Would you go to HR about work colleague’s budget comment

[Rayaj]

I brushed this comment off but a colleague I spoke to earlier thinks I should look to report it.

I am a Northerner working down South. My line of work meant our team had a close eye on the budget.

On our team call on Thursday, someone was being very vocal about benefits. I spoke up to say I’m glad that those who need looking after in Society are taken care of. He basically replied ‘typical scouser, always wanting something for nothing’ which I refuted there and then.

I didn’t really think anything more of it until my colleague mentioned it to me today.

Was I right to brush it off and not report?

I'm a Scouser and this shit is bloody annoying and boring. It happens all the time when I'm working outside of the city, I find a quick come back and embarrassing the offender the best way to respond.

I wouldn't bother reporting but I'd remember it and as we say in Liverpool, "make an absolute show of him," when I got the chance.

Same here.

As a one off single comment, calling it out there and then is the most effective and professional approach. Well done.

If it becomes a systematic pattern, then thats at a level where it’s worth considering reporting.

I’m from the midlands and get slammed constantly at work and in life for it 😂 I wouldn’t go to HR over that. I think one of the bigger issues is talking politics in a professional forum and the fact he thinks it’s ok to dig you out in front of people. But that can be addressed but a quick one liner at the time.

The guy was a jerk but I agree anyone suggesting you report this does not have your best interests at heart. If you do, you will look precious and I think it will work against you in the long run.

Sure, note it privately and if a pattern becomes clear do something then.

How is what OP said 'virtue signalling'? I suppose it was also 'woke' and 'PC gone mad'. Stupid comment.

I would have whipped his arse on the team call, before reporting.

As the time has passed, I wouldn't report now, I would send him an email to say that he was highly inappropriate and if it happens again, you'll be reporting, use email to keep track of the conversation.

A lot of people think making class remarks is acceptable. I personally think it is up there with other derogatory remarks.

This is a perfect response

Hr are not mummy and daddy, I personally would feel very poorly about you if you came running to tell me like a small child.

L’esprit d’escalier.

This @Rayaj would you be complaining and reporting all those who are gleeful about the budget changes? Saying things like “fuck these high earners in London, glad they’re paying more! They’re all selfish bastards!”

What business is it of HR who anyone supports politically?

As a scouser, like @Bedtelly I find this stuff boring and tedious.
Im more offended by the remarks that all Scousers are thieves and drug dealers.
Im 60 and been getting this all my life. I even remember being asked to leave Harrods when I was on a school trip when I was 16.
Its interesting that I don't have a particularly scouse accent, northern yes but not scouse so not immediately identifiable. But its not been a rare experience that attitudes have changed when people find out where I'm from.
As being a Scouser is not a protected characteristic there is no point going to HR, unless the remarks become persistent.

Roll your eyes, exaggerate a yawn and ask if he has something more imaginative to say.

As an aside, I now live in Coventry and the number of being sent to Coventry 'jokes' are similarly tedious and boring.

You and your colleague need to get a fucking grip.

Let the colleague report it if they were offended.

I don't think it's reportable, more of one to keep an eye on. Unfortunately (as a northerner and LFC fan myself) there are some really quite spiteful and vicious beliefs about the character of scousers tied into football disasters, dislike of the Conservatives and police because of them, dislike of the accent etc. It's not the same as pisstaking someone from Somerset about combine harvesters.
If you want to see examples, they are all over the media today regarding a particular road rage incident in the city centre.
If he does it again, I would speak to his line manager and informally tell them he needs to stop it.

Your colleague is hoping to become a member of the Stasi. At one time, in East Berlin, the number of citizens reporting on each other reached epidemic proportions. The UK is heading the same way.

"A significant portion of the denunciations had to do with plans to flee East Germany, particularly people who had permits to travel to the West and who had no intention of returning. But the smuggling of hard currency and excessive consumption of alcohol also caught the eye of observant DDR citizens. Receiving packages from the West was likewise viewed with suspicion -- and those who were assigned an apartment or car more rapidly than others were often targeted for revenge by envious neighbors. Even extra-marital affairs were reported"

"A West German businessman, for his part, offered his services as an informant during a convention in Leipzig. "I would like to give you a tip pertaining to the smuggling of pornography into the DDR. Write down the following: ... was a former DDR resident who has since emigrated to West Germany. The smuggler is currently in Leipzig...This is a small payback because he badly harassed me and talked very poorly of your country. This is a bit of revenge!"

www dot spiegel.de/international/germany/east-german-domestic-surveillance-went-far-beyond-the-stasi-a-1042883.html

Only a vicious, bullying creep would report anyone for a daft, offhand remark. I am often very offended by jokes and offhand comments about Scottish people, but as a normal person I just move on.

Such wannabe Stasi members will use slurs to try to defend their awful behaviour - but only a wannabe member of the Stasi would even consider such a report.

Dolores Umbridge and her supporters are alive and well and loudly and proudly moving among us.

Of course you shouldn’t report it. We don’t quite live in a police state yet and people are allowed to have opinions even if some people find them offensive.

Pour me a glass of whatever you're glugging.

Hi Dolores! I often find that people who project about drinking have a drinking problem themselves. Good luck with that.

When you talk politics your going to hear shit you don’t want to

avoid sex politics and religion for work harmony

And Dolores will then additionally report you for imbibing a poor innocent righteous one!

Dolores well might report my fair response, Dolores types do hate it when their attempted burn falls flat - but I am not keen on being a member of the Stasi, so won't be reporting their pointless attempt to silence/shame/demean me for making a valid point.

Avoiding talking about politics at work is generally a good idea.

No I wouldn't report it, I don't think getting HR involved in petty arguments is a good idea. I'd have dealt with it at the time if it bothered me or just move on now the moment has passed.

Since when is giving a shit about other people 'full scale virtual signalling'? What a bizarre take.