AIBU to not understand why I am facing disciplinary at work for such a non-issue?

it’s fairly toxic and unpleasant behaviour on your part.

Why Annie has lighter duties is non of your business. There could be many reasons.

At this moment though you are not facing disciplinary action just an investigation.

Now is the time to apologise and reconsider your behaviour.

Freedom of speech does not mean freedom to insult and shout at your colleagues.

You have no idea what medical issues Annie may have that might have her on lighter duties and you have no right to that private and confidential information.

Frankly, if you think that pregnancy is the only condition that could have a woman on "lighter duties" then you really don't have much imagination at all. There are plenty of others, and they might not always be visible. In fact, the majority probably aren't.

You were very silly to speak as you did, and even more silly to mouth off at Tommy about freedom of speech giving you licence to do and say whatever you liked.

Perhaps the best thing you could do now would be to apologise sincerely to Annie and Tommy for your atrocious behaviour. Via HR too.

If you are unhappy in your role and feel that you are approaching burnout then that is a totally separate issue, and one you should have raised with your manager on your own with no reference to Annie or to anyone else's nationality. You still could, though the way you have behaved doesn't really show you up in the best light I'm afraid.

He's right it's not your business. Though if he doesn't work there himself he shouldn't really have got involved. But you don't know why people are on certain duties and their health is confidential.

I also don't know the reason you said what Nationality she was? What difference does that make?

Not saying OP is racist, but Poland has suffered badly from racism and xenophobia from neighbouring countries over the years, and Eastern Europeans are perfectly capable of xenophobia and racism against other Eastern Europeans.

The OP would be well advised to leave nationality and culture out of this. It's not relevant. Her employer's duty of care is relevant. If she needs reasonable adjustments, they should be offered regardless of skill or seniority. That's what she should focus on.

I’m amazed that in whatever time you have been/worked here you haven’t figured out that we have a different working culture and our own employment law in place.

What happens in your “native region” is utterly irrelevant.

You have answered your own question as to why Annie is getting lighter duties, she previously performed exceptionally on heavier tasks.

Yabu - you whinged about a specific person which has no positive benefits, rather than raising with your manager, who could have discussed YOUR circumstances with YOU.

How does bitching about Annie help you or the company?

So you’re both underperforming and moaning both to management and colleagues. No wonder you’re not a favourite!

She didn’t - she mentioned several of the employees who seem to have been given a lighter, more favourable job, than her.

I don’t think it is racism to say what nationality they are.

I think you need to focus on your situation with the company and leave colleagues out. If you’re being treated unfairly, raise it. If you’re unable to continue doing your tasks due to exhaustion, tell management very clearly. If your company is so shit that they don’t care about fairness or exhausting their staff, look for a new job.

You shouldn't have targeted specific individuals in you rant. You have no idea if their personal situation. If your unhappy with your allocation then talk to your manager of find another job.

The OP did not do what you’re suggesting. She was talking about a group of colleagues and herself, she didn’t single any one person out. That is neither gossiping nor spreading rumours, what she was talking about was a statement of fact.

It sounds like you were having a moan to a colleague when feeling under pressure and then the colleague has dropped you in it by gossiping. Then Tommy has shouted aggressively at you which isn't acceptable

Having a conversation about the fairness of task allocations isn’t gossiping. The OP mentioned several employees who have a lighter workload, and specifically mentioned one in her post because that employees husband shouted at her and put in a complaint.
OP, yes, you should have gone straight to your employer about this rather than vent to a colleague - primarily because this colleague clearly doesn’t have your back as they told others what you’d said. However, I would put in a complaint about being shouted at in the workplace by another employee.
It is only fair that if someone perceives that they are being treated less favourably than colleagues on the same pay scale who are employed to do the same job then of course they’ll feel aggrieved. Perhaps the OP should be given a pay rise seeing as her job is physically more demanding.

Be very surprised if your not sacked over this.

I hope this is a joke.

Freedom of speech means that the government won’t act against you for things you say (and England does not have it and never has - the government can act against you for speech intended to incite violence, racist speech etc).

your company absolutely can take action against you for what you say

Go off sick immediately stating you were intimidated by Tommy and you're too scared to go into work.

None of your business re Annie. You should complain if your duties are too much for you.

Yes, you have the freedom to say (most of) what you want. But don’t be surprised if people get offended and you get criticized. It doesn’t sound like you said anything terrible to be fair but I’m still not surprised that you have rocked the boat.

It’s not your business as to why someone may have reasonable adjustments in the workplace. Nor do you need to be notified if they do not involve you. You should mind your business about these things, if you’re finding the work to be too hard then raise this with your manager and suggest some changes that would help you.

It isn't impossible though is it, as Annie has demonstrated. Your attitude isn't coming across well on this thread. If the managers have said light duties are for the best performers you have a couple of options:- become one of the best performers or find another job.

It sounds as though the OP comes from Eastern Europe herself, coming from 'a neighbouring country', she also mentioned other people too who were on lighter duties, but 'Annie's' husband took it upon himself to try and intimidate the OP. Stop being lazy with the 'racist' labels.

OP, if you talk about your colleagues like this, there always a chance they're going to be put out. If you have a problem with the distribution of duties, you need to raise it with your manager and it needs to be on the basis of you reaching burnout from the duties you are continually undertaking, not what other people are doing.