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?

This x a million.

I note the Irish are discriminated against by not having a proper flower - just a clumpy weed kind of thing. Typical of England to nab the best one.

I would ask for a recording of the conversation and witness statements

It is getting to the stage, where you dare not say anything these days as someone might be upset 😳

Have you seen Thistles? They are cool. Proper spiky things.

Could be construed in many ways.... if you are half English and half welsh - its a cross to bear (ie an unpleasant/uncomfortable position to be in) if England play Wales because as who could you choose to support. Or were you saying its 'a cross to bear to be' Welsh, English or Welshlish - not so good. But I suspect someone complained about his World Cup banter and now he's looking make a point to HR.

🙄
The "protection" actually refers to protection from discrimination based on said characteristic.

It's not a licence to squeal about hurt feelings when you hear what is obviously meant as jokey banter, and demand apologies from bemused people who hadn't realised you were actually a complete fucking muppet.

You've never worked in an English ambulance service then clearly

Apologise if you have to (don't risk your job over it).
Make the apology public (copy everyone who was on the call) so they know how ridiculous it is.

Refuse to engage on Teams or Zoom again. Turnoff camera and mic, don't use chat function. Dial in if required and if challenged on this, say the format is open to misinterpretation and it makes you feel uncomfortable. Be available for face to face , phone meetings.

I do love them of course (see user name). And best rugby anthem 😀

I am a Welsh person living in England and I've had my fair share of sheep shagging banter type jokes over the years

I was at a Welsh university in the early 70s. When asked if I was going to matches at the Arms Park, my usual response was that I was going to watch on TV and be humiliated for being English for free rather than be expected to pay for it.

He's being a cry-baby over absolutely nothing. I'd do what I felt I had to do to keep TPTB happy, but I'd stop bothering with that particular colleague beyond whatever communication is required for the job. No more friendly conversation directed at him, because he's shown that he can't handle normal human interactions like an adult.

Well, yes, this.

Presumably you are half welsh / half English, and he is also half welsh / half English?

So I don't really see that any "offensive" he has taken is founded.

Quite aside from that he sounds like an arsehole. I've been lucky enough never to work with anyone as petty and tedious as that.

I feel for you OP. But please try not to worry. It's absolutely not racist. Xenophobic at worst but even that is stretching it. Being English is not a protected characteristic.

But, I mean, it was a comment about yourself, it wasn't even about him. How frustrating.

Absolutely this.

Reactions like this to a fairly innocuous comment completely undermine serious efforts to welcome diversity and create truly inclusive workplaces.

It wasn't racist. It could of course be construed to be slightly anti English but given that you were poking fun at your own heritage and that English people are unlikely to be regularly marginalised and misunderstood in your workplace then everyone should just move on.

She joked we all have our crosses to bear…suggesting that the colleague who is half welsh is carrying the same cross.

The way I read it it’s a self deprecating remark about BOTH nationalities

All he did was expose his own rampant xenophobia and I'd put in a counter complaint.

How rediculous. This world is becoming beyond petty and we are letting those few pathetic people run it. We should all stand up to this shit.

Precisely. I can well see that the op may have technically breached a policy here - which is almost certainly why the manager needs to follow up since a complaint has been made - but I also see that this is qualitatively nothing like disparaging comments made about someone being gay or disabled. I can also imagine a situation where someone experiences genuine discrimination on the basis of being in a generally privileged group - but this ain’t it.

The complainant here is weaponising policies in bad faith and it’s depressing to see posters chiding the op.

I was just going to say that!

We won’t be able to speak soon for fear of offending someone!

Just re-quoting this as agree is a great response!

Do not do this.
But do not treat your colleagues like friends. Talk about work and nothing else.

FFS !! Read the OP. It’s not xenophobia - they’re both 50/50 English/Welsh and the comment was in respect of the Rugby. How is that xenophobic ?

Yes, it sums the whole thing up, really.
@monomatapea up in arms about protected characteristics whilst clearly having failed to grasp the basic premise.
A bit like the muppet colleague.

For those who think we still have free speech in the UK, think again.

What an absolute crock of shit. If your colleague is genuinely offended by that then I suggest they don't get out of bed in the morning.

You have said absolutely nothing that is offensive there, OP.

It's not on to make disparaging remarks about nationalities even if it is your own.