New colleague commenting on name

[Ifyouseeitsayit1983]

Felt a bit upset and annoyed today. Started a new job yesterday. Another person started at the same time. We were completing online training this afternoon and she saw my surname on the screen. She said 'how do you pronounce that?!?' with a derogatory tone. I told her. Now my name is not awful pronounced correctly but if pronounced incorrectly could be mistaken for a rude word for a man's private parts! After I told her the correct pronunciation she said 'oh I bet loads of people pronounce it the wrong way ha ha' and laughed. Now bear in mind I'd never met this woman before yesterday morning and she has already given off an air of superiority to the others in the team 'oh I could never drink instant' for example so not warming to her. I just laughed it off (name thing) but felt really down after. Don't want to put up with aholes like this in the workplace! Would u just ignore and try to stay away or say anything to line manager??

Dear Mrs Cockburn, hope you like your new job. No obviously don't complain and try not to take so much notice of what colleagues say. People say stuff to fill dead air.

Sometimes people can blurt out quite silly things without thinking. Especially when they’re in a new job. She might have thought it was a funny ice-breaker OP but without considering that it is a very tiresome joke when you’re the owner of said name. I wouldn’t go to a line manager about it. You’re both still settling in, just see how she behaves towards you in the future. It may be that she’s not your type of person and you just don’t gel. Chemistry is not just a romance thing, it plays a role in all our relationships. You don’t have to like everyone but you do have to find a way to muddle through with workmates so that you’re not dreading going into the office. Try not to let it get you down, it’s not worth the added stress when you have enough on your plate with the new job.

I mispronounced Cockburn once .. apparently pronounced Coburn .. not the way I said it, that made it sound like a horrible disease.

I don’t think you’re unreasonable to be upset. She sounds like a dick. Making a joke about someone’s name is a no go area unless you know them well and know they’re okay with it. Completely unacceptable from a new work colleague, in fact it could be classed as mild bullying IMO. Do not bring it up with your line manager or say anything about it to anyone. People will make up their own minds about her, as they will about you. You don’t want people to think you complain about every little thing all the time. Concentrate on making a good impression on your new colleagues, and be on your guard around this woman.

I'll go for Pinis or Ballas.

Is your first name Hyacinth?

If a new person started yesterday in any place I've worked and immediately complained about something it would be major red flag. It's like declaring you don't want to be a team player and you will be consistent trouble. Unless it was extremely serious, like criminal serious just keep your thoughts to yourself for the first few weeks.

Yeah she sounds like a total twat. But she also sounds like the sort of twat that will keep being twatty, and therefore seal their own fate. I agree with the kill through kindness approach.

@Ifyouseeitsayit1983 what you should reply to
I bet lots of people pronounce it wrong is
No. Only idiots.
Shut her down immediately.

dear mrs balloequex- you are taking the humf unecessarily-you are paid to work there not make friends.remarkable thing in life is other people-arent you. let it go

Reminds me of the time I worked for QVC over 25 years ago and i mispronounced a gentlemen’s name. His name
was Captain Bastard. He pronounced it B’stard a la Hyacinth but it’s easy done.

op this woman asked you how your surname is pronounced otherwise how would she know? She could have offended you either way really. Give her a chance and it will be soon clear if she’s a cow or not. Good luck in your new job!

Is your name Toja?

If it's any consolation I checked how client spelled his name and asked him if he was a Dock or a Dick. Mr Haddock was not impressed 😁 I still cringe twenty years later.

Voting for Koch here

My guess is Koch.

Snap.

I'm sorry she made you feel down. Starting a new job is hard enough without twats trying to mock you and hurt your feelings

What I will say is from your OP she will probably rub a lot of people up the wrong way very quickly. You don't need to do anything, she'll have enough rope to hang herself before long. Try and establish yourself as a friendly and reliable colleague with the rest of the team and outshine her shitty attitude. The trash will take itself out.

We must have done the same German at school 😂

Good old Fraulein Koch, going to Munchen.

Loads of weird responses on here as per.

It’s very rude to comment on someone’s name like that.

She was in the wrong, not you.

The time to say something was probably at the time (“Funny, I rarely get people pronouncing it wrong so it’s not usually an issue” or something like that). Don’t raise it to your manager now. But just keep an eye out around this woman. Don’t let her talk down to you.

My guess is Cox

There are definitely two types of people that don't like instant coffee.

Ones that just choose tea or water instead (like me).

And ones that need everyone to know that they don't like instant/can only drink filter/freshly ground/expensive bath water like it's some kind of defining characteristic.

If you are in the latter camp, and also think that it's ok to make stupid and inappropriate comments about someone's name on the first day you meet them at a new job, then we probably wouldn't make great friends either.

Which then takes out of 'Oh, don't be so stupid, why are you being sooooo oversensitive?' in the eyes of the MN School Bully Adult Development Programme into the 'Yeah, we're not continuing with your contract for taking the piss out of a colleague's name of non-English origin on your first day. We would have suggested you took our Diversity Awareness Course, but as it took you less than an hour to start this shit, just get your coat'.

Is it 'Dick?'
We had a teacher called ''Mr Dick'' and really it's not a problem if you say {as he did} ''I've never heard that joke before '' with a roll of his eyes.

Ignore it. I have had two surnames that needed knowledge to pronounce and just got on with it. Do not tell your line manager - they'll think you are a pernickity nutjob, really.

Ive had colleague who were names Koch... i did feel quite bad for her as everyone used to ask how to pronounce her name and, it did actually sound like.. cock. I liked her - she was great fun! Try not to feel and OP - youre prob extra sensitive as just started the job as well.