Today, my boss at my new call center job said he'd gotten complaints about me. Apparently I sound "too black" and it's "upsetting" some of our customers. I don't know what that even means, but my boss said I need to "tone it down or we're gonna have some problems". FML
Collection
Halloween
A failed costume, stolen candy and a very real scare: Halloween, the one night when fear is allowed.
Today, my coworker and I were swamped with coffee orders. I told him I would "take care of the blacks", and a customer who only heard that sentence screamed at me for several minutes about racism. FML
Today, my boss called me into his office and bitched me out for a good half hour for my attitude to our customers. Apparently I always look pissed off and sound sarcastic. That's just my face at rest. FML
Today, our desks were rearranged. I was seated next to a coworker who spends the entire day on the phone, chatting loudly with his relatives in another country while he works. I complained that it was distracting. Management won't do anything about it and warned me that "my complaints reek of racism." FML
Today, I received a two-page letter/rant from my boss notifying me of my imminent dismissal, based on issues such as me "speaking in a suppressed voice." FML
Today, my boss yelled at me, telling me that I can't answer the phone anymore. Not because I do a bad job, but because a co-worker whined about it being her job. People call her and complain about how rude she is and then ask to talk to me. FML
Today, the guy in the cubicle across from me complained about me to our boss. Apparently, his relatives heard me typing something on his daily 8+ hour call to them, and now don't believe he has his own office. My boss took his side and asked me to type quieter. FML
Today, my boss told me that people from work have been complaining about me. Apparently, I'm not doing part of their jobs for them, and the other manager sometimes does. FML
Today, I overheard my boss and a co-worker talking about me. Apparently when I speak, I slur my words so badly that it sounds like I'm speaking in tongues. According to my boss, "he could be possessed by a demon right now, and we'd never even notice." FML
Today, at my new job at a funeral home, my boss threatened to fire me if I didn't "lighten the hell up" while dealing with our grieving clients. FML
Today, I overheard the guy who hired me talking to one of my managers in hushed tones about me. I'm pretty sure he's going to send me an email soon, saying that my job "probably isn't the right fit" for me, which is part of what I overheard. FML
Feel like sharing it with the other FML users?
Thanks, your FML was submitted, and will appear in the moderation queue soon!
Top comments
Sora_McKain 36
That's a bit racist in the first place. And you can't help the way you sound. Your boss is a douche.
Ltsdragons 19
Talk about a weird comment and it wasn't all too kind. You can't control how you sound. Your boss should definitely know that
Add a comment · Reply to
You must be logged in to be able to post comments!
Comments (168)
Soundslikeothers 15
What does he mean you sound "too black" that is ridiculous and racist. I mean of course unless you answer every phone call with " What's Up My Nigga" then stop it.
fabulouskenaz 6
Maybe if he said what up my nigga, I had a dream you would buy our products on the phone then maybe that is kinda sounding "too black" for the liking of some
15Erik 21
Do you drink black coffee? That could be your problem.
HairIsEverything 15
Oh you did not just say that! but I mean you did. and I'm questioning your intengrity, intelligence, and lack of joke skills.
15Erik 21
If you infer racism from that, you are trying much too hard. Also, what is intengrity?
expertsmilee 26
@23 - joke skill...now what was that word for humor again?
15Erik 21
It's ok, she's empowered and higher thinking according to her bio.
gurbism 16
It sounds like your boss is about to have a bigger problem than you sounding "too black" What an asshole
syed121417 22
Take it up with HR. This is a racial issue and it should not be tolerated. Good luck, OP!
unsocialtowel 1
I think your boss means don't talk ghetto. Not saying you do but that's the only thing that would make sense in this situation.
tompou6 19
Tell him if he has problems, he can bring it up with human resources.
Olivia93 20
I didn't know 'black' had a sound tbf. Just though it was an adjective ?
Marcella1016 32
A lot of people hear a "black" accent and assume the person will be rude to them or has an attitude. I don't know why. If my mom calls a call center and hears a "black sounding" voice she will hang up and call back until she gets someone else. And she is black herself. Pretty sad man.
Saraj07 18
And what exactly is wrong with sounding black? What does that even mean? The customer is not always right.
skittyskatbrat 19
It means not a proper sounding voice for a call center. Whether it's a boothill nasal twang, an obnoxious brassy Boston tone, an equally loud inner-city sound, or a strong foreign accent...it's not acceptable. No more than wearing flipflops and a tank top!
teentee401 37
Everything you just described does not equal black. Races don't have a particular way of speaking. It all depends on where you're from or how you're raised. I've heard white people speak the way you've just described.
skittyskatbrat 19
And if they have a call center job and sound like that they may well lose it!
RedPillSucks 33
exactly,#43, I get so tired of this nonsense. if i had a dollar for every time someone told me i dont sound black, I'd be rich. people born in different countries dont sound like they're from Georgia, or the South Bronx, or Mississippi.
fantasyworld 39
He can't change the way he talks.
sturschaedel 27
I do think that, if you listen carefully, you can make a qualified guess at the skin color. In tendency, black people have a deeper, fuller voice. Of course there are always exceptions in both directions, so there is no way to be sure. Now, before someone jumps to the conclusion I must be racist to dare to speak of differences and distinctions: People don't need to be all the same to be equal. If everybody looked exactly alike, that would just be creepy. Variety is a good thing! What I don't understand though is why a different voice should be a problem for a call center, or customers. When I interact with people, the least thing I care about is what color their skin is. I care about if they are competent to solve my problem and polite.
Vaati_fml 20
105 - Someone who knows what they're talking about.
royal_ranger 12
Wtf? I would ******* quit, what kind of bullshit is that.
iamsofuckedupla 19
Perhaps your vernacular mode of speaking slips from time to time?