Marriott sued for racism

[DrQ]

There was a lively discussion about an inappropriate (offensive) tweet had a sales weasel fired in HGVC, now it's Marriott's turn for sensitivity training (sheesh, but not surprising)

Quoted article:

Black sales exec was compared to 'Buckwheat,' told to dance for colleagues, lawsuit alleges
Daryl Robinson also claims that he worked out of a “cramped” storage closet that had no air conditioning, unlike his co-workers who had cubicles.

Dec. 26, 2018 / 2:22 PM CST / Updated Dec. 26, 2018 / 5:11 PM CST
By Janelle Griffith

A former sales executive for Marriott Vacations Worldwide alleges in a lawsuit that he was asked to dance during meetings as entertainment for other employees and that a photo of the character Buckwheat was used to represent him during a team building exercise.

Daryl Robinson is suing for unlawful race discrimination, unlawful race harassment, failure to prevent race discrimination and harassment and retaliation for opposing forbidden practices.


Robinson began working in February 2017 as a sales executive with Marriott Vacations Worldwide selling timeshares to vacation properties. He says he was the only African-American employee in the office.

In the suit, filed in Los Angeles Superior Court on Thursday, Robinson alleges that he was asked on multiple occasions to dance by a director of sales during sales meetings, usually to music by Michael Jackson.

On another occasion, the director of sales complimented most of the staff by saying “we have a good-looking crew” or related comments, according to the suit. The director of sales then looked at Robinson and allegedly said, “Daryl looks ready to breakdance."

 

[TravelTime]

I guess this lawsuit will be easy to win if Robinson’s colleagues saw him being made to dance and heard those comments, since he says they happened in public. Marriott should settle out of court if true. I read the article and it is horribly abusive. It still shocks me that things like this happen. Humans can be so cruel. This story makes me so angry.

 

[pedro47]

Thanks for sharing this article.

 

[TravelTime]

I did a Google search and found this recent article: https://www.nytimes.com/2018/08/01/travel/hotels-diversity-training.html

Apparently hotels need to hire more enlightened employees and train them to have respect for their diverse client base.

The thing that has always bothered me about racism is the group that considers themselves to be superior do not realize that racism could be turned on them. No one is protected from some sort of discrimination, whether it be race, gender, education, income, etc. I have always had the belief that all beings are created equal. To me, even every animal counts as a being. Some might even extend this to the planet(s). For all we know, an intelligent being may exist on another planet that looks nothing like a human. And maybe they will discrimate against all human beings on planet Earth.

 

[DrQ]

It's time for Marriott to clean house in that office.

 

[DrQ]

I did a Google search and found this recent article: https://www.nytimes.com/2018/08/01/travel/hotels-diversity-training.html

Apparently hotels need to hire more enlightened employees and train them to have respect for their diverse client base.

The thing that has always bothered me about racism is the group that considers themselves to be superior do not realize that racism could be turned on them. No one is protected from some sort of discrimination, whether it be race, gender, education, income, etc. I have always had the belief that all beings are created equal. To me, even every animal counts as a being. Some might even extend this to the planet(s). For all we know, an intelligent being may exist on another planet that looks nothing like a human. And maybe they will discrimate against all human beings on planet Earth.

While I don't dispute the article cited, I think this is more of a symptom of the general disrespect (contempt) sales staff displays towards their prospects. Apparently, it runs deeper and they start feeding on one another.

 

[TravelTime]

While I don't dispute the article cited, I think this is more of a symptom of the general disrespect (contempt) sales staff displays towards their prospects. Apparently, it runs deeper and they start feeding on one another.

I do not think that is the problem. This is happening at hotels. They do not have “prospects” in hotels. He is not a “prospect.” I think the problem is society and how we treat each other. The current environment is not helping either.

 

[x3 skier]

While I don't dispute the article cited, I think this is more of a symptom of the general disrespect (contempt) sales staff displays towards their prospects. Apparently, it runs deeper and they start feeding on one another.

I was just going to comment in the same vein.

Cheers

 

[DrQ]

I was just going to comment in the same vein.

Cheers

This observation comes from working in a restaurant during lunchtime when I was in high school. The worst of the worst were salesmen from the Ford dealership down the road. They were the crassest bunch of a$$h@ts I have ever had the displeasure to meet. They came in every Friday for a long, insufferable four martini lunch.

One thought it would be funny to do the "upside down glass of water trick". Here's the thing, don't do this at a place where you are a return customer. I waited until his second return visit after that and I "accidentally" spilled a full glass of ice water in his lap. The waitress was publicly "shocked and appalled" but privately smiled and told me not to do it again.

I'm not saying ALL salespeople are scum, but unless management keeps a firm hand and discourages bad behavior, it festers quickly.

 

[DrQ]

I do not think that is the problem. This is happening at hotels. They do not have “prospects” in hotels. He is not a “prospect.” I think the problem is society and how we treat each other. The current environment is not helping either.

I think that is beyond where I intended this thread to go and risks getting it locked.

 

[jimf41]

A think a lot of folks should take a step back and realize they are hearing the plaintiff's account. How "angry" are you going to be if it turns out the accusation is false. This story is from NBC news. They've had to walk back a lot of similar stories in the past few years not to mention the number of news folks fired.

