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?

Ihave 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?

"Offence is not given, it's taken" - Mumsnetters.

You've chosen to take offence. Would you be less offended or offended at all if you didn't have family in France? Does that even matter? Would you have just ignored it or laughed along if he'd said a random country you don't care about?

Since he doesn't seem to have family in France, I guess he felt he could use it for his jokes. Apparently his choice was due to a lack of vested interest in France and your grievance is the opposite.

Got to be honest, have no idea why this is an issue. Talk about reading way way way too much into it. I simply took this to mean they should book somewhere closer to home and considered low risk.

Agreed

Absolutely right!

I would say you are being super sensitive. It’s a stupid joke at worst. Get over it.

You’re taking the joke out of context to fit your own sensitivities/ agenda lol

" Ayatollah Khomeini is a Shi ite".

Which was a statement of fact .....

With the most importance, are you stating that your manage h0as so little to do that they treat your utter nonsense as worth considering. I bet the whole office can't wait for you to retire !

Making it the opening story in the 2027 "Things that didn't happen annual".

"I am glad retirement is on the horizon."

Probably not as glad as your colleagues are....

Lighten up OP

Seriously? He obviously didn’t mean it. It was a joke! It’s been a long standing tradition between our two countries. I’m sure we’re the butt of many jokes, especially when they take so much money from us and fish in our waters. You could make a remark back and say well aren’t the French the ones now protecting our troops in Cyprus.

I mean I find it funny (making fun of the traditional hostility between France and the UK) but you don’t have to.

The persistent low productivity of the UK suddenly ceases to be a mystery.

I agree - but the whole point was that it was FUN! It must be totally miserable working in an office where you have to consider what you are going to say before you say it!

Op I think that you were absolutely right to raise it.
I really hate these casual xenophobic comments and jokes about other countries. Its toxic and it's weird and intimidating.

I'm also surprised to hear from so many managers on this thread that they wouldn't take it seriously.

Is that 3 now ?

Not a great joke, but first think I thought was his wife booked a holiday to France and he didn't really want to go.

Do you work in an office? Do share the details so people can avoid it.

Not sure why you’re surprised that people would give this complaint the contempt it deserves!

Many years ago ("back in the sanities" as I may well declare from now on) the best reaction to a schoolboy joke was not to act like a schoolgirl.

Possibly not as PC as it could have been expressed. But no one would argue with our 4'11" headmistress.

No I don't thank fuck. I have done before and I've never lasted long in those sort of big group environments! Awful if you don't fit in to the little cliques

This post definitely illustrates why too. They take a certain type of person.
I am autistic and I find stuff like that confusing and alienating.
I also find it really hard when there's rules about things, but they're only randomly applied/enforced.

I would have thought that someone making xenophobic comments or jokes in the workplace would definitely warrant that person being spoken to about it if someone made a complaint.

It’s not xenophobic, I also think you’re right not to work in an office.

This.
What exactly are you upset about?

That it bothered you in the first place is a sad indictment of what’s making any fun at work virtually impossible now. What’s beyond comprehension is that you are still mulling it over and posting on MN for opinion.