Is this a Christmas joke?

I don't burst into hysterical laughter when people are on the receiving end of discrimination so can't join you, sorry.

I wouldn't be laughing Parsley. I have endured and been damaged by discrimination. My light hearted post - enjoyed by some other posters it seems - was the notion of anyone being willing to take working colleagues to a tribunal if they weren't invited to a party, and in veering slightly towards the 'world has gone mad' notion, it amused me. At this moment I am wishing I had never posted it, and wondering why some people are having a sense of humour failure.

LovesBach

MaizieD

Oh, I've read the article. Please ignore my last post. There is a grain of truth in the OP. But it's not quite how it's been presented in the OP.

I would say 'grain of truth' is rather diminishing the Senior Political Correspondent's efforts in the Times.

'Civil servants who are not invited to Christmas parties by their colleagues have been advised that they could bring legal claims for discrimination'.

There follows a whole raft of reasons, and advice that they could have an employment tribunal claim. I have presented it as I read it.

It’s more madness isn’t it? Just when you think things can’t get any stupider.😖

OK. I understand.

Kate1949- 😂🤣😅

Parsley3

OK. I understand.

Thank you.

Does anyone still read the Daily Mail, much less actually spend money buying it?

Dear me !
Are people really excluded from office parties ?
OK .
But suing them , because they are upset ?
I think that I'm going to sue the local council officer , who was indescribably rude and condescending towards me and caused three unnecessary journeys to the offices .
In the end , feeling really unwell - I actually burst into tears .

Wyllow3

If you actually read the full article is more enlightening. Nothing new, a few past cases going back in time,
Pointing out that parties are subject to the same guidelines as in the workplace daily, etc etc.
Usual D Mail mountain out of molehill who can we bash today.

Precisely. Basically, what it means is that the rules governing behaviour in the workplace apply when out of the workplace at an event arranged by your employer.

No story.

Oreo

LovesBach

MaizieD

Oh, I've read the article. Please ignore my last post. There is a grain of truth in the OP. But it's not quite how it's been presented in the OP.

I would say 'grain of truth' is rather diminishing the Senior Political Correspondent's efforts in the Times.

'Civil servants who are not invited to Christmas parties by their colleagues have been advised that they could bring legal claims for discrimination'.

There follows a whole raft of reasons, and advice that they could have an employment tribunal claim. I have presented it as I read it.

It’s more madness isn’t it? Just when you think things can’t get any stupider.😖

Its only 'madness" if a rush of silly dodgy claims are made, but the record is very few, and I still cant see why H Resources type advice to lay out guidelines is "Stupid".

We'v been very aware on GN recently - a thread about bullying, a long thread about inappropriate behaviour disguised as banter and where's the harm in laying guidelines?

NonGrannyMoll

Does anyone still read the Daily Mail, much less actually spend money buying it?

'Ere we go, 'ere we go, 'ere we go!
Judgemental or wot!

The Daily Mail sells 683,530 copies per day on weekdays, but 1.3 million on Saturdays

We buy one on Saturday 😁

If The Guardian were to follow industry trends, its print circulation in February 2024 is estimated to be 60,000. However, The Guardian's circulation is private
Why?

I read it online sometimes. I read the Daily Mail online sometimes, particularly when a poster on here might express at something dreadful published in it, even though they never read it 😂

I remember one excruciating Christmas meal in my CS days. I hadn't been there long and felt obliged/pressured to go. It was at a rather swanky hotel (at our own cost). We sat at a long table, ate our meals very sedately while other tables around us were full of Christmas frivolity. A couple of us decided to lighten the atmosphere and let off a couple of party poppers. Mine landed on the boss's head. He didn't bat an eyelid, smile, laugh - nothing. His secretary, who thought the sun shone out of his doo-dahs, gave me a withering look. Oops.

Oh dear!

You worked in the wrong department 😁

I really regret the loss of free internet access to all the MSM as then you could really read around, and if someone gave a reference, read the whole article. If I quote from the Guardian then GN posters can check out the whole article.

Adults work in the Civil Service, they’re not kids and don’t require stupid guidelines.Especially about office parties.
HR have to jump through hoops clothed in wokery, and yes that is my opinion before anyone leaps on their high horse.

Allira

NonGrannyMoll

Does anyone still read the Daily Mail, much less actually spend money buying it?

'Ere we go, 'ere we go, 'ere we go!
Judgemental or wot!

The Daily Mail sells 683,530 copies per day on weekdays, but 1.3 million on Saturdays

We buy one on Saturday 😁

If The Guardian were to follow industry trends, its print circulation in February 2024 is estimated to be 60,000. However, The Guardian's circulation is private
Why?

