I'm not surprised some people found it a difficult decision to be honest.
I mean, discovering a new form of discrimination, which only Indians can perform? And none of your fellow managers have ever heard of this stuff? And you don't know WTF a caste is?
And I doubt the accused is telling HR "yeah, I discriminate on caste, got a problem with that?" - they might instead be saying "some of his behaviour towards me has made me uncomfortable, I don't want to complain formally I just think everyone would be happier if we were on different projects"
I can see why a person might decide that's not a minefield they're equipped to navigate, and pass the issue over to HR.
I mean, certainly gather information and follow due process, but once it's clear what occurred, there is no question that a person who refuses to work with coworkers based on lower caste does not belong in any workplace with lower caste workers.
And anyone who resists that principle is a co-conspirator in caste-based oppression and should leave as well.
Working relationships are complex and require a lot of trust. You can't just wave a magic wand over two people and say "discrimination be gone". The bigot can and will always find ways to harm the victim without accountability.
Well if you discriminate say based on race or gender, you’re fired. As people know they therefore can’t do this, they need to keep their feelings to themselves and deal with it.
The GP said:
> there is no question that a person who refuses to work with coworkers based on lower caste does not belong in any workplace with lower caste workers
Which I read as separate castes if they will discriminate. That’s like saying separate race or gender if someone will discriminate. That’s currently not how it works for other protected classes.
I mean, discovering a new form of discrimination, which only Indians can perform? And none of your fellow managers have ever heard of this stuff? And you don't know WTF a caste is?
And I doubt the accused is telling HR "yeah, I discriminate on caste, got a problem with that?" - they might instead be saying "some of his behaviour towards me has made me uncomfortable, I don't want to complain formally I just think everyone would be happier if we were on different projects"
I can see why a person might decide that's not a minefield they're equipped to navigate, and pass the issue over to HR.