To think colleagues joke was NOT acceptable?

[LaurenkI]

My team has a meeting every Monday (virtual) and there’s always chat at the start about weekends etc. One of my colleagues said he’s worrying because his holiday plans for the year include already booked trips to Cyprus and Dubai. Another colleague then said ‘any chance you can book a trip to France next’ and he got a few laughs.

I have family in France, as does another colleague I’m aware of. Is it me or is this type of ‘joke’ really inappropriate given the current climate?

Of course they do.

I took my son over to France for 3 weeks for the Euro’s and every place (campsite) we stayed at, the French (and Germans and Dutch) took the piss out of the English and we returned the compliment. The first camp site we were on, the manager made sure all his staff knew that I had asked for a potatoe juice instead of an apple juice (in French) and they took the piss out of me for the whole week. My son thought it was great. They took the piss out of us because they couldn’t understand our Northern accent. We had a great time and thought our French hosts had great sense of humours.

You should have heard the jokes and piss taking between the Germans and the French. It was brilliant and no one took offence.

I suspect most of your colleagues (including your Manager and HR) are delighted that you are retiring soon.

Bore on - be professionally offended!

Not worth getting excited about.

I woukd imagine your colleagues are also glad that your retirement is on the horizon. You sound utterly exhausting.

It definitely made Paul Golding redder in the face than usual when I said it to him, but thats a pretty unique crowd I'll give you that

OP probably doesnt get invited. Parties are meant to be fun 😁 😂

Oh definitely, I've read much of the Welsh folklore that might reference this figure, as well as the Brittanic French sources. Or he's potentially a Roman, historically speaking! But many of these guys think they're on King Arthurs side, a true British King for them, when actually he'd likely gut them in battle as invaders.

And there it is.

'DFrench'

Total wind up. Would almost say 'well played OP' except after consideration I'm still going for kind of lame.

Honestly, people getting (or pretending to get) offended by a little bit of good natured banter is utterly tiresome. Why don't you report it to HR? Or the police, even? Maybe they'll consider it a hate crime and drag your colleague through the mud for it? That'll shut them up. And you'll get to feel like you're making society a better place, despite doing the precise opposite.

Weirdly, on my one billionth trip from my old home to my new home today I was listening to the 'You're Dead to Me' podcast and it was the Legends of King Arthur: from medieval literature to modern myth episode with Mike Wozniak - lots of references to the Mabinogion! I really enjoyed it in between hefting boxes!

Oooh good shout, I'm going to queue that up on Spotify now!

Fuxache no wonder people don't want to go back to the office.

It wasn't remotely funny, just stupid. I'd be pretty pissed off if a colleague said that, tbh. I wouldn't complain about it to management though - but I'd probably plan my comeback next time the twat opens his mouth.

We’re boycotting France and the French. Can’t remember why now, it was something that happened during Covid with Macron I think. Peri brain. The only thing I miss is croissants tbh.
I feel sorry for your colleagues. It must be insufferable working with you.

This must be a wind-up, surely?

Heartily agree.

I'm going to guess that your collegues are looking forward to your retirement as well.....

I am increasingly grateful as each day passes that I no longer have to work with other humans and put up with nonsense like this….

Good for you. If more people were like you the world would be a better place.

I may get reported now!

This made me laugh. Then I panicked it was offensive to auditors.
My French family refer to us british cousins as Roast Beefs. We flick them the V's. That's it.

I can't imagine working at ops place. Imagine being pulled up for this, it's a bit tasteless but clearly the company culture is one of informality at the start of a team meeting. Goes with the territory.

Op, why don't you just dial in 10 mins after the start, of you think all this chat is inappropriate.

DLOL! 😆

Have you met every single French person? They can be rude, arrogant, obnoxious and downright unfriendly. My French colleagues mock us Brits for our weather and how miserable we are, for being a low pay country making us cheap to retain, our food etc. It isn't a personal attack anymore than colleague's comment was an attack on your family.

If one of my team emailed me to complain about this I would have to tell them get the butt plug out of your arse it may hurt less

It's a bit DDaft isn't it?