PART ONE:
“Ms. Driver, we have to write you up due to your dress code.”
Me: “Excuse me? My dress code follows the policy, I don’t understand.”
“Well, you have a rapper or a character who is well known by the law on your shirt and our policy clearly states that if you wear graphic shirts, they must be of positive image and career.”
Me: “…..Who is this on my shirt?”
“I’m not sure, I’m not familiar with those kind of people.”
Me: “You mean people that look like me?”
“I don’t know who he is, Ms. Driver, but I’m sure it doesn’t follow the dress code. Now please sign this.”
Me: “Do you consider artists and painters as people of a positive image?”
“What does that have to do with anything?”
Me: “I asked you a question.”
“Well, of course!”
Me: “Exactly. This person on my shirt? Jean-Michel Basquiat. An American artist and painter.”
*She didn’t believe me so she Googled him and developed a shit face*
“I do apologize, don’t worry about the write up.”
Me: “Oh no sis, come back! Let us take a trip to HR regarding this “those kinds of people” comment. Hold my hand, we can walk there together.”
PART TWO:
Update: We had the meeting; in attendance were a member of HR, my supervisor, the store manager, “Karen”, & myself.
My supervisor was livid. Apparently, “Karen” has done this numerous times with numerous employees AND customers. Mind you, I am fairly new at the place (this is a career center, btw) so I had no idea that this was an ongoing thing with “Karen”.
My supervisor and the member of HR did not hold back on giving “Karen” a piece of their mind. The store manager was more calm but had vicious words for “Karen” herself. They asked me what would satisfy me as a result of this situation & Imma be honest with all, I didn’t want “Karen” to lose her job because of this one incident. However, like I said before, I did not know this was an ongoing thing for her. & the fact that she has done this to our customers…CUSTOMERSSSSS…I no longer gave af.
However, I turned the question on her. Her response “I mean shucks y’all! I didn’t know people were so sensitive okay! I mean this is 2021 for Gods sake! I guess I’ll be more wimpy here if that’ll make everyone happy!” That was literally what she said, not kidding. The HR member said “I’ll do you something better. You have been relieved of your duties.”
She looked at me in shock and I looked back at her with the same expression and replied “Getting fired?? How ghetto. Me and Basquiat would never.” “Karen” started crying and pleading and promising she would never do it again. Crocodile tears don’t move me. Period. So the others apologized for her emotions, I guess, but stated that that was their finale decision due to the fact she had been warned several times.
After that, “Karen” stopped the tears and got “upset and gangster”, stating that she didn’t need this job because she inherited money from her family and how she hated working here anyway and how she’s going to get a restraining order out on me due to my “threatening and hostile” text messages that she’s going to show her lawyer. I just smiled at her.
My supervisor offered me her job position, but sadly I had to decline since I had to be full time in order to take it. After “Karen” stormed out, the others apologized for the situation and praised me for being the one to “stand up” for what’s right (despite the fact that they failed to do so all those times before, but I won’t be petty). My supervisor offered to walk me to my car since “Karen” stated via text that she would be standing at my car for us to talk. I respectfully told him “no worries”, and just to stand by the window so that he can see if whether or not he needs to call OPD (my right hand to Jesus , I was going to stomp a hole in her back if she f’d with me in that parking lot).
Nonetheless! She did nothing but talk to me while I’m walking to my car: Her: “Do you take pleasure in ruining lives? I bet you’re so happy with yourself now, aren’t you?”Me: “It isn’t my fault that you can’t comprehend that stereotyping and racism in the workplace (and outside of it) has consequences.” Her: “You’re just a crybaby!”Me: “& you’re aging like a banana but you don’t see me being an ageist.” She gave me the middle finger and drove away lol.
PART ONE:“Ms. Driver, we have to write you up due to your dress…
SOURCE: antifainternational.tumblr.com
