Discriminination in the workplace - By speaking as my colleagues put it "posh"

ceridwen

paulwf wrote: »

A very wise post. I don't think the legal or the HR route is the right route to take here as it won't earn you the respect of your staff. You might have to "dumb down" a bit and use shorter words, and although I wouldn't try and impersonate another accent try and be a bit less clipped (I have the same problem coming from far down south).

If you aren't into trashy ITV stuff like X factor and I'm A Celebrity it might be worth forcing yourself to watch so you have something to chat about with your colleagues...as a bloke who is not into football or boxing I do sometimes find it hard to find common ground to talk to colleagues at work. They were taking the mickey last week because I like to shop at Waitrose not Lidl *sigh*

:rotfl::rotfl: - but then O.P. would have wasted their time/energy watching a T.V. programme that they thoroughly disliked (presumably...) in order to "fit in". That would mean having less time available for their "own" interests

...and as for admitting if one doesnt even have a t.v. in the first place:rotfl:

I was thinking about this sort of situation recently and thinking "I guess if one doesnt fit in to the type of job one has - then bullying of some description is pretty likely - as, at some level, the other staff want someone like themselves filling that position and possibly have a friend/neighbour/relative in mind that they would prefer to have that job instead". I guess the thing is that many people want the people around them to be people similar to themselves - whatever that happens to mean - in whatever context they are in. Hence some of them will try to either get the "swan" to turn into a "duckling" or try to bully them out. Why cant people just accept that they are one sort of person and you are another - in whatever way/from whatever viewpoint one is coming - and as long as they stick to the rule of "do no harm" than whats the problem in that?

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Anyways - O.P. now has a more suitable job - so CONGRATULATIONS to you:D

poet123

I agree, but it is human nature to group together with likeminded people, it is also human nature to try to influence or control others so that they become more like you. The trick is to recognise that in yourself and actively guard against it.

I work with several vegans/veggies and they try to make others modify their eating habits if we go out for a meal, they show their distaste for certain meat products facially and vocally. Some people do modify their choices to keep the peace, I refuse to do that, I eat lamb, I like lamb, and if I m eating out will choose what I want to eat regardless of my companions ethical or moral stance on that. I believe in the philosphy of do unto others, and try not to push my views on any subject onto others. Adults should be able to mix with anyone but retain their own life values, and not feel the need to have them vindicated by converting others to their ideals.

inmypocketnottheirs

paulwf wrote: »

If you aren't into trashy ITV stuff like X factor and I'm A Celebrity it might be worth forcing yourself to watch so you have something to chat about with your colleagues...as a bloke who is not into football or boxing I do sometimes find it hard to find common ground to talk to colleagues at work. They were taking the mickey last week because I like to shop at Waitrose not Lidl *sigh*

Until I read this post, I had felt very much alone!