“Furthermore, he addressed his colleague as ‘Brother’. Strange for us half-old Heil-Norwegians… Maybe you’ll take a look at this? I think it’s wise. It certainly doesn’t fit at Bårdshaug…” This is how the feedback the restaurant at Bårdshaug Manor received after a visit earlier this week ends. See the full email at the bottom of the article. – There is a racist tone here The guest reacted, among other things, to how the waiter had addressed the guests, and writes that he “understands that he is foreign, but he was not as reserved and ‘gentle’ as one expects a waiter to be.” This feedback did not go down well with Hotel Director Magnus Müller Lysholm, who has shared both the feedback they received and the response on social media. It says, among other things: “Thank you for your feedback on food and drink (…). However, what I do not want to thank for, but rather regret, is their feedback to our colleague” – There is a racist tone here. How do you interpret this? It is far beyond what is acceptable, says Lysholm. He points out that they take on board feedback from guests if they have not delivered up to the standards they are supposed to, but he believes that what goes directly personally on a colleague is way over the line. 14 nationalities The hotel director says they went around internally and firmly established in the management group that they would go public with their answer to the dissatisfied guest. – We recognize a responsibility and that this must be addressed. Then there is something about pointing out that these attitudes, expressions and values are in no way acceptable, says Lysholm. One of the reasons why they wanted to make the emails public was to show that they are united at Bårdshaug Herregård. – We are probably around 14 nationalities among our 50 employees. Diversity means a lot to us. We are in an industry that has a high level of employment within all backgrounds. Both nationality, ethnicity, orientation and gender, he says. This is what it looks like at Bårdshaug Herregård in Orkanger outside Trondheim. Photo: Jon Rokseth The director is also clear that it has value for them internally to be clear. – This is in no way ok. At Bårdshaug Herregård, everyone is warmly welcome, says Lysholm and continues: – The fact that I have two colleagues who have referred to each other as “brother” when they have passed each other is, for me, extremely inside and a sign of a good working environment. Clear distance from racism – We at the Antiracist Center believe it is of great value that employers take such a clear distance from racism and protect their employees regardless of background, writes general manager Hatem Ben Mansour in an email to news. Hatem Ben Mansour in the Anti-Racist Centre. Photo: Artur do Carmo / news And they are not alone in supporting the hotel director in the answer he has given. In the comments section on Facebook, there have been hundreds of comments, and according to him, most of them are positive. – Lots of supportive and positive feedback that you have lifted this. You have also “triggered” some online trolls, but you are fine with that, he says. The Anti-Racist Center says they see far too much of this type of racism and discrimination in the service and trade industry, and believes this is something many minorities encounter in their first job. – That employers such as Bårdshaugs take such a clear stand against this racism we must applaud. It is important that he speaks clearly to potential guests, for the safety of employees and it has an effect beyond this place when he also has the courage to share this on social media, concludes Mansour. This is the email the restaurant at Bårdshaug Herregård received earlier this week. Photo: screenshot/facebook
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Hotel director at Bårdshaug Manor strongly opposes what he calls racist comments – news Trøndelag
