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AIBU?

to think that DD1 should be allowed to read whatever book she likes while on her break at work?

229 replies

wongadotmom · 19/02/2014 19:47

DD1 (21) has just told me she was asked into the office at work today as a complaint had been made against her.

She initially assumed that it had been to do with her work but learned that two women had actually complained that they were offended by the book she had been seen reading while on her lunch break.

The book was 'Porno' by Irvine Welsh - I have not read the book myself therefore cannot judge whether it is offensive or not.

DD said that she was really into the book at the moment and offered to put a cover over the book so that no one could see what she was reading.

She was told no and must show more sensitivity to the womens' religion and must not bring the book into work again.

She is a little shaken up by this incident as nothing like this has ever happened to anyone else and people actually read The Sun and The Mail during their breaks with no problem.

I have told her that she should be allowed to read whatever she wants on her unpaid break but AIBU?

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capsium · 19/02/2014 19:49

If I was her I'd start going out for lunch...

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JohnnyUtah · 19/02/2014 19:50

She shouldn't be allowed to read things in public that the manager thinks are inappropriate or offensive. But the offer of adding a plain cover should have sufficed, I think.

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candycoatedwaterdrops · 19/02/2014 19:51

Nope, YANBU unless she is in a customer facing role and was reading in view of customers.

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StrawberryCheese · 19/02/2014 19:51

Yanbu. It's her time to do/read whatever she likes. I'm assuming she's not reading out loud so don't understand why anyone could be offended.

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YellowDinosaur · 19/02/2014 19:51

On her unpaid lunch break she should be able to read whatever she likes

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gordyslovesheep · 19/02/2014 19:51

ah some one complained, she was informed, end of - no one died - she will be fine

I have one member of staff who complains constantly about my every move - it gets quiet amusing after a while Grin

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DoctorDonnaNoble · 19/02/2014 19:51

We had a colleague complain about us even talking about the Da Vinci Code as it attacked her faith. The amusing thing was we were talking about how rubbish it was! Some people are just weird.

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scarffiend · 19/02/2014 19:51

They probably assumed it was an actual porno. Which would be inappropriate.

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Jolleigh · 19/02/2014 19:52

Paid break or not, she can't expect it to be ok to display the word 'porno' in any way in the workplace. (She has good taste in authors at least!)

That said, if she chucks a cover on the book next time, who precisely is going to come and check what she's reading?

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Oubliette0292 · 19/02/2014 19:52

YANBU
You could solve the problem by getting her a kindle so no one can tell what she is reading.

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joanofarchitrave · 19/02/2014 19:52

I am horrified by this but Dr Google tells me that the circulation of offensive material at work can be considered misconduct. I suppose if your DD were relaxing with 'Ku Klux Klan News' or 'Penthouse' I would support something being done about that.

In her case I would get a new job as fast as possible get a Kindle.

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theimposter · 19/02/2014 19:53

From what I remember it's not too bad a book but the cover is quite loud on my copy with a sex doll face and bright colours. It depends where she works as to whether putting a cover over it would be polite if she is public facing but they ABU to tell her she can't read what she wants if she offered to cover it!

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Luciferbox · 19/02/2014 19:53

I agree, she should be able to read whatever she wants in her break. I'd look to invest in a kindle so they won't know what's she's reading in the future.

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capsium · 19/02/2014 19:53

She could have some fun thinking of a suitable cover!!! Grin

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BigOrange · 19/02/2014 19:53

I know we hate The Fail and all but I'm not sure it falls under the same bracket as an offensive title... What was said about the women's religion sorry?

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ifyourehoppyandyouknowit · 19/02/2014 19:54

Is it the versi and with the blow up doll on the cover? I'd just put a different cover over the it, they'll never know.

She should get a kindle, then she can read actual porn the in break room and her pearl clutching colleagues wont have a clue.

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innisglas · 19/02/2014 19:56

Unbelievable! I would look for another job and ignore the order. I'm all for sensible rules, but that is nothing to do with the work, and the management shouldn't be catering to the most unreasonable wishes of its staff.

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MissSingerbrains · 19/02/2014 19:58

So these women are not offended by people reading The Sun with its Page 3 and sensationalist headlines?

YANBU

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wongadotmom · 19/02/2014 19:58

The women are muslim and DD was horrified that she had inadvertently offended them.

But surely the cover and content of newspapers such as the Sun and Daily Mail would cause offence enough to be banned from the workplace also?

Maybe DD could start complaining about what colleagues are reading during their break time!

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HadABadDay2014 · 19/02/2014 19:58

Is it a paid break.

When I was forced to work 1/2 hour longer that 1/2 hour became my break. I am not paid for it so I can do what ever I choose to do.

If she is paid for her breaks then the company can say what she can't do

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gordyslovesheep · 19/02/2014 20:01

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IHaveSeenMyHat · 19/02/2014 20:03

From the thread title alone: OF FUCKING COURSE.

I think it's outrageous that these women are (inadvertently or not) playing the religion card here. They have no right to be offended by the title of a novel.

Your DD should make a point of shielding the covers of her books in future. Or start reading The Satanic Verses next Grin

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Floggingmolly · 19/02/2014 20:06

Why would it be offensive to muslims in particular?

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CromeYellow · 19/02/2014 20:10

The only thing she's being unresonable about is being 'horrified' that she 'offended' them. She's the one who should be offended. They have no right to be offended, the world doesn't revolve around their religious beliefs. If they don't want to see anything that 'offends' their religious sensibilities, there are plenty of countries which ban everything in the name of religion, they're free to choose one.

Your daughter should make a complaint about being expected to restrict her behaviour according to another's religion. That's religious harassment.

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