Would you go to HR about work colleague’s budget comment

Dont report it. You will have a target on your back and it will breed hostility. Aside from the just going through the process will be stressful for you as well as the other person. Why invest all that energy into such a thing. Instead just think of retorts ready to use to deal with it there and then.

Your colleague who suggested reporting it is just stirring. If the colleague was so bothered why isnt she reporting it herself? Why get you to report it? I think she is the one to be more cautious of. This sounds like a manipulative tactic

I would definitely report!

I would say something like…

The other day in our meeting, Mike was really nasty about poor people and said some hurty words. Being morally superior I told him off, but then he called me a scouser and said I want something for nothing. Can you sack him?

That should do it nicely.

https://www.gov.uk/discrimination-your-rights

@PigeonsandSquirrels Link above to protected characteristics and the Equality Act 2010.

Discrimination has never required someone to be discriminated against because of a protected characteristic. The definition is ‘the process of making prejudicial distinctions between people based on the groups, classes, or other categories to which they belong or are perceived to belong’.

OP being a scouser is a group to which she belongs… but again. Clearly someone who only cares if someone is treated badly if the basis is enshrined in law.

I wouldn’t report it but I would confront him when you’re calmer. Just something along the lines of “ you probably don’t even remember making this comment - but just to let you know for future reference I don’t appreciate you making jokes about my origins/ heritage/ background “ ( whatever feels comfy). You obviously have the measure of him
, and you can even add that you don’t have an issue getting on well with people with different ( aka racist, sexist, homophonic as well probably!!) viewpoints - but you don’t expect to be attacked under the guise of a joke. I say this as a northerner myself who had to put up with a load of faux “ only joking” “ only teasing” when younger and realised as I got older how easy it was to call out basically idiots and cowards on such stuff. Believe me - calmly tackle and it stops - ignore and it will spiral.

It’s annoying but I don’t think it’s great for people to run to HR for things like that.

I always find “what do you mean by that?” to be a powerful little question, and don’t let them swerve the answer. If it gets a bit aggy if they try to ignore, too bad.

Was it an abusive comment? I don't think so. I think it is abusive to have to smile and nod at work when I'm told that women are nothing more than a figment of the male imagination. It is grossly offensive. But it isn't the workplaces job to arbitrate these disputes. Sucking it up is the lesser of two evils surely

This, it isn’t HR reporting worthy but is annoying as a scouser. I know others are saying they all have stereotypes elsewhere but those stereotypes aren’t generally calling them criminals. I remember when I was only 8 years old and got up on stage at Butlins in skegness and entertainer asked where I was from. As soon as I said Liverpool everyone in the audience booed loudly! At an 8 year old girl! So I do feel scousers get a worse rep than most. I live and am married to someone from Durham now and just roll my eyes everytime someone makes a thief comment (usually my FIL 🙄)-it’s just boring

If you don't see the difference then I guess you don't.

You see, I don't see your attitude as any better than a racist's attitude. It seems that most people in the UK still miss the complete list of protected characteristics when they're being sanctimonious.

i’m a ( plastic) scouser by birth and accent and I would have taken that as a ( rather old and boring) joke, surely no one would say that seriously in a work meeting?

Forget it. Not worth startling a problem over. 🤷‍♀️

I wouldn't say anything on the basis of a one-off comment, but if it became a regular thing, and if he carried on after you or your/his manager asked him to stop, it would come under the bullying policy at the last place I worked.

I usually make a joke of it by pretending to pick up a phone and say 'hello hr, I would like to report Northern discrimination' and people laugh, but also kind of get the point

Neither of you should have commented, it isn’t professional. He was obviously far worse. Anti-Scouse rhetoric is a big thing in England for some reason, never particularly understood it. Not sure I’d go to HR but I’d be inclined to have a word with him.

Your friend is not your friend, She is just trying to stir up drama which will only hurt you. You will be regarded as weak, lacking in resilience,immature, unable to navigate normal work place relations and a troublemaker.

I'm a scouser and after years in the SE I too tire of these comments. I get them in both work and personal settings and when I do I respond to them immediately and directly, most people don't know what to do with themselves and tend to look pretty uncomfortable pretty quickly.

It's not one for HR though. Dickheads are just something you have to deal with as a grown up.

I roll them at petty behaviour, exhibited by immature staff who are unable to conduct themselves professionally.

The last time I looked I didn't see regional differences or class on the list of protected characteristics - therefore the comments can't be regarded as discriminatory.

Good to know you roll your eyes at discriminatory, classist behaviour at your workplace.

She said that they had to keep a close eye on the budget for work purposes, so they had a very good reason to be talking about politics in a meeting, but that's no excuse for her colleague be offensive. Politics is pretty central to some jobs, and it in appropriate not to talk about it in meetings...

Professional boundaries breaxhed and your team needs its heads knocking together.

Report it to me and I'll smile sweetly, be empathic, ask you what your solution is and ask you to speak to your manager and resolve it locally. Meanwhile I'd send your line manager or directorate lead the orof boundaries policy and tell them to embed it

Then I'd roll my eyes, say an inward FFS and wish your team would grow up.

You’re not entitled to express the view that people from a certain place are scroungers though… not at work to someone of that group. What’s next? Calling people of certain groups smelly or criminals or thieves? What happens if you replace the place/region with a foreign one?

Lol, odd, because my comebacks are good, usually accompanied by a sweet smile, and I had a horrendous older sibling too.
There is something very satisfying about putting a smart Alec in their place.

If we all look around us we can see the world that's been created with benefits bashing.

I had a political argument with a colleague who was moanimg about having to pay tax on her upcoming local government pension - which with everything else will give her a retirement income of around £30,000.

It didn't get personal and the words "Typical entitled Boomer" stayed in my head!