 

[DrQ]

Here is my take:

• Was the plaintiff a marginal sales associate: unknown
• Was the sales office there a "frat house":yes
• Were there crude jokes and pranks pulled on one another: yes
• Did the plaintiff document acts which could be construed as racist: very possibly
• Does it make any difference if the plaintiff was a marginal performer and did not advance due to merit: NO

Without controls, things spiral out of control fast and opens you up to this kind of embarrassment.

 

[T-Dot-Traveller]

There was a lively discussion about an inappropriate (offensive) tweet had a sales weasel fired in HGVC, now it's Marriott's turn for sensitivity training (sheesh, but not surprising)

Quoted article:

Black sales exec was compared to 'Buckwheat,' told to dance for colleagues, lawsuit alleges
Daryl Robinson also claims that he worked out of a “cramped” storage closet that had no air conditioning, unlike his co-workers who had cubicles.

Dec. 26, 2018 / 2:22 PM CST / Updated Dec. 26, 2018 / 5:11 PM CST
By Janelle Griffith

A former sales executive for Marriott Vacations Worldwide alleges in a lawsuit that he was asked to dance during meetings as entertainment for other employees and that a photo of the character Buckwheat was used to represent him during a team building exercise.

Daryl Robinson is suing for unlawful race discrimination, unlawful race harassment, failure to prevent race discrimination and harassment and retaliation for opposing forbidden practices.


Robinson began working in February 2017 as a sales executive with Marriott Vacations Worldwide selling timeshares to vacation properties. He says he was the only African-American employee in the office.

In the suit, filed in Los Angeles Superior Court on Thursday, Robinson alleges that he was asked on multiple occasions to dance by a director of sales during sales meetings, usually to music by Michael Jackson.

On another occasion, the director of sales complimented most of the staff by saying “we have a good-looking crew” or related comments, according to the suit. The director of sales then looked at Robinson and allegedly said, “Daryl looks ready to breakdance."

I will leave part of this for the courts .

******

BUT - what was the sales directors goal with this nonsense .

It sure was not team building / unless “ Lord of the Flies “ is your model .

 

[DrQ]

It sure was not team building / unless “ Lord of the Flies “ is your model .

Great line!

 

[T-Dot-Traveller]

I did a Google search and found this recent article: https://www.nytimes.com/2018/08/01/travel/hotels-diversity-training
The thing that has always bothered me about racism is the group that considers themselves to be superior do not realize that racism could be turned on them. No one is protected from some sort of discrimination, whether it be race, gender, education, income, etc. I have always had the belief that all beings are created equal. To me, even every animal counts as a being. Some might even extend this to the planet(s). For all we know, an intelligent being may exist on another planet that looks nothing like a human. And maybe they will discrimate against all human beings on planet Earth.

Agree -

Most of us have read or seen the - “ what I learned in kindergarten “ - that is a good blueprint
on how to treat others .

*****

As we all know - not everyone learned that school lesson .

 

[Dean]

I guess this lawsuit will be easy to win if Robinson’s colleagues saw him being made to dance and heard those comments, since he says they happened in public. Marriott should settle out of court if true. I read the article and it is horribly abusive. It still shocks me that things like this happen. Humans can be so cruel. This story makes me so angry.

I agree if true. I've seen enough to not accept it on face value and would suggest that a settlement does not automatically make it true.

 

[csalter2]

I believe it’s easier for some to question this alleged behavior. However, if it was reverse discrimination or Anti-Semitism people don’t put question marks about if it’s true or not.

 

[TravelTime]

I think that is beyond where I intended this thread to go and risks getting it locked.

Racism is a controversial social issue with political implications. You can’t post this and expect the replies to be mild. This was a terrible social injustice.

 

[TravelTime]

A think a lot of folks should take a step back and realize they are hearing the plaintiff's account. How "angry" are you going to be if it turns out the accusation is false. This story is from NBC news. They've had to walk back a lot of similar stories in the past few years not to mention the number of news folks fired.

I am angry whether or not this specific story is true because racism (and sexism, ageism, etc) is alive and well in our society. I am more inclined to believe this story but I know discrimination happens and African Americans experience the worst of it.

 

[TravelTime]

Here is my take:

• Was the plaintiff a marginal sales associate: unknown
• Was the sales office there a "frat house":yes
• Were there crude jokes and pranks pulled on one another: yes
• Did the plaintiff document acts which could be construed as racist: very possibly
• Does it make any difference if the plaintiff was a marginal performer and did not advance due to merit: NO

Without controls, things spiral out of control fast and opens you up to this kind of embarrassment.

There are witnesses so it will be easy to prove or disprove, unless all the witnesses lie to protect Marriott and their bosses.

 

[TravelTime]

I believe it’s easier for some to question this alleged behavior. However, if it was reverse discrimination or Anti-Semitism people don’t put question marks about if it’s true or not.

These days, people put quotes around all allegations of abuse. No one wants to believe the accusers anymore because of a few who did lie. Such a shame because most accusers are telling the truth. I understand not to convict someone without a fair investigation, though.

 

[Steve A]

I spent my entire career, 40 years, working on nondiscrimination issues in the Departments of Justice and Education and at a B1G university. It’s really hard to prove discrimination even when you know it occurred. The standard of predonerence of evidence is substantially less then the standard of proof in criminal cases but it’s still hard to meet.

 

[SueDonJ]

Already there are multiple reports about this thread, and quite honestly I don't know how to clean up a thread that begins with such an abhorrent topic. Thread locked; possibly we'll revisit the topic as the case makes it through the Court system.