I read it online sometimes. I read the Daily Mail online sometimes, particularly when a poster on here might express at something dreadful published in it, even though they never read it 😂

Yeah, amazing as they seem to know all about everything in the DM😂

LovesBach

MaizieD

Oh, I've read the article. Please ignore my last post. There is a grain of truth in the OP. But it's not quite how it's been presented in the OP.

I would say 'grain of truth' is rather diminishing the Senior Political Correspondent's efforts in the Times.

'Civil servants who are not invited to Christmas parties by their colleagues have been advised that they could bring legal claims for discrimination'.

There follows a whole raft of reasons, and advice that they could have an employment tribunal claim. I have presented it as I read it.

No grain of truth is correct. It is about discrimination and protected characteristics so if you are the only woman/ethnic minority/disabled person in a team and you are excluded for that reason it is unlawful. If Fred, white/able bodied/heterosexual doesn't get invited because the other chaps just don't like him it doesn't matter how hurt his feelings are he can't sue anyone.

It isn't just the civil service anyway.

theworriedwell

LovesBach

MaizieD

Oh, I've read the article. Please ignore my last post. There is a grain of truth in the OP. But it's not quite how it's been presented in the OP.

I would say 'grain of truth' is rather diminishing the Senior Political Correspondent's efforts in the Times.

'Civil servants who are not invited to Christmas parties by their colleagues have been advised that they could bring legal claims for discrimination'.

There follows a whole raft of reasons, and advice that they could have an employment tribunal claim. I have presented it as I read it.

No grain of truth is correct. It is about discrimination and protected characteristics so if you are the only woman/ethnic minority/disabled person in a team and you are excluded for that reason it is unlawful. If Fred, white/able bodied/heterosexual doesn't get invited because the other chaps just don't like him it doesn't matter how hurt his feelings are he can't sue anyone.

It isn't just the civil service anyway.

How would anyone prove they were not invited because they were of an ethnic minority/disabled/gay rather than because they were a curmudgeonly, miserable old killjoy?

It's entirely different from discriminating against someone when interviewing for a job.

Allira

theworriedwell

LovesBach

MaizieD

Oh, I've read the article. Please ignore my last post. There is a grain of truth in the OP. But it's not quite how it's been presented in the OP.

I would say 'grain of truth' is rather diminishing the Senior Political Correspondent's efforts in the Times.

'Civil servants who are not invited to Christmas parties by their colleagues have been advised that they could bring legal claims for discrimination'.

There follows a whole raft of reasons, and advice that they could have an employment tribunal claim. I have presented it as I read it.

No grain of truth is correct. It is about discrimination and protected characteristics so if you are the only woman/ethnic minority/disabled person in a team and you are excluded for that reason it is unlawful. If Fred, white/able bodied/heterosexual doesn't get invited because the other chaps just don't like him it doesn't matter how hurt his feelings are he can't sue anyone.

It isn't just the civil service anyway.

How would anyone prove they were not invited because they were of an ethnic minority/disabled/gay rather than because they were a curmudgeonly, miserable old killjoy?

It's entirely different from discriminating against someone when interviewing for a job.

Well there would be an investigation wouldn't there. Why was the only black/gay/woman or whoever it is the only person left out?

I think it is easier to prove than interviewing for a vacancy, you might only have one space for a widget fitter and six great applicants, they can't all get the job. You have a department with 20 people, 19 get invited to a party and just by chance the only person with the protected characteristic mysteriously doesn't get invited. Yes really hard to figure it out.

If its a work party you invite everyone. The curmudgeonly killjoy will probably decline anyway.

I declined last week .

Galaxy

I declined last week .

I'm sure it wasn't because you are a killjoy. I wasn't always very welcome at Christmas parties, being teetotal made some drinkers a bit nervous I think, a sober witness to some of the shenanigans wasn't really welcome. Hard drinking time in the police back then. I understand it is very different now.

I was tactful though, never mentioned anything that I witnessed.

"Invitation to office Christmas party"
Even the wording puzzles me. Someone would organise it, the date would be put on a notice board or circulated and people just turn up - surely?

Allira

"Invitation to office Christmas party"
Even the wording puzzles me. Someone would organise it, the date would be put on a notice board or circulated and people just turn up - surely?

Well you'd think so unless you wanted to exclude some people.

Do civil servants send out printed invitations then?
How posh.

In my school there was a bit of general discussion about where to go this year, and then the place and date would be put up on the whiteboard in the staff room. If you wanted to go, you signed up. Then someone would book it.

Sometimes I went. Other times I didn’t. My choice. Nobody invited anyone else. You just signed up or you didn’t.

It was an email in my day. If you politely declined, someone would come to your desk and ask you why. Probably different now. I've been retired 15 years. Thankfully.