A Perth man has been fired from his high-paying job after refusing to apologise in writing for calling a non-binary colleague ‘he’ instead of ‘they’, in what workplace lawyers described as new legal territory for Australia.
The incident unfolded during a leadership training course in February when the older worker introduced his younger colleague to the room as ‘he.’
Another staff member immediately corrected him.
The colleague, a biological male who identifies as neither male nor female, had previously stated their preference to be called ‘they’ and wore a pronoun badge to avoid confusion, according to The West Australian.
The man, 63, apologised on the spot, and the pair appeared to get along for the remainder of the day, even partnering in role-play exercises.
But hhis manager informed him a formal complaint had been lodged and that he would need to issue a written apology.
He refused, arguing that nobody could not be compelled to call a colleague ‘they’.
At a Fair Work Commission (FWC) hearing, he argued that if one person had the arbitrary right to use a particular pronoun, then another person had the right not to.
He ultimately reached a confidential settlement with his former employer.
I was brought up to use correct grammar. Thus I would not use such torturous and incorrectly mangled English as to say ‘They have to tighten their shoes as they may trip over and hurt themself’.
I mean, this is abject madness.
And the way employers are kow towing to these extravagent activists is just weak kneed lunacy.