In the public sector racists aren’t skin heads who shout vile abuse and threaten violence. They are middle aged men and women in suits who are charming and intelligent but who have no intension of ever appointing a black person to a management post. I worked in the most PC section of local government, social services, I suspect we had our share of closet racists but they were devious. Even with balanced interview panels, transparent recruitment processes and a vigilant HR department they found ways to ensure they didn’t appoint a black person.
A young African Caribbean woman submits a grievance against a manager because she was not shortlisted for a first line management post. A quick investigation reveals the individual did not meet the person specification for the post specifically she did not have management experience or a management qualification. So the decision not to short list was right. No she says I am complaining because that criteria was added by the manger once he realised I was interested in the post. Further investigation reveals that a working group set up to agree a job description and a person specification for this new post produced one that was accepted and did not include a requirement for previous management experience or a management qualification.. The complainant knows this because she was a member of the working group. She also knows that these additional requirements were added by the manger who recruited for the post. She knows this because she asked HR why and who changed it. HR confirm this and say the manger argued that the innovatory nature of the post meant it should be paid at a slightly higher level to attract existing managers. The person specification was changed to reflect this. The grievance was not upheld. However this was not the first time a member of staff had commented that this manger would never employ a black person as a manger. Within the black staff group this was just further evidence. Was this manager racist and clever enough to get away with it?
Blair McPherson author of An Elephant in the Room-an Equality and Diversity training manual published by Russell House www.blairmcpherson.co.uk
