SUMMARY :
An HSBC employee in Hyderabad has alleged that she experienced ethnic humiliation at her workplace. The incident reportedly involved a coworker making derogatory remarks towards her, with the aggressor allegedly stating, “I will slap you so hard.” The employee’s claim sheds light on issues of workplace harassment and discrimination, sparking discussions about the need for better workplace ethics and stronger policies against such behavior.
HSBC, a major global banking and financial services organization, would likely need to address these serious allegations promptly. Ensuring a safe and respectful working environment for all employees is crucial, and any claims of harassment or discrimination require thorough investigation and appropriate action.
The case emphasizes the importance of fostering an inclusive workplace culture where all employees are treated with dignity and respect, regardless of their ethnic background. It also underlines the need for effective mechanisms within organizations to handle complaints and protect employees from any form of discrimination or harassment.
A woman shared a post on LinkedIn claiming that she was “ethnically humiliated” in her office. She added that HR did nothing even after she reported it.
An HSBC employee took to LinkedIn to share a post to document the alleged discrimination she faced at her workplace. She claimed that she was “ethnically humiliated” by her seniors and also faced “objectifying remarks” from a colleague. The woman added that her manager and HR did nothing after knowing about the incidents.
“I have been working in HSBC GSC HYD for more than a year and as this journey comes to an end now, I would like to share my experience with you all,” she wrote.
“There have been quite a few incidents that happened during the last one year which I neglected thinking ‘Isn’t this what corporate life feels like?’ I neglected everything to the point where it became unbearable for me and made me go through some serious mental health issues and panic attacks,” she added.
In the following lines, she talked about the alleged incidents. She said that one of her colleagues told her, “Ek chamaat maarenge, Bihar pahuch jaogi (I will slap you so hard, you will go back to Bihar). She added that another said that her habit of smoking as a woman is making her entire team look bad.
“I reached out to the concerned HR team and filed a POSH Complaint for the same, after weeks of the incident, on 3 May, I received an email from the HR team to give feedback for the same without any updates on what action was taken,” she added. She completed her post with a picture of the email she sent.
Since being shared, the post has gone viral. Till now, the share has accumulated more than 1.4 lakh reactions. The post has further prompted people to share varied reactions. While some supported the woman, others criticised her for publicly naming her company and coworkers.
What did LinkedIn users say about this post?
“You should draft an email to the HSBC headquarters and CC the CEO in India. Please do not stay silent; self-esteem is so valuable,” suggested a LinkedIn user.
“Disheartened about what happened. It’s high time people stop passing insensitive comments about Bihar and its people. It’s funny how insecure they can be of Biharis and their capabilities to excel in the same environment as theirs. I’m happy that you chose to speak about it OUT AND LOUD! More power to you! HSBC hope you are listening?” added another.
