Caste system in UK

[McMouse]

An acquaintance of mine is a shift manager at a fast food restaurant. The majority of staff are asian and they operate an unofficial caste system. So if one of the "higher" caste workers causes a spillage they order a "lower" caste person to clear up the mess. My friend is having none of it and has informed all of her shift that they are responsible for their own spillage. I understand this is greatly resented. Has anyone come across this in the workplace?

[Bobbisox]

the Caste system in India is horrible McM

[saxy_jag]

Not in the workplace, but I used to work in school where one of the boys was constantly at loggerheads with some of the others. Basically, his family were Brahmins, quite a high caste, and he would often refuse to work with children of lower castes. The school (and, indeed, British law, as far as I know) did not recognise the caste system and therefore would nip his attitude in the bud PDQ.

Sadly, many Hindu families do still operate the system here two and three generations after leaving India. Luckily there are many more (where I live and work, at least) who recognise it for the barrier to society it is.

Sikhs, of course, do not recognise the system at all. If any are practising anything like it, then they're not true Sikhs.

[scotman]

The thing about this I don't understand about the caste system is, here in the UK, how do they know which caste anyone belongs to?

[sandyRoe]

I doubt if they could tell by looking. It would be questions about the family back home in India. What did they do for employment? Maybe even the family name reveals their cast.

[scotman]

I they are all working 'fast food' then I don't think any of them can claim high(er) status.

[Booldawg]

At least McDonalds operate a 'star' system. I think if you last more than one shift you get 5 starts on your badge or something.

[jno]

Perhaps the same way the British know what caste other Brits belong to, SandyRoe Montmorency-Smythe?

If we're talking Indians here, how do they cope with burgers?

[jno]

sorry, that answer was actually meant for scotman