A friend of my mum has been suspended from work for saying these words. Apparently he was on the phone to somebody in a different office who is known for being rude and unhelpful (there have been complaints about her in the past)

So he's on the phone, and she's being rude or whatever, and he puts his hand over the receiver and says "this bloody Indian woman is useless" to the guy sitting next to him. She hears, complains, and he gets suspended

They guy is Italian himself, and his colleagues often make light-hearted gags and comments etc, which he takes in good humour. Would this be relevant to the 'case'?

So, good people of DiS, in this context would you personally regard these comments as racist and/or malicious? Worthy of the sack, basically

And please don't disregard this as a wrightylew-style right wing rant