Anyone harassed at work for being American?

I worked for several months for a Brit-owned Web site designed for the American market. (Don't ask.) My job was to edit manuscript copy produced by British writers, and make it "American." No problem -- except for the management's inflexible assumption that Americans cannot understand words of more than 2 syllables, and the fewer of those, the better. Translating sophisticated information into pablum, and being nagged prophylactically not to assume that the readers had brains or vocabularies developed beyond the 3rd grade level, became a form of stress. There were also two implicit attitudes that got to be really uncomfortable for me. One was "we don't know you, we don't trust you -- you are definitely other and that's not good." The other was "Don't work so hard -- you're showing us up." I finally quit--and I'm so grateful that I had the wiggle-room to do so. It seriously damaged my hoped-for enjoyment of this sojourn in England.  I'm trying to figure out how we can get along without my income -- I don't really want to try working here again, as that environment seemed about as good as it can get for an American in Britain.

When I studied Journalism, one of the key guidelines was to write with the assumption your reader had nothing beyond an 8th grade education. I've never fully agreed with that philosophy, but it was taught.

I find British filmakers much more palatable in that they treat their viewer more intelligently than do American filmakers. Take Mel Brookes (please).

So why all the dumbing down? I don't get it. Unless the Brits use Jerry Springer guests as a measuring stick. (Hello...Trisha?)

I have also heard complaints about Americans outworking the Brits, showing them up. I don't have experience, but I am employed by a company that my husband and I own. We make our own rules. And it works...measured by repeat and referral business.

The management's rationale for dumbing down the copy was that "Americans are semi-illiterate." That simple. If you Goggle American reading levels, you'll find average national reading levels based on data that include tests of immigrants who do not read English and who speak little of it. The details were not important to these people. It's hard to swallow, but --Hello! --there are a lot of people over here who think we are all fat-assed, lazy, stupid and boring. If there are statistics to support that concept, well...
Regarding this comment from (somewhere) above: "I get SO SICK of people asking me how Bush became President...":
I encountered a fellow recently who commented in astonishment -- fair enough! -- that GWB had, afterall, won the presidency. I found myself blurting out the following:
Fewer than half the people who were registered to vote bothered to cast a vote in that election. Of those, fewer than half voted for GWB. You can hardly say that all Americans elected him--but you can say that a lot of Americans sat it out and let him get elected.  I don't think many Brits have heard those figures. It's pretty shocking -- I was shocked myself, rethinking it!

 Enjoyed all the posts on this subject.

Harassment and just taking the mick with someone is the same, in that you stand up for yourself.Unless you do then you will be always picked on,pushed around etc.....

I didnt know that about GWB too Katelyn .

For those who like Jerry Springer ,I dont mean to offend but his show to me is a poor reflection of America.I dont know why people allow themselves to be paid off to act so stupid  :-/



 

My last job was working for a company that had an american lady once before in the same position. She was a hypocondriac (sp?) and spend half of her time there off work sick and when she was in work she was complaining about being sick. Now when I went for my interview I didnt know anything about this. I was only told later by my supervisor that she had to convince the financial director that I wouldnt be just the same as this other woman.

Now mind you on my application form I said that I suffered from migraine headaches and had an agrivated hip injury that needed regular treatment. So I got the job and everything went well for the first few months with a couple days off due to severe migraines.

I went on a trip back to the states and came back 2 weeks later to a house that was just in a state. I went to scrub the bath and really did a number on my hip. I struggled at work for quite a while before I needed to seek treatment. A doctor gave me some heavy pain killers and told me to stay put for a while so I took a week's sick-leave. When I returned to work I had an hour and a half off one day to see an osteopath near work.Over about 3 months I was suffering horribly with my hip, the flu, and side effects from 2 different pain medications that were more suited to a 250lb man, than a 120lb woman. I mean I was seeing flying stars in my eyes and couldnt go into the light without having a blinding headache.

This, in my employers eyes, was a signal that I must be EXACTLY like the other american lady they'd hired before me and fired me as a preventative measure even though when they hired me they were aware of what health issues might pop up during my employment.

They were a sh*t employer anyway - treated everyone like crap.  Im just angry at them for their short sightedness.

  This is s two way street, i get remarks etc as im a brit living in the states.    My reply to em is up yours dont bother me and i wont bother you,   it does help to be self employed though.

YIKES!!! After reading this thread I feel affraid to work in the UK.

I am also still a little confused about working there. Do I need a work permit if I am moving there on a settlement visa?

YIKES!!! After reading this thread I feel affraid to work in the UK.

I am also still a little confused about working there. Do I need a work permit if I am moving there on a settlement visa?

I wouldn't be afraid to work here if I were you. It really isn't much different than in the US. You've got your good apples and bad apples. It's just up to you to stand up for yourself and put them in their place if they get out of hand or not let it bother you.

I've found that if someone is not going to like you, they're going to find a reason to not like you. If being american is the best they can do then you don't need them.

I've had few co-workers make snarky comments, whether in jest or not, and I have always had a quick retort that pretty much shut them up and leaving them wondering if I was joking or not. I try not to let those people bother me.

If it's a fiance visa you're on, you don't need another work visa...you just can't work for the first 6 months until you get the FLR.

no, i would be getting married in the US before moving to the UK. I thought you couldn't get your FLR for 2 years...I'm so confused. Does that mean I can't work right away?

no, i would be getting married in the US before moving to the UK.

In that case, I'm fairly certain you can work straight away being a spouse. No other visa required. It's just fiance's can't until they are wed. Or something like that...there are others here that can give the you scoop. Check the Visas section as I know there was some discussion there.  

Danielle - if you're marrying before you move and you obtain a Spouse Visa before returning to the UK, then you're legal to work the minute you step foot in the country.  After 2 years on the Spouse Visa, you'll apply to the Home Office for ILR, which is Indefinite Leave.  Those who enter on Fiancee Visas apply for FLR(M) after their marriage, which is Further Leave to Remain and good for two years, after which they apply for ILR as well.

Clear as mud?!  

As always thanks for the helpful info.

Oh - and I haven't had any problems being the "token American" at work!  They like me - they really like me!

(And they love when I go to the Embassy and bring back Krispy Kremes from Harrods...)