What's In a Name?
Meet Larry Whitten. He's Texan-by-way-of-VA former Marine who just wanted to run the hotels he owns in what he thought was the most proficient manner possible: by making all of his Latino employees change their names to sound more Anglican.
Did I mention that these employees were working in New Mexico?
This "policy change" went over about as well as can be expected:
In his defense, some employees were less-than-professional with him
But this story highlights how trying to impose your culture on another group can backfire, especially in the workplace. I can't think of any ethnic group who'd respond positively to, "You're name sounds wrong; please change it."
Did I mention that these employees were working in New Mexico?
This "policy change" went over about as well as can be expected:
His rules and his firing of several Hispanic employees angered his employees and many in this liberal enclave of 5,000 residents at the base of the Sangre de Cristo mountains, where the most alternative of lifestyles can find a home and where Spanish language, culture and traditions have a long and revered history.
In his defense, some employees were less-than-professional with him
Some employees were fired, Whitten says, because they were hostile and insubordinate. He says they called him "a white (N-word)."
But this story highlights how trying to impose your culture on another group can backfire, especially in the workplace. I can't think of any ethnic group who'd respond positively to, "You're name sounds wrong; please change it."
Comments