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Original poster

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

143 replies

Rayaj · 28/11/2025 17:17

I brushed this comment off but a colleague I spoke to earlier thinks I should look to report it.

I am a Northerner working down South. My line of work meant our team had a close eye on the budget.

On our team call on Thursday, someone was being very vocal about benefits. I spoke up to say I’m glad that those who need looking after in Society are taken care of. He basically replied ‘typical scouser, always wanting something for nothing’ which I refuted there and then.

I didn’t really think anything more of it until my colleague mentioned it to me today.

Was I right to brush it off and not report?

OP posts:
Laura989 · 28/11/2025 17:57

Neither of you should have been saying anything.

He was having a rant, you embarrassed him with a virtue signal, he bit back with a personal insult. Now someone is shit stirring with a HR comment.

Sounds like everyone at your work needs to level up professionally.

Leave it alone. HR aren't there to referee grown adult squabbles and being Liverpuddlian isn't a protected characteristic.

Get some grit.

Monty34 · 28/11/2025 17:56

This reply has been withdrawn

This message has been withdrawn at the poster's request

BillieWiper · 28/11/2025 17:37

If he says stuff like that there must be way worse?!

I bet he's racist, homophobic and ableist to boot.

Do you think it would be worth it? Would it make him stop? I probably would say something just because he sounds so awful.

HermioneWeasley · 28/11/2025 17:34

What do you expect HR to do?

itsthetea · 28/11/2025 17:33

note it down and if there is a pattern you have a record

BauhausOfEliott · 28/11/2025 17:33

workshy46 · 28/11/2025 17:23

I agree 100% with the above and what you said was full scale virtue signalling which would wind me up too.

Show quote history

'Full scale virtue signalling'?! All she did was counter-balance the views of a colleague who had been slagging off the benefits system. She wasn't the one making personal attacks on anyone FFS.

How is it 'virtue signalling' for the OP to simply express one's view during a discussion that somebody else had started? Or is it only right-wing people who are allowed personal opinions?

OP, your colleague is a total cunt but no, I wouldn't bother going to HR about it. I'd certainly have pulled the colleague up on it though.

I'm in the opposite situation to you - I'm a London who lives and works in the north. I once pulled up a colleague here about something utterly obnoxious that she said about Londoners.

WhatMe123 · 28/11/2025 17:32

I'd remember for future and if it becomes regular I'd report them but as a potential one off I'd have made it clear at the time I wasn't amused but I wouldn't report one comment

Westfacing · 28/11/2025 17:32

I'm a Scouser - we are not a protected characteristic!

You say you're a Northerner, presumably not a Scouser or you would have challenged the gobshite there and then 😊

Please, do not report this to HR.

Doggielovecharlotte · 28/11/2025 17:31

Rayaj · 28/11/2025 17:23

I did, but my colleague has given me food for thought

Show quote history

But is it their bother or yours?

TorroFerney · 28/11/2025 17:27

NovemberMorn · 28/11/2025 17:25

Whatever happened to the quick comeback?🙄

Typically one thinks of it ten minutes too late. Or in the car on the way home.

NovemberMorn · 28/11/2025 17:25

Whatever happened to the quick comeback?🙄

Newgirls · 28/11/2025 17:24

One issue is none of you should have been talking about politics in a work meeting so you might not get very far. Anyway he’s a dick and has shown himself to be to a group of people so that’s possibly enough

workshy46 · 28/11/2025 17:23

BlueJuniper94 · 28/11/2025 17:21

I would not report this. I'd confront directly at the time, but I find this nasty HR grassing culture insidious, workers should stick together.

I agree 100% with the above and what you said was full scale virtue signalling which would wind me up too.

Original poster
Rayaj · 28/11/2025 17:23

ThatGladTiger · 28/11/2025 17:20

Brush it off.

OK so you might be offended, but is it worth the hassle? What do you hope to achieve?

I did, but my colleague has given me food for thought

OP posts:
fruitbrewhaha · 28/11/2025 17:22

Blimey that appalling. I’d report it.

Fluffyholeysocks · 28/11/2025 17:22

You said 'you didn't think anymore of it' so why report it?

BlueJuniper94 · 28/11/2025 17:21

I would not report this. I'd confront directly at the time, but I find this nasty HR grassing culture insidious, workers should stick together.

ThatGladTiger · 28/11/2025 17:20

Brush it off.

OK so you might be offended, but is it worth the hassle? What do you hope to achieve?