Re: Called a Second Class citizen this week
 

:lol:.......oh that was in my head every day for a long time:lol:

Re: Called a Second Class citizen this week
 

Sorry Mags,haven't a clue what you just said.Could you repeat it please.:D

Re: Called a Second Class citizen this week
 

A friend of mine kept getting called Pom instead of his name at work and even though he asked them to stop it continued. he then started calling them all 'convict' instead of their name. He was pulled up by the boss about it as the others had complained about him but when the boss heard why he was doing it they all got called in and told to stop x

Re: Called a Second Class citizen this week
 

Its totally different at work now, been there nearly 5 years and everyone has got used to me and my accent, infact am knocked off guard now when someone doesent:lol:, ......... but asians still struggle with it, but at least they are not rude about it now.:)

Infact last week i was in stitches as one of the young asian lads was trying to imitate it......was hilarious

Re: Called a Second Class citizen this week
 

I've only encountered it once here; get called a pom all the time, which I don't mind and take it in the spirit its intended. One manager from another site however overstepped the mark and made a very nasty snide comment in an email - which went to several of my colleagues as well. They as well as I threatened to report him, and my supervisor told him that she believed I was serious (I was, deadly serious), Still waiting for the apology but he hasn't done it again and apparently it caused quite a fuss at higher levels.

Pity he was based on another site or suggestions like yours would definitely have come into play!

Re: Called a Second Class citizen this week
 

Tell him to get his stars off our flag and piss off. :sneaky:

Say in front of everyone in the canteen including managers 'Can you tell me why you dont like English people, is it the English you are just racist about or are you not fussy?'

Re: Called a Second Class citizen this week
 

Where as (in Britain particularly) if you imitated him, it would be racist!

Re: Called a Second Class citizen this week
 

I can assure you this is the work of one individual and not a general thing and I've also seen it in reverse in the UK where the odd Aussie gets a hard time. If it's bothering you that much and gone beyond jokey, pull the racism card and present the illegal nature of what he's doing. I'd try and keep it at a banter level though.

Re: Called a Second Class citizen this week
 

I know and good point.

But if you knew this lovely guy, you would've laughed also:). He looks after me at work (am sure he thinks am way too old to be working:huh: actually, i think hes right:huh:)

Re: Called a Second Class citizen this week
 

Part of the problem is that a lot of Aussies think the English can just walk in here, they have no idea of how hard it is to get into the country. Last night someone asked me about it, I said I was a citizen and he said "oh must be the English thing that it's easier for you", I said no way, its bloody hard trying to get into this country and then you have to do 2 (now 4 years) to get citizenship.

I think because a lot of their families, if they are of European descent, all came over in the 60's and 70's when it was just so much easier they probably have no idea how hard or elite you have to be to get the golden visa!

I remember years ago, watching a film whilst on an excursion about the Blue Mountains and they kept going on and on about how the Victorian English ruined them with their cute quaint gardens. I mentioned this to the coach driver and he said, yeah right, like we are all indigenous!

I get ribbed sometimes about it but it's usually in good humour but I just say, well without us Brits you'd all be Spanish, Dutch or French - we just happened to get here first and make a go of it!

So, what descendant is this bloke then? Unless he's aboriginal then he doesn't really have a leg to stand on, everyone in this country is an immigrant of some sort!

Re: Called a Second Class citizen this week
 

Thanks everyone for some great posts, its made me feel better about dealing with it.

I think your right that first I should try to confront him and clearly state I am not happy with his discrimination and abuse. That should be a really awkward and difficult conversation.

But then if that fails, as others have said go to the manager and maybe HR after that. I just have never had to do that before, it makes me feel like I would be snitching on someone behind their backs. When I think back to some of the comments, like when he spent several days calling me PC, which he explained stood for pommie ******, I think of that and it is sort of inspiring me to take it to the manger.

As others have suggested, I did near the start of it ask him where his family came from as hes blond haired fair skinned, so I mentioned that his family must be from somewhere else so its only time that separates us. This just made him very angry and even more abusive though. He constantly says things to make it sound like being english is like having a disease or affliction.

Thanks for some great advice, this has been a pretty upsetting thing to have to deal with and has made me wonder if I am really wanted or welcome here, maybe other aussies feel this way to

Re: Called a Second Class citizen this week
 

There is nothing wrong with a bit of banter but there is always one f-wit who is serious and takes it too far. I had someone do the same to me about the citizen bit. I laughed it off but after mentioning it to a colleague it got to HR and there was hell to pay.

The OP really should mention it to HR. They don't have to mention who was involved but with any luck the word will get out quick and it will stop.

Some of the stuff i've heard here is out of order; in the UK it would get you sacked immediately in the UK.

Re: Called a Second Class citizen this week
 

He sounds like a German...

Re: Called a Second Class citizen this week
 

It's a bullying issue... Pretty difficult when your in a new job. Firstly it's not racist it's xenophobic, so no legal procedings along the racial legislation laws will work. However Bullying is the new flavour of the month. Looks like things will come to a head this week to me. So you either deal with it incognito via HR .... or if you feel capable ask him about his house... and tell him you wouldnt mind living in it as you can probably sue the pants of him.

Two ways to go.... HR or Personal.... Needs dealing with pronto. You could always go off under stress and sue the employer as well.

Good luck with this. I dont suppose you have union reps at your work place they would definitely help in this kind of situation as well.

BTW you do have to deal with it as per your statement first.

I think your right that first I should try to confront him and clearly state I am not happy with his discrimination and abuse. That should be a really awkward and difficult conversation.

Once you've got that in.... If it keeps up after that, you can have him for 10'000Ks Aud.

Good luck mate. You'll be annoyed even more with yourself than the person giving out the abuse if you dont give it ago.

This kind of thing tends to happen more in WA and QLD than the other states.

PS.... Yehp that house thing is definitely the way to go..... Keep asking him about it and mention it every time he says PC... Hopefully you'll get him fired up and he will have to face the music after HR work out where the problem stems from.

Re: Called a Second Class citizen this week
 

I'm not sure if you read Zen10's post...and it has come up before when the oft trotted out BE'ism...'xxx isn't a race' comes out - but the law includes in its definition of 'racial discrimination' - discrimination based on nationality.