Racial Slur
I never imagined I would encounter someone who would casually throw around racial slurs in the office, as I have always believed that a workplace should be filled with well-mannered and educated individuals. I barely know this person, but I have had a negative impression of him from the beginning. Several colleagues have mentioned that he often stays silent during meetings, even when he knows the answers, which raises questions.
Others have shared stories suggesting that he feels well-connected to higher management and echoed various negative sentiments about him.
One day, I ran into him in the elevator. We exchanged typical small talk about our residences, and when I mentioned that I live in a certain area, he took the conversation to an uncomfortable level, asking, “Oh, do you rent the house?” I thought to myself, “Wow.” It was evident that this type of person isn’t worth getting close to.
What truly shocked me happened on another day when I was hurrying to the restroom. I wasn’t paying attention and accidentally bumped into him shoulder to shoulder. What he shouted next was terrifyingly unexpected for a corporate setting: a racial slur, “C*na ng*nt*t.” The altercation escalated from there, and he hurled more hateful phrases at me, including, “C*na babi, C*na anj**g, bangs*t, C*na minoritas. You shouldn’t work in this company. You’d be better off and working at Sinar**s, where there are a lot of Chinese like you. You should be selling phones in Glodok, where Chinese people belong. I’ll bring this matter up with HR and request your termination so you can start a store in Glodok (chinatown) like other Chinese.” I couldn’t help but laugh inwardly. Do educated individuals really think this way in a professional environment? Are there specific offices where Chinese people should work and others where they shouldn’t? Should Chinese people only sell phones or run stores in Glodok? The entire experience left me incredulous.
What I want to convey is that we are all equal, regardless of our backgrounds. Hi, we share a common goal in the office: to create better value for our workplace. It doesn't matter whether you are Chinese or not (anyway as far as I know I'm Indonesian, LOL); we were hired based on the value we can bring to the company by utilizing our expertise.
That's everything for now. Wishing everyone a happy Sunday!