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 think this man sounds like a real knobnhead and not very bright to say the least.No brained idiot and doesent like women.

I live in a huge enclave of Virtual Signallers and Wokes and what you said would not count as Virtual Signallng to me.

He probably doesnt even know what the term means.

Forget HR for now But keep a diary if he makes any more remarks
.,,🌻

It was very rude but why would you report it to HR? Unless you are saying it’s discriminatory, racist, or bullying I’m not sure what you would expect them to do.

You could mention it to your manager as something which embarrassed and upset you, because if it impacted your performance they would need to know.

Other than that it’s a personal issue to resolve yourself.

As a side note, the whole discussion sounds very unprofessional and I’m surprised the most senior person there didn’t nip it in the bud.

Are you 5?

I am a Lancastrian and would have confronted him. The thought of reporting him to HR would not cross my mind.

This is interesting. You can only complain if it’s considered protected but other than that you should get over it. Classic.

Reporting this kind of thing rebounds against the person who does it. Not explicitly, but eyebrows get raised, people start wondering if the reporter is ‘suitable’ for certain assignments or is ‘perhaps a bit sensitive’, etc. She will never know why she is not being taken seriously.

If a pattern emerges that affects OP’s work or well being, defo. Presumably that would be weighty enough that people would find the complaint reasonable. In this case, OP’s first instinct was to minimise! (I agree a witty riposte would have been great but hindsight is a wonderful thing) Her colleague was stirring

Scouser AND HR...so neither protected characteristics haha.
Honestly, this is just an ignorant individual who has a bee in their bonnet. Probably got form for making stupid comments like this regularly
Unless you really want to rock the boat ignore them and I say that in the nicest way possible, as this type then trot out the 'All Scousers are victims ' when you pull them on it.
Come on girl, you know this wetwipe sausage isn't worth your time. Head up high and quit smile quizzically when they say it next, asking what do you mean, whilst being politely confused....smiling. They'll feel foolish and back down.

Woukd agree 100% .... check your colleague's motivation here.
A good colleague would have pulled the person to one side and said enough, now.

I think you’re both in the wrong tbh, isn’t it common sense to not discuss politics at work? No one needs to know your opinion on benefits.

I'm been in this situation before. These scumbags are all over the country. Report him.

No. HR is not your mummy, it has a specific function. It serves the business, through the management of its workforce.

They wouldn’t be interested in this, unless it was part of a pattern of behaviour that might have wider consequences.

I would probably say ‘yep typical scouser giving a shit about others’ !

Very sensible! I wish everyone who crossed my path in a work day was as pragmatic.

If you can fight your own battles, do.

If you’re public sector go to HR. Make sure you note all the comments anyone makes to you over the next year. Then you can sue the taxpayer when you have enough of them.

if you’re private sector, brush it off. Your card will be marked as one of “those” people and you’ll find yourself in firing line during the next wave of redundancies.

<only half joking>

Obviously you missed my point by an absolute mile. It was not about HR it was about the hypocrisy on mumsnet. Read again. You might get it. Probably won’t though.

Surely you have it, not lack it? And I don't think the French use it much if ever.

Beware “friends” who give bullets to fire. They witnessed a poor behaviour so could have reported it themselves. Point that out and see what response you get.