Draw your own conclusion………

I am incensed at the lack of tolerance and understanding that still exists in some quarters.

We are in the UK are considered to be a reasonably well educated, forward thinking nation, we have had laws in place for many years now to combat various forms of prejudice and are lucky enough not to suffer all the difficulties and degradations suffered by the third world and politically repressed countries, in theory at least!

Am I being naïve then to feel horror and abhorrence when incidents of prejudice still blight our lives in areas where I would have considered those in power had the necessary education not to allow themselves to behave in such a manner?

I accept that one cannot legislate against bigotry and small mindedness and that education fails some but I cannot accept that in this country and in the year 2004 there are people who still at least don’t keep those feelings to themselves.

And what has caused this outburst? Well on the scale of world famine a relatively small incident but one that makes me realise how much is still wrong when it can happen in a large and respected organisation.

On Monday a colleague of mine was sacked, not so unusual you might think but it is the reasons surrounding this incident that horrify me. The individual concerned was as far as I could see very personable, hard working, of good integrity and popular with many of his colleagues and customers.

So what was he sacked for……… dying a coloured stripe in his hair! I do understand that in these days of ‘corporate image’ it is many not be quite what the boss was looking for but I also think we are individuals and the balance is difficult. What I cannot accept however, is the reasoning in this particular case. Lets face it hair grows and this mans hair is very short so it was never going to be a life long situation. Apparently the company felt that the stripe was offensive but that he could avoid having his contract terminated by choosing to follow one of two courses of action, shaving his head ( is that not more intimidating and offensive to some) or dying it all over. If he chose the latter option they would accept if the all over shade was ………….you guessed it…………..the same colour as the stripe! I somehow don’t see that as an improvement if the concern was the god, ‘corporate image’

The individual concerned argued that some others within the companies employ sport unusual hair styles and colours, piercings, tattoos etc. but was met with replies that where either non committal or blatantly untrue. He was on a loser as they say….. the deal was already done in truth.

And so having hit an apparent corporate brick wall the individual in question chose to be stand by his principals and was duly dismissed.

I have tried hard to see this situation from both sides but the inherent differences in the treatment of other colleagues and the handling of this case causes me the greatest anger and concern.

Ok………so nothing too strange you may think in this sad story, nothing earth shattering and the individual concerned perhaps should have realised that even in the 21st century economically motivated business is still very conservative and it’s leaders run scared. It all perhaps seems like a mountain out of the proverbial molehill, with little perspective on both sides and one party or the other should perhaps have accepted the others view.

It may become more concerning however when I tell you that the man in question is gay and has recently been the subject of homophobic treatment from another colleague, his complaint about which seemed to instigate a sudden closing of ranks and ‘playing down’ by management.

I leave you to draw your own conclusion………………

I have for obvious reasons never identified my employer or individuals concerned but I wonder, should this blog ever come to the attention of my employer what my future might be? I have held a life long belief in the British sense of fair play that has gradually, over the years, been eroded, incidents of prejudice like this only serve to convince me I was naïve.I truly never believed I would see this happen again and feel very let down that it can be bought about by an institution that I had respect for. I am not alone among my colleagues in these feelings and the damage done goes far deeper than that caused by any hair colour!