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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Lifestyle

I work with likable, intelligent people – but they make racist comments

Businesswoman speaking in office conference
Speak up or keep quiet?

I work in a small team and my colleagues (including my boss, so I cannot report this) keep making very rightwing, racist comments. They are intelligent people I like to work with, but sometimes they make awful comments about “us” v “Muslims”. I find this totally unacceptable, but when I challenge them, I am the one who is ostracised. I work in a small, niche environment, and finding another job in the same sector will not be possible. Should I keep quiet when they make these unacceptable comments? Continue to challenge them but stay in an uncomfortable position? (I studied theology so I can challenge them, but then I sound like a smartarse.) Or do I accept that, at 28, I need a career change? Generally I have a good life, with good pay and like all my colleagues – except for this aspect. And I am not sure a career change will stop such opinions barging into my life.

• When leaving a message on this page, please be sensitive to the fact that you are responding to a real person in the grip of a real-life dilemma, who wrote to Working It Out asking for help, and may well view your comments here.

• If you have a problem at work, this is your chance to get some advice. Email your dilemma to Working.It.Out@theguardian.com (up to 150 words, please; no attachments), or set it out below. Every fortnight we’ll ask readers to advise on one of them. We’ll also print some of the best suggestions in G2 every other Wednesday. And don’t worry about your boss: we won’t use your name.

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