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?

I didn't structure my response in the best way, the OP asked how much shit she was in so I guessed their response to reassure her. It's not my own response as I don't think she's done anything wrong.

How completely ridiculous! Oh well you know now not to continue any kind of relationship with this colleague beyond work tasks.

As someone who is actually quite involved in I&D these kind of petty complaints are not helpful. Making a joke about English people in England in the context of a sports team is not offensive and it actually distracts from the real issues of bigotry that exist in most environments.

Anyway, I would write to your HR person, explain the context fully and apologise anyway. You can be the bigger person.

He is a twat, with no sense of humour, he is just using Woke as a convenience way to ram in/get one over you in some way or other,

To make himself appear more influencal than he really is maybe,

People like him are Ones who give Woke a seriously bad Rap really

It's become almost as offensive as a taboo swear word
Woke has now

The genuine meaning of the word Woke has been messed up really

This is actually mad! You're both half English and half Welsh and you're being accused of racism?!

I'm so sorry you're going through this. Please don't panic over the weekend. Hopefully it will be raised as a formality and forgotten. He needs to get over himself.

It's not racism if you are actually half english! Why would anyone be racist when they are of the race themselves! Ridiculous response from your co-worker..

Ffs calm down, dear 🙄

That’s your defence right there!

I'm half English half Scottish. My very patriotic Scottish friend has taken the piss in the past. It's funny.

Your coworkers are being absolute twunts.

I despair at the world really I do. It's so PC nowadays it's gone way too far the wrong way.

I'm so glad where I work is full of down to earth people. Your boss would die if he heard us. Especially our bosses!

Eee lass (I presume hope I didn't offend 😉) try not to worry about this. Don't be bullied. He's only reported you because it's written. Absolute CUrraNT he is.

I think it's because you made it sound like being Welsh was a cross to bear. Coming from an English person (even if you were also poking fun at yourself), it's not great.

Why am I not surprised that @monomatapea is a psychologist with the Public Sector?
Good god. People are becoming so pathetic.
Good luck OP. Hopefully it's nothing. Avoid that man like the plague from now on though.

Doesn't your friend mind? I must say I'm broad minded but that does sound off.

@Excessica

Bollox!

It's humourless lurks like you and OP's colleague that destroy good-natured office relations.

Errrrr this has nothing to do with racism.
your colleague is a prize t*.

YANBU OP

There's a few people in this thread I really wouldn't want to be stuck in a lift with as anytime soon 🙈 God help us.

@CuriousMama , I do wonder if your point about it being written has a lot of relevance. It could be that the OP is an anti-English bore, and having written it down the complainer took the opportunity to make a point. It might not be an isolated incident of racism (as defined in the Equally Act) by the OP, but it might be a rare incident of it being in writing.

Oh for gods sake, being English is not something that confers any sort of disadvantage or discrimination. It’s totally fair game for mocking.

🤣 Poor you. At least I'm half Scottish to dilute it 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🥃

Seriously! Not racist at all. Over sensitive colleagues

Apart from anything else what this thread shows is how carefully you need to tread at work.

I very much doubt you're right. I'm guessing the offended is just a twunt. In fact it's not even a guess.

I agree in this case it was overzealous, but people should speak up when they are made to feel uncomfortable at work. It is horrible to work in an environment where you don't feel you can.

Lucky bugger!

<groans under the weight of Englishness>

Agreed. You have to remember that you are not surrounded by friends, and always act professionally.

The safest thing is to never make a joke about anything or anyone ever and keep your office chat very neutral.

What a sad state of affairs. I suppose we can all sit then and self-deprecate.
Woe betide anyone who laughs though.

"I'm half English. We all have our crosses to bear."

That's self-deprecating humour. Perfectly acceptable in the context.

Why would anyone find that offensive?