Banter

Work colleagues often indulge in banter and it can make the job more bearable. However when someone is in a position to fire you, nothing they say is ‘banter’. 

 

Olivia Petter's article in the Indy here shows how the term is used as a "get out of jail free" for racist and sexist bullying. 

 

Trade unions have to deal with issues of workplace harrassment day in and day out. Those without the protection of trade unions are most at risk of bullying of any kind. 

It is also hard to see how gagging orders are anything to do with banter.