Here's What You're Not Supposed to Say

Truth in employee handbooks:

State tip: Don't ask Hispanic co-workers for help with your lawn

That's one of the pieces of blunt advice offered to Delaware state Transportation Department workers in a controversial recent handbook intended to sensitize employees and improve personal workplace relations.

The political trouble was, some of the minorities intended to be protected from insults and stereotyping, were insulted by the well-meaning handbook's specific stereotypical listings of bad things not to say.

The politically incorrect predicament: How could the government department tell people the kinds of things they're not supposed to say without actually saying the kinds of things they're not supposed to say?

Among the things that were said not to be said were:

Don't tell older workers, They're hiring over at Wal-mart.

Don't tell homosexuals and lesbians they can get treatment.

Don't act amazed that Asians speak English well or assume they all work for the IT department.

Don't ask black co-workers, "Should we order fried chicken or watermelon for you?"

Don't say, "All you whites are alike." Or suggest all are racist.

Don't say, "You don't look handicapped."

Transportation Secretary Carolann Wicks wanted the diversity training newsletter to be bold, specific and in-your-face. It was.

As least now when you make a racially insensitive statement you'll be sure to get the wording correct.