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 a very common phrase and I can’t imagine anyone of Christian faith being upset by it.

To be honest, I’m staggered that a grown man would be petty enough to raise this about a clearly light-hearted discussion about sports.

The world had indeed gone mad. And conducting yourself as though your boss’s boss was watching sounds like the path to true insanity.

Shame nowadays even what was once deemed "friendly rivalry " is deemed offensive.
Are sports fans no longer allowed to cheer their winning team lest they upset the losers?
I find the best way forward in these times is to say nothing in case someone is upset. One more reason I'm glad I'm no longer in the workplace!!
It's embarrassing how the world has become so snowflakey

@Imlookingatapicture can you imagine how Australians and British people are during the ashes?

If he's half welsh, what's his problem with beating the English? He sounds like a twat.

Apologise if you feel you have to for the whole situation to go away but exclude him from all future chats!

????

🏳Here’s a flag to colour in and wave.

Fancy reporting that. What a wally.

not necessarily if the issue is the phrase used.

Context isn’t relevant if the phrase itself is the problem. OP didn’t actually say “both teams are doing badly” after all; they said “we all have our crosses to bear” which could have negative connotations. It doesn’t really matter what she intended to say, as she chose to use that phrase instead.

Stick to the line that your cross to bear remark was about the performance of the national sports teams, in much the same way someone might say 'it is a sad day for the English' if England lost a match.

Completely deny that you were implying that being either English or Welsh is a bad thing to be.

Say that you understand it is unacceptable to disparage someone based on ethnicity, race or nationality, and that you did not expect your remarks which were made in reference to national sports teams to be taken as disparaging about ethnic groups you yourself belong to.

Avoid being dragged through a disciplinary by sticking to your sports team defence. Don't apologise as that implies guilt rather than a misunderstanding.

Suggest that in future perhaps works teams channels are used solely for work related conversation to avoid future misunderstandings.

I bet you're wild craic anyway

Just say you were talking about the team and sorry if he misunderstood that.

You are half English, so I don’t understand how you are racist towards yourself. I would not be apologising.

To the contrary you sound quite sensitive by referring to being professional at work as “true insanity”. I work in public sector, so have to conduct myself in a professional manner at all times. If my Teams messages saying that got leaked to the public, someone somewhere would have an issue with it unfortunately. Some roles just have higher stakes than others I suppose. I wouldn’t call it insanity to not give senior leaders ammo to use against you.

Too good !

Don't come in smoking a spliff and singing Saspan Fach. That's a definite no no.

I'm half Welsh, half English, brought up in England, AND a practising Christian (just to cover all suggested offence-giving bases) and I am BAFFLED as to how somebody found what you said offensive. Actually nonplussed. I'd have laughed if you'd said that to me and made a joke about us being two sides of the same coin or something!

Madness.

I would have read it that way anyway.

I'm half Welsh so not interested in the rugby makes no sense from him otherwise. Welsh people are not known for not being interested in rugby!

So, he's half Welsh, you're half English, and neither of you is much into the rugby this year (because it's Ireland's year ).

I am more than half Irish and more interested in the rugby this year than usual ...

Have a day off, will ya? 🤬🤬🤬

I think it's harmless banter and anyone who is offended by that is a bit of a tit.

Frankly , that whole post sounds quite insane to anyone living in the real world. Utterly barking mad .

I posted a 'as long as we beat the English meme'

This probably wouldn't have helped.

If he started the conversation but then said he had no interest in Rugby then it sounds a bit like he was trying to lead you into something like this.

It really does.

He is being absolutely ridiculous! I'm embarrassed for him.

Jeez. It was clearly a joke. It's pathetic.

I'm an England rugby fan and not even vaguely offended, he's a football fan so he's doing equivalent of rolling about on floor after being brushed upon of.

For people say diversity training you are hilarious, you do realise how much mandated training is mocked in real world as most of it is bullshit.

OP, the world has gone mad but unfortunately you have to play by the rules. By all means say you were referencing the rugby but add you did not mean to cause offence and offer a genuine apology.

Once this has past, remember that whoever complained is an utter twat and needs to be 100% avoided except when actually necessary.

Beware OP, this is likely to get picked up by the tabloids and anyone on your Teams chat will be able to identify you.

Do this 😂

Or say it was a reference to England doing badly as a team.

Christ alive, what madness. Hope it all blows over for you, OP.

Oh yes!!! Please be careful. There's a twitter account called mumsnetmadness and they take screenshots and it sometimes ends up in the tabloid too.

Or tabloids first and Twitter second! And this one will fire up a huge debate either way so they'll be VERY interested