Is fairy tale of New York a sackable offence ?

[Veeveeoxox]

My OH played fairy tale of New York the censored version on a zoom Christmas party, he works in IT contracting moved from financial services to the public sector. They are now saying many people got offended and hurt by the song and they are wondering if he's a good cultural fit for this department .

AIBU to think this is absolutely ridiculous ? My OH is already looking for another job as the field is such in high demand he's not worried. They also waited until today to tell him instead of a month ago when the supposed incident happened.

My ds was told not to play the sound of silence by disturbed at work as it was too epic.
FTOYY is not offensive.

Considering ds was asked to play it at college whilst two other students sang itt hen I'd say they are being ridiculous if it was the uncensored version.

Given they waited this long, I suspect it's just an excuse to make him leave.

Someone tell Kemi Badenoch. And the Daily Mail.

@FortunesFave

Given they waited this long, I suspect it's just an excuse to make him leave.

This.

I think if they sacked him he'd have a good case at a tribunal. That's ridiculous. How on earth can 'many people' be hurt by a sodding song. People need to take a long hard look at themselves.

They played the censored version over the tannoy at our primary school's Christmas event last month.

@CornishGem1975

I think if they sacked him he'd have a good case at a tribunal. That's ridiculous. How on earth can 'many people' be hurt by a sodding song. People need to take a long hard look at themselves.

I do know someone who is incredibly hurt at the f (a type of meatballs) word. He lived through the era where it was screamed at him and he was made to feel very unsafe. So I can understand that.

But the censored version I cannot understand unless people mis-heard over zoom and didn;t realise the word had been changed.

I clicked on this hoping and intending to say a resounding yes, as my MIL played FTONY on loop about 8 times over our Christmas visit and by the end I was wanting to throw things.

However sadly I have to agree this sounds like work being nuts.

I don't think your DH could be disciplined for playing a popular song that's plays hourly on the raisin over the Christmas period.

They have absolutely NO chance of sacking your husband because of “good cultural fit”

In fact - if he has that in writing, he would progress a claim for discrimination

Does the censored version he played still have the homosexual slur in it? I'm sure years ago it was only the 'arse' and maybe the 'slut' that were censored?

It's played absolutely everywhere over Christmas, shops, radio, fayres. If someone was offended a discussion should have been had at the time. Like a PP says it looks like they are finding any excuse to justify dismissing him. If I were him I would be tempted to make a claim for constructive dismissal once he is settled in a new job, this sort of behaviour by employers should be challenged.

How long has he worked there? If more than two years they have to give a reason for dismissal and "not a good cultural fit" is not a permitted reason.

I think he needs to push back straight away and ask them to put down in writing precisely and in detail what they mean by “good cultural fit”. There’s a discrimination case waiting to happen right there!

@CornishGem1975

I think if they sacked him he'd have a good case at a tribunal. That's ridiculous. How on earth can 'many people' be hurt by a sodding song. People need to take a long hard look at themselves.

He’s not employed he’s a Contractor

@PomegranateQueen

It's played absolutely everywhere over Christmas, shops, radio, fayres. If someone was offended a discussion should have been had at the time. Like a PP says it looks like they are finding any excuse to justify dismissing him. If I were him I would be tempted to make a claim for constructive dismissal once he is settled in a new job, this sort of behaviour by employers should be challenged.

This.

Are they disputing it being the censored version he played?
If they accept it was the censored version what are all the people upset by? Ask them to explain.
Good luck to them getting anybody to play music for any event or occasion for them again.

People at work reported that they were 'offended' by the song.

Wow, ... ❄️ alert !!!

Tell work since this so is in the public domain, and there are No references to this in the Contract. This is the important bit.
He should thank HR for the information and looks forward to a list being published so everyone knows what is considered an offensive word, for future reference.
For a joke afterwards.
Then tell them he wishes to be known as THEY going forward.

Comefromaway One person - yes I can appreciate might be offended and hurt but many? There's no way many people have been hurt by it. That's people jumping on the bandwagon of being hurt and offended on behalf of others.

It's a mainstream, modern classic song, and was used (without lyrics) on the Aldi Christmas advert, the one with Ebanana Scrooge and Marcus Radishford. Maybe they should complain to Aldi, ITV, Ch4, Ch5...

The censored version? Precisely what we're they offended by? It is literally on every Xmas spotify play list and is one of the most popular songs ever.
Maybe he should have played the wokey coke instead?
Find another job, tell then he agrees utterly he is not a good cultural fit, what with having a rounded personality.
I have never met an actual gay person of any age offended by that song. Much as I have never met a Muslim who objects to Christmas being celebrated.

Yanbu, as he is a contractor he has no protection, he is right to find a new role, it is ridiculous and working there would be untenable once they showed their colours imo.

Is the department he works in connected to drug and alcohol rehabilitation?