A BLACK police bodyguard who protected the Duchess of Cornwall has won $70,000 compensation after suing Scotland Yard for “over-promoting” him because of political correctness.
Sgt Leslie Turner — the first black personal protection officer to guard the royal family — will receive the “racial discrimination” payout after reaching an out-of-court settlement with London’s Metropolitan Police.
His representatives argued he landed the prestigious job as Camilla’s bodyguard only because he was black.
It was claimed that as a result of being over-promoted and not receiving proper training and support, Sgt Turner made mistakes which led to him being re-assigned.
I’m just trying to figure out what his damages are. Now if he was fired, he’d certainly have damages. You cannot set up minorities for failure and then fire them when they do. But after promoting him they gave him a job within his qualifications. I just don’t get this.
Apparently it was not within his qualifications. that was why he was demoted. that was why he got the settlement.
Huh… I’m just trying to get my mind around the whole thing.
So it’s okay to say you failed because your a minority?
(No, I don’t think that’s the point).
So affirmative action is the wrong policy?
(Maybe, that’s what this guy is saying?)
So if I’m promoted at my job, and not qualified for that promotion (at least in my mind), I should take the promotion, fail, and then sue?
(Well, is it any better than getting promoted, taking the job, failing and then getting a “Golden Parachute” like some of the incompetent CEOs?)
This smells wrong on so many levels… I wonder what Jessie Jackson has to say about it…
This one blows my mind. If he thought he was being “over-promoted” why didn’t he refuse the promotion? Doesn’t this one come in to the arena of personal accountability? This officer accepted the promotion, knowing (at least he should have known) what was expected…
“Apparently it was not within his qualifications. that was why he was demoted. that was why he got the settlement.”
Yeah, but where are his damages? He got a promotion and I assume a raise. He then went back to a level and wage he was qualified for. At no time did he ever lose any money. In fact, he got too much money as he was promoted beyond his ability and training.
What a jerk….
Where does he go to get his self esteem back? They promoted him just because he’s a minority. The US military has had some female pilots die for the same affirmative action reasons, with at least one of them having complained about not being put in positions for which she isn’t qualified.
The fact that he was promoted because of his race — and not just taking his qualifications, experience, and performance into acount — was the key. I assume they had proof this was the case, rather than merely his boss erroneously believing he was ready to move up.
Apparently, people are promoted to their level of incompetence, unless you’re a minority. In which case the company has all the responsibility for evaluating your capabilities, and make damn sure you’re in the right job, at the right pay, so that your self-esteem and reputation are maximized.
The damage done was to his reputation, his career, and probably to his belief in himself. The perfect career track is a non-decreasing function: constantly moving upward, whether slowly or quickly depending on ability. To have been demoted is not a good sign, and may affect future promotions.
Why couldn’t they just note the mistake in his file, so it wouldn’t damage his career? If it was an honest mistake that had been thoroughly evaluated on all sides, then that might be the case. But I bet his superiors wouldn’t admit their mistake or P.C. motives, placing all the blame on him for the failures.
Note that this did not go to trial, it was settled out of court. $70,000 is not much. This is not evidence that the law is on his side or the court would have found in his favor. Promotion is a delicate business. I think the law would give a lot of leeway here, especially in an individual case. Most civil rights and discrimination cases need to demonstrate a pattern of discrimination across a large group of people.
Moore, you’re right. I hadn’t thought about how this case effects the Peter Principle! Aren’t we all promoted to our own level of incompetence?!
As to the rest of your post. You seem to be saying that he suffered emotional damages. I could certainly see if the employer intentially set him up for failure, how that would be humiliating. But if it was an honest mistake, I don’t see it. Whether he was promoted or not he was NOT qualified. The fact that he was doesn’t change it.
Obviously, what we need is more truly politically correct, political correctness.
damn theres some funny stuff on there today…
I wish i was black so I could get promoted like a mofo and then sue my employer for it…. freakin rediculous.