Business May Be Held Responsible For Prejudice Of Its Customers
By Amy E. Feldman
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) - A prejudiced customer walks into a bar or restaurant or hotel and the management doesn't stop him. No joke.
A British family checked into the Ritz Carlton in Naples, Florida and gave instruction to management that they did not wish to be served by anyone of color, or anyone with a foreign accent. Kind of funny, what with them having a foreign accent and all. You know, in a prejudice sort of way.
The restaurant captain, who was born in Haiti and has dark skin, was told that his services would not be needed that day. He has sued. But the Ritz wasn't the one who exhibited the prejudice, the customer did and especially in the hospitality business, the customer is always right, right? Can a business be held responsible for the racism of its patrons?
While the Ritz Carlton was successful in maneuvering the case out of court and into arbitration, that doesn't mean it couldn't be held liable for the prejudice exhibited by others, but allowed against its employees. The law says that your employer is responsible for ensuring that you have a workplace free of discrimination. And it can be held responsible if it doesn't - even if the racism displayed is by a third party - if it affects the terms and conditions of your employment.
It was the Ritz's job to say tally-ho and heave-ho to the patrons rather than acceding to their improper demands.