Overheard comments can constitute racial discrimination

Regarding the complainant who brought the comments to the attention of the company, resulting in disciplinary procedures, was anything done about this employee? Surely doing such things is bullying. You were lucky in that you had colleagues who stood up for you. Not very many employees have that support against a bullying colleague.

I should hope that the company took the money out of the complainant's pay!

"Have your opinions by all means but may be expressing them at work is not the best place."

It's exactly what we did under a Communist Rule until 1989. We hid our opinions and just parroted what was officially allowed or we were silent and compliant. I've never thought that this lifelong training will come in handy once again.

I was reported by a fellow employee for a comment she had heard me saying and which she construed as being racist and inflammatory. As a result I was brought before a Tribunal and they then dismissed the allegation on the grounds that the group of people I was with at the time and all other witnesses to the event where actually black and the term was supposed to be derogatory to them and not one of them took offence. They all stood for my defence,which the Head of the Tribunal found very "encouraging" and blow for normality!!

By the way the complainant was white!!!

All of this took up Company time as well other members of staff and all in all probably cost about £5, 000.

I think if anyone actually took the time to find out from the normal everyday people, they really could be bothered with all this PC nonsense and just want to live their lives without it.

I would agree that every person has a right to their own opinion but there is such a thing as having regard to who may hear such opinions.

In the work place I am sure we all have equality and diversity policies and would want to treat every one on merit and not display ant prejudice in any way. If a comment is made that can be interperted in any way as having a dislaike of a particular group how can that persons judgement not be influenced.

Have your opinions by all means but may be expressing them at work is not the best place.

I agree. Overheard comments are too often reported to the boss, where they can be "mis-reported," resulting in disciplinary procedures - especially if the boss already has it in for the reported employee.

Surely reporting private conversations to the management is grounds for breach of trust, if nothing else, and can be a grievable offense in itself.

It is not that long ago, during the "cold war" era in the USSR, that people were afraid to speak out and criticise the government for fear of being sent to an icy Siberia for "corrective treatment".

It looks as though we are now approaching a situation not dissimilar here in the UK. According to the tribunal a "substantial dislike of foreigners" is an offence. This ruling made on the basis of comments overhead and not made directly towards anyone in particular.

What was said was upsetting to the lady who heard it but is it really grounds for taking up a tribunal's time and the payment of compensation? I am not being facetious or unfeeling but there is a real world out there where people do not like other people and sometimes say so. No amount of political correctness will put this right and, I would suggest, possibly even inflames the situation.

Immigration is a real issue for many people and it seems impossible to get a proper debate on the issue as people call "foul" or "racist" at the first mention of removing anyone from the UK - whether they have no right to be here or not.

The old maxim of "I cannot defend what you are saying but I defend your right to say it" seems to have gone out of the window. Beware the "thought police" knocking on your door in the middle of the night!

What ever happaned to freedom of speach,
If the two people are having a private conversation then it is a private conversation, i find this ruling unbelievable.