Would you report offensive message in a group work chat?

[ChilliPB]

As the title says really. A pretty offensive meme sent as ‘banter’ (not funny and genuinely offensive). It was sent in a group chat - a non-official WhatsApp chat with over 50 people, used for social chat. We have a separate more official group chat for work related stuff.

Options are to pick it up individually with the person (who I don’t know and have never met). Or flag direct to HR. Or flag up to HR but not disclose what was said or who said it and hope they could send a stern but general reminder about behaviour and conduct and the individual wouldn’t actually be identified.

Appreciate its a non-official chat but even so. Really likely to offend some of the members there and also it’s the sort of job where if it came out it would look awful, and I’m worried those that don’t report it could also be in trouble as complicit.

What would you do?!

HR would pretend to care but in reality they'd laugh at the meme and at the OP for grassing it up.

@EagerGoldViper I very much doubt that HR will be laughing if they find themselves dealing with a harassment case. It doesn't matter whether the harassment and discrimination took place in work hours or not. Nor does it matter whether messages were sent from a work phone or a private phone. All that matters is that the individuals involved were employed by the organisation.

If you feel that strongly then call it out on the WhatsApp chat. Don't involve HR though

That would be like reporting someone for what they said down the pub after work if it's not an official group.

I would just say in the group that it's offensive and ask them to remove it. Surely it doesn't need anymore drama than that.

This.

Depending on your career and what was said you could be prosecuted if you don't report it.

Tell that to the Met Police officers who faced disciplinary action for not escalating horrible racist / sexist commentary on a WhatsApp chat……

Bloody hell. The thought police are real.

I agree.
Whenever I see 'grass/ noone likes a grass' i immdediately think the the person stating it ignorant and hasn't grown up past the playground mentality stage/age.
How old are they?12

Bollocks.

That phrase is exactly why so many crimes go unpunished and so many criminals get away with things. People turn a blind eye because they are cowardly. It's exactly why Wayne Cousins could do what he did.

Report away OP. If more people spoke up the world would be a less shitty place.

God you sound like the sort of person that could be described as a right cunt by some people.
Don't take offensive, unless you are a pathetic snowflake.

Yes, it would and that situation could also be considered as workplace discrimination. I am really surprised that people don't know this, it's been covered in every workplace equalities course I've been on!

Really likely to offend some of the members there and also it’s the sort of job where if it came out it would look awful

Reading this again, I would 100% take a copy of the message and report to HR. It sounds like a harassment case and the business could be financially liable. If you don't report it then you may well be considered complicit.

Attitudes like EagleGoldViper’s are why things like that Met WhatsApp chat exist.

Are you in a regulated profession? If so this kind of thing gets investigated and reported all the time. If you’re not their line manager or supervisor and their line manager or supervisor is not on the group, I’d probably bring it to their attention and then it’s for them to resolve.

Well I think its a bit much to go from nothing to involving work. They will ask what you said, did you object etc and your answer will be "I didnt say/do anything" which makes you look a bit wimpy.

Personally I would go for a message on the group, quoting it, saying "I am not ok with this. It is racist/sexist/whatever it is, and I dont think its ok to share this, much less on a work group chat." And then go from there.

You will probably find that the "thumbs up" on your message will be high and the asshole will not do it again. Sounds like he doesnt get "ok for mates, not ok for work" so think of it as part of his education.

Why not just call the poster out directly? I really don't understand why people feel the need to go to HR all the time.

Completely disagree. It is not OPs job to confront the harasser.

If she does this then she then puts herself at risk of retaliation, and will no longer have the ability to report the incident confidentially.

I expect that the workplace will have a procedure that should be followed if you witness bullying or harassment, and it's unlikely to involve confronting the perpetrator yourself.

OP, you said you don't know this person other than them being in the chat, in which case are you really going to find it easy to approach them personally as you suggested? I guess that's why you are leaning towards plan B of contacting HR.
The likely outcome of which will be the group being shut down and everyone advised to only chat via the official one. Which is as it should be, this group should never have existed in the first place, because a situation like this occuring is pretty predicable. You all decided to join it knowing some people in life don't have filters and say crap without thinking.

Why should OP get herself into a potential confrontation with the harasser? This would be a really stupid thing to do IMO.

Rubbish. 'The harasser'? She doesn't even know him.
Calling out an inappropriate and offensive post and asking that it be removed is exactly what should be done first. It also gives the OP an idea of 'who' else is in that group by their responses and whether she should even bother being part of it.
Depending on the response, HR may very well be the next step. But straight to HR, no. Yes to a screenshot though

So you're a grass? And want to potentially get someone fired? Unless it's to do with peadophiles or something else of the like I'd just stop being such a busy body

This.

but youareverynosey

Me too.

It sounds as though it was in very poor taste.

Say so! I'm surprised others haven't. I wouldn't tolerate that and if others do, leave the group chat.

On a group chat with more than 50 people
Alot that you dont know…
I wouldnt of even joined in the beginning

Reply directly to the meme.
‘Thats offensive’
Then either screen shot ‘for your own back up incase someone reports’ and stay in group or reply then screen shot then leave

Guess it depends what you get from the group

I would have responded directly in the chat "that's inappropriate/offensive"