Who is responsible? Equality and Diversity

1. Who is responsible? Equality and Diversity

2. Have you ever…? Watched someone get the credit for something you did? Had someone jump in front of you in the queue when you have been queuing for 20 minutes, and get served before you did? Heard someone talking ignorantly about a subject which you know extremely well?

3. Roger is on placement at a care home for the elderly.

4. “I’m really enjoying the work placement. I get on well with the residents and most of the staff. Some of the residents say stuff to me that could be seen as a bit racist,but they don’t mean any harm by it - they don’t mean to be racist it’s just their generation. Like, referring to me as half-caste rather than asking me how I would like to be described…” Click on the audio icon to hear Roger

5. “…There is one guy, Joe, - he’s got it coming to him. He is another support worker like me. He says stuff in my earshot to some of the residents - and I know it is just to wind me up. Always pointing out articles in their newspapers, getting them to talk about asylum seekers and illegal immigrants. He openly uses racist language and his racist attitude upsets me.” Click on the audio icon to hear Roger

6.  What is going on here?  How many points can you spot?  What options does Roger have?  What would you advise Roger to do?

7. Sharon is on work placement at a office stationery suppliers.

8. “I can’t believe I lost my placement over a stupid email! I only forwarded it; it is not as if I made up the stupid joke. My mate sent me this list of why women are better than men. And I sent it on to Jayne, who works there full time - and I think she must have sent it on to some other people…” Click on the audio icon to hear Sharon

9. “… But anyway, somehow Kevin - who’s my supervisor - gets to read it and he’s, like, ‘That’s sexist!’ and then says I shouldn’t be using company email for stuff like that… and I get in trouble. I mean, it’s ridiculous - everyone uses email to forward jokes and stuff, what’s the problem?” Click on the audio icon to hear Sharon

10.  What is going on here?  How many points can you spot?  What options does Sharon have?  What would you advise Sharon to do?

11. Sharma is on placement at a call centre.

12. “My boss is real creep - a right old lech. Whenever he needs to show me how to do something on the computer, he always finds some excuse to touch my hand or my shoulder. I’ve seen the way he looks at me as well. And he’ll comment on what I’m wearing especially when my skirt is shorter…” Click on the audio icon to hear Sharma

13. “… He actually said to me once - ‘you’ve got a good body, Sharma - you should show it off a bit more.’ I told him that time that I didn’t like him making personal comments and he just said he was having a laugh and I should loosen up a bit.” Click on the audio icon to hear Sharma

14.  What is going on here?  How many points can you spot?  What options does Sharma have?  What would you advise Sharma to do?

15. Bev is on work placement at hair salon.

16. “I really don’t like the work placement. I am mostly in the back of the salon washing rollers and tidying. I have asked if I can work out the front - like, talking to customers making them cups of tea or washing their hair or whatever. I mean, how am I supposed to learn about real hairdressing if I am not even allowed in the salon? …” Click on the audio icon to hear Bev

17. “…They reckon because I’m deaf I can’t be any use to them - but I can lip-read fine. The funny thing is, one of the girls said that she learned to lip read because of the noise of the hairdryers! I think they’re ignorant - my speech can be a bit funny sometimes, but people can see the hearing aids.” Click on the audio icon to hear Bev

18.  What is going on here?  How many points can you spot?  What options does Bev have?  What would you advise Bev to do?

19. Adrienne is on placement at a nursery.

20. “Chrissie said some really hurtful things - she reckons because I’m a lesbian I shouldn’t be allowed to work with kids. My boss is cool though, reckons I’m really good with the kids. The problem is, Chrissie’s even got some of the parents worked up over it …” Click on the audio icon to hear Adrienne

21. “…I know that the boss will defend me, but then I don’t want to be seen as a trouble-maker. Besides I don’t think I can work with Chrissie, so I might as well leave. If I were to say anything it would only reflect badly on me.” Click on the audio icon to hear Adrienne

22.  What is going on here?  How many points can you spot?  What options does Adrienne have?  What would you advise Adrienne to do?

23. Dave is on work placement at a garage.

24. “The other guys at the garage are always having a go at me because I’m on a tag, well that’s what I think it is, they all know there and they treat me different. They ask me to do things that I can’t do, they never explain things properly and I get angry and frustrated and yesterday I threw a spanner on the ground. The boss guy is ok though when he’s around things are different.” Click on the audio icon to hear Dave

25.  What is going on here?  How many points can you spot?  What options does Dave have?  What would you advise Dave to do?