Colleague called me a relic at lunch, would you report it?

[Sacredbirman]

Had lunch with my colleague and a new intern. I was talking to the intern and she asked how long I had been in the company. I said over 20 years.
Other colleague said yes, she’s a relic.
Feeling a little hurt by this. My DD thinks I should report to HR.
What would you do? Already feel insecure in my job as HoD has made it clear he doesn’t want older women in his team (I am early 50s).
Part of me wants to just laugh it off but there is also a bit of background that he got my role when I had burnout and when I returned I wasn’t reinstated and then he was promoted to the same level as me.

Thing is he’s not. He’s mid 40s.

However the HoD is, around 20 years younger.

As a one-off, no- suspect she just meant part of the furniture.

Your boss on the other hand...

No. It will bring more trouble than it’s worth.

Dear god no don't report it. It's a throwaway reference to how long you have been there.

Absolutely not.

Are you in a union OP? The throwaway remark on its own may or not be enough to report, but if you've knowledge that someone is going to try to oust you, you need to have some support. I wonder how old the PP on this thread are that are telling you you're being ridiculous. I don't think you're being ridiculous at all.

What would you like HR to do?

Colleague was a he. I wouldn’t have been offended with part of the furniture. It was the use of the word relic.

Surely the time to say something was at the time?

'Excuse me colleague, that is pretty rude calling me a relic'

Probably get pissed off that a grown adult can't deal with a minor issue themselves and put a red marker against op name so she's known to be a problem

If your head of department has made it clear that they don't want older women in their team then they are the person that you should be reporting. Start recording any evidence with dates/times if you don't currently have evidence.

What does that mean. “He’s made it clear”

tell us more about this and why you haven’t addressed that with HR when you think an innocent light hearted comment is worthy of it.

There's not much point in reporting it as a standalone thing, but yes, calling someone in their 50's a relic is an ageist insult.

Just in case you think it isn't, the definition in my dictionary says that the word 'relic' means an artefact from times past or an ancient object of historical interest - but of little or no current use.

🤣🤣🤣 i was called a foetus after I called someone a fossil at work.

I thought it was helpful in this case.

I'd be more pissed off your HoD doesn't want "older women" in his team...does he extend that to older men as well?

God people report anything these days. Bet you told the teacher on everyone at school 😂

Already tried that one. Was told to drop it and try and get another job in the company.

Honestly not worth giving a second thought. The fact you have thought about it enough to tell your husband, post on MN and consider complaining means it's already taken up too much of your day.

Here's some more

• Good grief
• Ffs
• catch yourself on.

What does the poster expect to happen. She won't be told if colleague is told off which by the sounds of it is the worst that'll happen.

Sounds like you are proud of calling someone a fossil. Work is where we spend most of our waking hours and one doesn’t need that shit.

Get a life. Mark that one off too, although it's not directed at the OP.

I wouldn't report it as a one-off but if it is a pattern then keep notes. But IME it's better to keep your head below the parapet with HR unless it is either something very serious or you are absolutely certain they would take it seriously because of the ethos of the company.

I’m 42 but have been at the company longer than ANYONE else who works there and there are 67 people! I get called a fossil, a statue, a relic, part of the furniture weekly by various people and I do not care. It’s hardly offensive.

i would report it but say that you don’t want any action - it is ageist in my opinion and these things either need to be nipped in the bud early or - if they escalate - you need a paper trail to protect yourself