ajcjobs > BlogBreak > Archives > 2006 > December > 22
Friday, December 22, 2006
“Kramer’s” Day … at the office
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
“Kramer’s” (Michael Richards’) day at the “office” started out like most days. It probably started the way we start many of our work days!
He got to his office (Laugh Factory) focused on getting his job done. Those around him knew his role and took him for granted like they always did when they saw him. For those who were interacting with him when he first began his “work,” they were appreciating him as usual. Since he’s a pretty popular “colleague” with a good long term reputation, who’s good at what he does, they gave him a warm welcome when he first got into the “office.”
After he got through his “arrival” greetings, he began working away in his cube (on stage) as usual. However, what happened before his “first break” was anything but usual! Someone from another cube (audience) started disturbing him. Michael Richards started jawing back at the guy who was messing up his concentration. His work was being disturbed. He was becoming unproductive and unnerved.
He lashed out at what he thought were his provocateurs (the audience) and everyone in the vicinity (Laugh Factory) heard him. Within a few minutes, management heard the commotion, stepped in and stopped the outburst before it incited more people.
Getting back to the actual outcome at the Laugh Factory that night regarding what has been reported about his actions, Michael Richards lashed out with anger and racial epithets and has been labeled a racist. Michael Richards insists that he’s not a racist.
The image that a white person or anyone may have of someone who is a racist can be that of a skin head, a white supremacist or a Ku Klux Klan member. The reality is very few white people fall into these categories.
If we were to have such an image, how might that influence our response to such an accusation?
From what ever you’ve heard, seen or come to know about the incident, what do you think? If you think he’s a racist, why do you think so? If you don’t think he’s a racist, why don’t you think so?
If something remotely close to this incident were to happen in your company, what might the aftermath be in your organization? How might it be handled?
Who has had a career impacting moment? Perhaps, a ‘Kramer’ moment! What was the outcome?
