Recently I was asked by someone what to do about a higher-up that said that he wanted to line up certain employees and shoot them however; management laughed it off because it was a certain person that makes stupid comments frequently, yet some employees are worried about the comment, especially since this person had just returned from a two week suspension for making rude comments to certain employees.
How would you feel? What would you do? Would you go over managements heads to report it? Would you be upset that management laughed it off because it was a particular person?
Even though someone who makes these kinds of comments is one who frequently makes stupid comments, it should always be reported. Do not be afraid to report it no matter who the person is and even though those managers might get in trouble for not reporting it. How many times have we heard after a shooting that people never thought that shooter would ever do something like that, or that they heard the comments but never thought the shooter would actually do it?
These kinds of comments must be taken seriously, no matter who the person is. Even if you know the person or think that the person would never do something like that, it must always be reported because you never know what is going on in that person’s mind; if they are having family problems, financial problems or are depressed for some reason. It must always be taken seriously.
Employers usually and should always have a policy set in place for reporting any type of inappropriate comments anonymously. Don’t be afraid of repercussions because how would you feel if you knew someone made a comment like this, you didn’t report it and the person actually carried it out, injuring or even killing innocent people? It would more than likely effect you for the rest of your life; you would probably feel responsible.
I cannot stress enough how important it is to report any and all inappropriate comments, especially those that relate to any type of violence, no matter who the person is or who gets in trouble.