If you work in a mixed-race group, it might possibly be acceptable under some circumstances.
But we’re talking about a guy who carefully looks around to see if it’s “safe” to use those words, then does it as soon as he has the chance? I’d fire him for that.
Well, it worked for Steve Martin.
I’d have no problem telling an employee that he is an asshole for the language he uses and my expectation that he will desist in the future. If he compromises my instruction, I would feel totally entitled to fire him. The point being I don’t want to listen to this shit. I don’t want my other employees or clients to listen to it. Not because of some political sense of wrongful behavior on his part.