A Queensland Industrial Relations Commission case in 2018 highlighted the fact that everybody loses when racial discrimination enters the workplace.44 Two former friends fell out over a series of perceived jokes gone wrong, an employee as a victim became scared and depressed, and the employer found they fell down in their responsibility to maintain a respectful, non-discriminatory workplace. It was at Rainbow Beach Adventure Company that a Māori staff member says he was often the recipient of discriminatory behaviour by managers and colleagues at the company. He says he was denied access to certain resources, ‘because you’re black’. He was friendly with a colleague at the company over a number of years who appears to have used humour on a few occasions but with ill effect. For example, it would often be called out, ‘Where is the black fella?’ His colleague, upon being asked by the victim to borrow some sunscreen one day, arranged for an empty container of sunscreen to be placed in the victim’s car and wrapped in yellow tape with the words ‘black guy repellent (sic)’ and ‘Caution! Use only on blacks’ written on the side of the can. This is the event that made the victim feel most demoralised and was the core of the case brought before the Queensland Industrial Relations Commission. The company admitted the can was left in the victim’s car, but said it was not to be construed as racism or vilification. Extensive and ongoing psychiatric intervention was required due to the trauma the victim experienced. The victim has lost health, relationships, self-esteem and future prospects, his former friend has lost companionship and respect, and the company that employed them has lost productivity, time and money. It is the responsibility of everybody in an organisation to be respectful of diversity and be aware of the subtle as well as the overt ways that bullying and discrimination can harm everyone involved.
Questions
1. In what ways could a more positive acceptance of diversity among staff have helped business performance at Rainbow Beach Adventure Company?
2. Discuss what constitutes ‘crossing the line’ from a joke to bullying or harassment in workplace contexts that you are familiar with.
3. What more could Rainbow Beach Adventure Company have done to prevent these circumstances from arising? Why?
4. What are the downsides, if any, of building a diverse workforce?