political correctness kills

[ninwa]

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1265065/Man-kills-row-work-non-PC-joke.html

A medical technician killed himself after being suspended from work after someone complained that he made a politically-incorrect joke about a black friend.

...

He was facing a disciplinary investigation after suggesting to the black colleague that he ‘better hide’ when they noticed immigration officers outside their clinic.

It is understood that the man was a close friend of Mr Amor and was not offended. However, it was overheard by someone else who lodged a formal complaint.

...

‘His colleague has known both Roy and Ann for years and is a family friend. He went to Roy’s funeral and is as shattered by what happened as is everyone else.

‘He has told Ann that he didn’t make the complaint and despite requests from the family, the company has refused to discuss the details of it. The family is not even sure whether the investigation is still ongoing.’

Morons in management - why wouldn't you at least ask the black man himself whether he was offended before callously suspending someone who

had worked there for more than 30 years and ‘adored’ his job. He had not faced disciplinary proceedings before.

[lynt.br]

This reminds me of that time some guy was fired from his job after there were complaints about his use of the word 'niggardly', even though he was using it in a financial context...

[Yitzi_K]

Yes the complaint was stupid and utterly pointless, but who the hell kills themselves over a thing like that?

[the.watchman]

Yes the complaint was stupid and utterly pointless, but who the hell kills themselves over a thing like that?

Some people take these things very seriously, he probably cared a lot about his reputation.
I agree, they should have asked all parties, especially the 'victim', before starting disciplinary action

[ninwa]

He'd been working there for decades. I presume the position and responsibility of being the breadwinner for his family had become so entrenched in his identity that to face losing that position was just too overwhelming. Perhaps he felt like a failure, waste of space, etc. Suicide is rarely rational.

[Yitzi_K]

On a slight tangent, of course political correctness kills. Those people who say it's not right to profile at airports, that the word 'Islam' can't be included in a state report on terrorism, they're the ones whose political correctness certainly kills (or has the potential to).