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A former hotel worker won a discrimination case against her ex-employer after being told she wasn't "dark enough" to be offended by racist comments, per Atlanta Black Star.
Georgia Sylvester said she endured discrimination and racial slurs while working as a receptionist at The Harper Hotel in the UK.
After a group of hotel guests were caught using drugs, a manager allegedly suggested that Sylvester was also a drug user due to her race.
"All you lot are," the manager allegedly said. "All you Blacks are."
In another instance, one manager used the term “a n—r in a woodpile” to describe “a hidden problem lurking about to come out.”
Sylvester said she reported the instances of racism to no avail. The former receptionist, whose mother is white and father is Black, was allegedly told that she “wasn’t dark enough” to be offended by racist comments.
In April 2023, Sylvester resigned from her position due to ongoing discrimination and mistreatment. She argued there was “institutionalized racism” in a grievance against the hotel.
“Think about how it could feel to be the only person in the company, affected by racial comments towards black people, be made to feel like you’re creating an unnecessary fuss when you report it, to be treated in a very cold manner, have your complaint rejected and then be expected to return to work alongside someone who has such vile views against your race and makes comments that attack what makes you you, not to mention your family members,” she wrote.
An employment tribunal ruled in her favor earlier this month, prompting the hotel to take "immediate steps" to improve its workplace culture.
“At The Harper, we are committed to maintaining a diverse, inclusive, and respectful workplace where all employees are treated with dignity and fairness,” the company said in a statement. “We take the recent Employment Tribunal judgment regarding allegations of race discrimination and harassment extremely seriously. We understand the gravity of this decision and the impact it has had on all involved.”
“While we recognize the Tribunal’s findings, we want to assure our employees, customers, and community that these allegations do not reflect the values we stand for as an organization," the hotel added. "We have always strived to create an environment where every team member feels valued and respected, regardless of their background.”
A separate tribunal hearing is set to be held to determine compensation for Sylvester.
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