To not want to go to Scotland for work?

[ohyesido]

I have a job I love, I am manager level but don't manage a team (thank heaven)

I have a line manager who delegates a lot of work to me, which I am mostly fine with, but I have noticed lately that a lot of high responsibility level tasks are being completed by me.

The latest request is for me to travel to Scotland and undergo some training that I will then roll out to my manager's direct reports.

I don't want to do this as it's an environment that may not be particularly friendly as the Scottish office were an acquisition that wasn't welcomed by the employees in situ. I have Scottish parents and grew up in Edinburgh so I have nothing against the Scottish people, I just think they will not be welcoming me due to circumstances.

AIBU to refuse to go?

Rivalry is banter between us jocks and English. Remember that thing we used to before everything was offensive.

There's more trouble at an Arsenal v Tottenham match than Scotland v England rugby or football game.

I say all this as a Scottish person who was in the military.

As a Scot, I find the suggestion that a group of Scottish workers would automatically “shun” a visiting colleague purely because they’re English to be absolutely deplorable. Honestly, it’s a disgusting misconception.

But you can't cope with the thought of low level shunning?
Of course it won't be nice if everyone ignores you or worse but you are there to do a job not make friends so go and be professional and then come home
Preferably picking up some tablet as a souvenir

@MemorableTrenchcoat I think I might be shunned as a minion from head office rather than because I'm English by residency.

Lions den? What an over-reaction. Its Edinburgh, not Mogadishu!

How would you describe it?

From what you have said so far that’s exactly what it is, but TBH is all seems VERY odd.

If you can explain more people might understand better. Is it possible you have some kind of unresolved trauma relating to the move from Scotland?

Don’t be daft, OP.

The lions’ den? You’d think they were sending you to west Belfast at the height of the Troubles.

This is one of the maddest things I've seen.

Unfortunately it’s just part of being a grown up. This year I have to West Coast US, Japan and Finland. I fucking HATE leaving the house with a passion to do the school run! I work from home in my slippers 95% of the time and have a young family but it’s what I get paid to do so hey-ho, it’s off to work i go!

I think both you and your manager need to get a grip really.

Apart from the fact that most people don't give a rats ass (and the others generally keep their opinions to themselves at work) you're there to do a job. So, put your big pants on and rise to the challenge.

Well you still come across as if you were 12 so there’s that.

Haha yeah thank you for the brutal advice

If this was a company in England and you were just going to the next city, would you be feeling like this?
You’re clearly feeling like this because they’re Scottish, not because it’s a company your firm acquired. So… grow up.

Good grief. Go, do the training. Come home.

I wouldnt go. Not your job or responsibility, unless you are eyeing promotion at some point of course. Also not the point of the thread I no but if you were born in Scotland to Scottish parents doesn't that make you Scottish 😂

And if the other place was not in Scotland?

@Quinlan no that's not the case. I'm actually fine with Scotland and I'm looking forward to seeing Edinburgh again, I just worry that I may have been given this task because others don't want it

Nailed it. Go - be friendly, professional, get the job done, come back.

Have you considered that you boss might be training you up for promotion? You even acknowledged that you're increasingly taking on higher level tasks. This trip is the next step up on the promotion mentoring which you've not had the wisdom to realise. So maybe you're not management level as your boss had hoped. If this was my work place then by not going you'll blow any further chance of promotion & higher level mentoring.

This is hilarious! I am Scottish, and a massive rugby fan. My daughters boyfriend, who I love, is English and a massive rugby fan. We will no doubt have some banter over text today (Calcutta Cup!) But there will be no "hostility "!
Honestly, Scottish people can get on with English people, believe it or not!! No one is going to come at you with a broadsword!

See@ThePlatypusAlwaysTriumphs that is the kind of articulate and pragmatic answer I hoped for thank you

The vast majority of people don't think like you about Scottish people, thankfully.