Dee Doall is the Human Resources Director for a large company in the Tri-Cities Area. Dee is one of the new breed of politically correct managers or, rather, a manager who tries to be politically correct. Anyway, on a day just like this last November, Dee put out the following directive:
"I have been reviewing some performance reviews, and am appalled at the cavalier attitude shown by supervisors in referencing their employees. Henceforth, such referencing will be considered inappropriate at best, and discriminatory at worst. Referring to any other person in this company by anything but with the correct terminology will be grounds for disciplinary action."
Ms. D. D. Doall, A.B., B.S., M.A., SHRM, PDQ
Several days later, an employee complained that her boss, Tom had called some of the members of her department "gals." Dee called Tom in.
Dee: Did you get a copy of my memo on referencing employees?
Tom: Well, I got something from Human Resources. Until I remembered that that was Personnel, it didn't click. Yeah...I got it although I'm not too sure I get it.
Dee: Get it... get it... Get it what?
Tom: Sir?
Dee: Ma'am.
Tom: Ma'am.
Dee: Now, you called some of the members of your staff "gals," is that correct?
Tom: Yes, ma'am. And, I call a lot of the guys, "guys." And, when someone asks which guy is Bob, I tell 'em he's the black guy over at that desk.
Dee: That doesn't change the fact that those "gals" are women, and should be treated as such. And, by the way, Bob is an African-American, not black.
Tom: Gee, he was black when I hired him three years ago.I suppose there's a correct term for the fact that he's going bald?
Dee: Yes, he's follically disadvantaged. And by the way, just because you have seven staff members doesn't mean that you could nickname them Dopey, Doc, Sleepy, Sneezy, Donner, Blintzes, and the Munchkin.
Tom: They don't seem to mind. Doc, Sleepy and Bashful come when they're called. Or, just because they're Orientals, now I've got to treat them differently?
Dee: They're not Orientals. They're Asians or "people of color."
Tom: Does that "people of color" stuff apply to our resident red-neck?
Dee: Are you being smart?
Tom: I hope so. I can't do this job on skill alone.
Dee: Listen, from now on, you are to refer to them properly. I don't want any more ruffled feathers.
Tom: You mean they're all birds of a color?
Dee: You're being smart again, aren't you?
Tom: I have my moments. I'm beginning to think you're the one whose taken too many mental lapses around the track.
Dee: Let's get your people in here. I want to hear what they have to say.
Tom: My people! Oh, boy, I'm a property holder! Okay, I'll get them in here, but don't you think this political correctness thing is costly. It takes three times longer to make sure you're not insulting someone than it takes to apologize when someone complains.
Dee: Oh, my God, you're insulting people and waiting for a reaction?
Tom: I didn't say that and, by the way, I don't think it's right for you to use the word god with a capital "G."
Dee: You know, I've got half a mind to send you to a seminar on dealing with the "culturally diverse."
Tom: Then you're about half-way there.
Dee: Never mind, just get them in here!
Tom: Okay... By the way, do you want that son of a bitch, Alex, in here, too?
Dee: How dare you call anyone that!
Tom: Why not? Alex is our canine mascot of color.
