It all depends on what colour you are...

Yesterday, I attended a mandatory training session within my company. It was "Intervention Training".
The premise is that it will teach you how to intervene with someone who is performing an unsafe act, and also how to respond to someone who challenges you. It's great stuff, which I fully support.

The training involves a novel, but very entertaining and funny medium - theatre.

One of the scenes involved a guy working on something which may have contained asbestos.
Two others approached him and asked if he had had samples done and clearance for asbestos free work.

After the scene, we were asked the difference in the approach by the two "interveners".
The first had elicited as negative response, the second had received the positive.

Their words and manner were similar, if not the same...

I couldn't see the difference.

Yet when asked, most people suggested that it was the colour of the hard hat that was being worn. I hadn't even noticed this!!

We have "Industrial" workers and "Non-Industrial" workers.

For some historical reason, the industrials wear blue helmets and overalls, whilst the non-industrials wear white helmets and overalls.

I had always thought that this was disgusting, but had never realised the hatred and bile of the "blue collar" workers to the "white collar" workers.

(Disclaimer: I'm a non-industrial, white collar, office dwelling, manager)

The positive response given to the second actor in the scene was because she was wearing a white helmet and therefore perceived by the "culprit" as having authority.

I was floored by this.
Astounded.
Disgusted.
Gobsmacked.

How can a modern company be so insensitive?

I do not consider myself "above" any other colleague in my workplace. Of course, I want to be respected, but as a colleague rather than one of "them".

This really bothers me. The guys on the shop floor are FAR better than me with their skills, and to me it's horses for courses... I'm better with my mind than my hands.

It upsets me that in this day and age, these prejudices still exist.

I have Unconditional Positive Respect for everyone I work with. Treat me as equal and we'll get along just fine!