order Programming Project! Learning to code with python is like learning to swim with those little arm floaties. It gives you undeserved confidence and will eventually drown you. - DangerBunny
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...because it sounded "Islamic" and he doesn't want customers to "make associations", what would you do? (Yes, this is actually happening to someone where I work.) Marc
Imperative to Functional Programming Succinctly Contributors Wanted for Higher Order Programming Project! Learning to code with python is like learning to swim with those little arm floaties. It gives you undeserved confidence and will eventually drown you. - DangerBunny
'Your' manager NOT 'you're' manager
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...because it sounded "Islamic" and he doesn't want customers to "make associations", what would you do? (Yes, this is actually happening to someone where I work.) Marc
Imperative to Functional Programming Succinctly Contributors Wanted for Higher Order Programming Project! Learning to code with python is like learning to swim with those little arm floaties. It gives you undeserved confidence and will eventually drown you. - DangerBunny
I would have already changed my name
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...because it sounded "Islamic" and he doesn't want customers to "make associations", what would you do? (Yes, this is actually happening to someone where I work.) Marc
Imperative to Functional Programming Succinctly Contributors Wanted for Higher Order Programming Project! Learning to code with python is like learning to swim with those little arm floaties. It gives you undeserved confidence and will eventually drown you. - DangerBunny
The next time he meets a customer in front of that manager, he should shake hands with the customer, wink, and say "Hi, they call me The Penetrator." Seriously, lawsuits are a last resort and employees have the deck stacked against them no matter how good of a case they have. It would be best to resolve it internally, first by having a chat with the manager and explaining why he shouldn't have to change his name. If the manager insists on the name change, he could then go to HR. HR is not an advocate for the employee, their main job is to avoid lawsuits for the company, but that means they will probably force the manager to back off of the name change. If he really wants to consider a lawsuit and this is in the USA, he should first go have a chat with the local EEOC office and see what they say. They can give advice and may choose to sue themselves if the case is good enough. I think it's very unlikely that much would come from a lawsuit though, unless this manager has a pattern of treating employees this way and the company was aware and did nothing, and the employee was told it was a choice between name change and termination.
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...because it sounded "Islamic" and he doesn't want customers to "make associations", what would you do? (Yes, this is actually happening to someone where I work.) Marc
Imperative to Functional Programming Succinctly Contributors Wanted for Higher Order Programming Project! Learning to code with python is like learning to swim with those little arm floaties. It gives you undeserved confidence and will eventually drown you. - DangerBunny