dave99

I have been working at a new job about a month and I have been getting a lot of jokey comments and put downs from one guy about being english. I have just shrugged it off and laughed along as you do. Until it came to a head yesterday.
I got a hostile angry lecture from him about how he hates the english, I got called all sorts, but the one that stuck in my gut the most was being called a second class citizen.
I worked hard and spent a lot of money to get citizenship and it bothers me to think that aussies would think of it as some kind of charity, lower class citizen.

Has anyone else had this attitude from an aussie?,
I have to sit next to this guy in the office everyday and I am a bit unsure how to deal with this next week, any advice would be appreciated.
Thanks

Pollyana

Tell him to stop with the racist comments or you will report him to your supervisor/manager.

newjersey

Or piss in his coffee cup. If he asks why you are smiling when you see him taking a sip, just say - "nuthin' "

Still Game

Yup. All Aussie's do not feel like that and he is completely out if line. He's either trying to get a rise out of you in what he thinks is a clever way, it's not, or feels threatened by you. Or maybe both. He's being racist and you do not need to put up with it. If he tries it on again say, loudly in other people's presence with a smile in your face, "that's another racist comment I'll just pop into the notebook I'm compiling to hand to hr/manager and would he care to make anymore just now, or later on?" If that doesn't shame him then really do make a note and raise it. You are not a second class citizen and don't let anyone tell you you are. Same sort if thing happened to me in Scotland (I'm Aussie, lived in UK for 11 years) and this worked a treat.

abi31

Or you could just, again loudly and within hearing of others, ask him why he's being such a fool and tell him all he's proving is that he must have a second class education. Or something. (Just conscious that Aussies are pretty famous for not liking people who 'whinge' and, even if your other colleagues think he's an idiot, taking it down official channels might make them side with him).

Stand up to him like the bully he is. (And tell him that's what you're doing - in front of others that's gotta make him feel small.)

Oh yeah, and he's not being racist - he's being a xenophobe - so you could chuck that word at him and blind him with semantics

Alfresco

Deal with it pronto Dave. Don't let it carry on.

http://au.reachout.com/Factsheets/A/...place-bullying

Zen10

This is harassment and bullying in the workplace and also of course because you are being singled out it is racial discrimination. It would be easier for all parties to see if he were ranting in this way at a Vietnamese person but happily in law there is no distinction. I would have a word with him and tell him to can it or it's going to the boss. If it continued I would go to the boss and inform him that if it continues I will be forced to take it elsewhere. From your previous posts I believe you are in WA?? So -

"In Western Australia, racial discrimination is unlawful in the areas of education, employment, access to places and vehicles, provision of goods and services, accommodation and land, and clubs. The Western Australian Act also has specific provisions making racial harassment unlawful in the areas of employment, education and accommodation.

Under the Western Australian Act, "race" includes colour, descent, ethnic or national origin and nationality. The Western Australian Act also makes it unlawful to discriminate against a person on the ground that the person has a relative or associate who is of a particular race."

Don't let it go on or you will get ground down and depressed. This person is not only being a dickhead he is also breaking the law and bringing the company you work for a lot of potential legal problems.

elice_in_oz

Add to that a pointed question, such as "your last name is 'Smith' (or whatever assuming it is an English/whatever-sounding name) isn't? That doesn't sound too indigenous Australian does it? When did your parents/grandparents get off the boat? And where they born Australian?"

Beat him at his own game. Unless he is Aborigine, I doubt he will be able to prove that his entire lineage is Australian.

commonwealth

i am an economy class citizen.

irishbloo

Speak to HR immediately or to a manager.Nip it in the bud.He will just continue and keep picking on you.No doubt this isn't the first time and wont be the last unless someone stands up to him.Good luck.

emmaosh

Acquiring Aussie citizenship does not make you a second class citizen. It's tough in a new job but your other colleagues probably know what he is like, obviously he is not the brightest on the planet.
My advice is either play it cool, show no reaction and hopefully he will get bored of it or you go on the offensive. If you go offensive i would recommend trying it with humour. Next time he says he hates English people just try a line like 'what happened, did a pommie sleep with your girlfriend?'
If it persists then unfortunately you may have to go officially to your boss, if he is as stupid as he seems they probably will know already, good luck.

GarryP

Tell him to stop AND report his racist comments to your manager.

These type of people WILL screw you over in some way, at some time. Even if they don't move him, by reporting his comments you give yourself some protection if he does fabricate something.

Ahh, office politics - why don't they teach this in schools?

Tramps_mate

Write down everything he says, including date, time and where, then go to his superior. He won't be laughing then..

Tramps_mate

or just punch him in the face with a brick..

Margaret3

When i first started my job i was in a similiar position, I was getting lots of hurtful comments from the asian doctors and nurses (which is about 50per cent of our workforce). I eventually lost my rag and telephoned our clinical educator to come down, and told her of the event that had unfolded (it was lots of comments about my accent, but the repetition began to get to me). Her and I then approached the doctor and nurse involved. I told him i was very offended at these repeated remarks and the next time i would be reporting it to H.R, .......... worked a treat, especially as he replied, oh your just like the indian nurses??, word soon got around the dept that i wouldnt take the shit! and funny enough everyone seemed to get better at understanding my accent!!