I think I've just been accused of racism at work

[Imlookingatapicture]

Panicking somewhat..

For context I'm the only Welsh person in our London office. Lots of banter around the football World Cup.

Chat started on teams (chat not video) re the 6 nations game tomorrow. Collegue (huge football fan, most vocal in the world cup) said 'I don't care about rugby. I'm half Welsh anyway'

I replied

'Oh I'm half English too. We all have our crosses to bear ;)'

Manager has just emailed me to say collegue above has complained, and it's not acceptable, especially given recent discussions around inclusion and diversity.

It was honestly just a joke, in the same vein as the world cup 'banter'

I know I shouldn't have put it on teams. Maybe context didn't come across.

How much shit am I in?

It's not because you are 50 though, it's your specific body that's falling apart.

Thank goodness Brexit has highlighted issues with anti English sentiment .

Well I say it’s because I’m in my fifties. It’s called ageing. Bloody hell.

I'm really not. Maybe I just am not getting the examples of jokes that are made. I fully accept I might be missing something but I probably have to hear more joke examples to understand and that could just get offensive!

It might be, but tough shit if it is. Seriously, if anyone gets offended by a comment someone else makes about themselves then they really shouldn't be leaving the house.

It was an example. I thought it was an example where it would be more obvious why it's not ok but clearly not!

Well arguably the 'cross' could have been the fact thst you're half English

OP is half English. It’s her specific nationality that she’s joking about. I’m fat. Have I just become guilty of body shaming?

OP you could say you were saying you were proud to bear the cross of St George, and why would someone think that was an insult?

FFS. As a Scot living in England for several decades I’ve had so much more shit than this. It’s annoying and ignorant but it’s not racism. It is just incredibly pathetic you have been reported for this. And it completely undermines real race issues which are alive and kicking in this country (in all of the home nations).

nothing significant should happen to you at all.

Her specific nationality which is shared by millions of others, a body is only occupied by one person.

The employer's actions and policy will be based on the Equality Act. Section 9 of the Act defines race as

(1)Race includes—
(a)colour;
(b)nationality;
(c)ethnic or national origins.

www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2010/15/section/9

So if English and Welsh are are different nationalities, then being English or Welsh are protected characteristics.

You could argue that the nation is the United Kingdom, and Welsh/English/Scottish/Northern Irish are all one nation. In which case you weren't being racist. Good luck with that.

Section 40 of the Act says that your employer must not harass an employee.

www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2010/15/section/40

Because your comments were in a work chat group, you were acting on behalf of your employer when you wrote your comments.

Section 26 defines harassment

26Harassment
(1)A person (A) harasses another (B) if—
(a)A engages in unwanted conduct related to a relevant protected characteristic, and
(b)the conduct has the purpose or effect of—
(i)violating B's dignity, or
(ii)creating an intimidating, hostile, degrading, humiliating or offensive environment for B.

www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2010/15/section/26

So it is all about how you made the other person feel, not about your intentions. There are a couple of get out clauses in section 26, but probably not enough to say you didn't harass then.

Best thing would be to apologise, be contrite and do the training.

But as we all know, the law is an ass and you can't be racist towards a white person.

OP he's being fucking ridiculous but is probably making a point because if he is "super patriotic" I reckon he's been pulled aside for something he's said in the past so probably making a point about "reverse racism"

I'm English and if I was in a predominantly English office and someone saying something disparaging about England it is not as hurtful as if you are the only Nigerian heritage person in an office and someone says something disparaging about Nigeria because the power dynamic of being a minority is totally different and because systemic racism/bigotry already faced by people of some nationalities is an actual issue.

However none of the nuance will probably wash with HR on paper and they will be being forced to take this seriously, so just make the right sorry noises and never do "banter" with this bunch of humourless twats again.

(By the way I can't see you being in any actual real trouble, and no doubt HR and your manager are eye rolling at having to deal with this inoffensive nonsense, so try not to worry too much and have a big fat glass of wine.)

I'd be flagging It up and hoisting it up.

OP, it's the "crosses to bear" in reference to being half English that's the problem. Try inserting Jewish, Asian, French etc into that sentence. I'm English and I'm respectful of everyone else, yet I'm supposed to be ok about a Scottish bloke at work saying "I hate the English". I wasn't by the way, and told him so, and was pretty shocked, but he shouldn't have been if he thought it through.

I'm far from the PC police and don't have any time for the authoritarianism and wokeness pervading our society, but I am sick of my nationality being freely insulted.

What a thing to whinge about. Lords the English aren't really an oppressed group in the lines of D&I are we?!

Hope it blows over for u

Come the fuck on now. People hate the English for a bloody reason, it is absolutely not the same as anti-semetism. Look at the (recent!) history of English oppression in Wales and then tell me how it is the same. Our ignorance on the shitty things our country has done is half the bloody problem.

Wow! That’s scary that that level of sensitivity exists in a grown up working environment. Very snowflakey. What type of industry do you work in? I guess that’s what happens when you socialise virtually with people you don’t know.

Your comments were surley about English football or rugby, not the nation😉 💐

You deserve an olympic gold for these mental gymnastics...

Sainted Jesus. When did "take things in the spirit they're intended" stop being the yardstick?

I'm as English as they come and could never get worked up about a comment like this even if it came from a colleague I knew genuinely hated the English and me personally; certainly not from someone like the OP whose intentions were so clearly lighthearted. It's gentle humour!

The next thing this colleague will be whining about is the fact no-one in the office will socialise with him (because they can't risk their jobs) and then he'll crybully people about that.

It really is remarkable to see people suggesting that if English were replaced by e.g. Indian, Chinese, Nigerian etc it wouldn't be acceptable. Just loudly walking around in the dark having decided against switching the light on.

This

Being Welsh is a nationality or ethnicity but it is not a race therefore you can't be racist.

@EscapeRoomToTheSun here you are illustrating my point completely. If you're going to get historical about it, my ancestry going back 2 generations, isn't English at all, its one of those which could claim persecution. Why not accept everyone should treat each other with respect. Grow up.