You are fearless and fly with your pencil skirt hitting
every curve just right. It’s as if you’re floating on air like an angel
in your stilettos. You deliver rock star results, and any man would be
happy to have you on his arm.
But if you have Donald Trump “The Remix” working in your office, at some point, you may have to help him understand why none
of this is an open invitation for his offensive comments and behavior.
Even when you’d rather throw hands, here’s how you tackle the issue and
still keep your job—and your freedom.
Address it
If you take offense to your coworker’s
pet names, such as honey, boo, or bae, it’s time to put a stop to the
madness. Sure, these could be terms endearment, but you certainly don’t
have to sit back and take it when you feel uneasy. Be open and honest
about your aversion to overhearing stories of his sexual escapades in
the break room. Until you address it, he’ll remain oblivious to your
concerns and continue with his “locker room talk.” After all, bringing
awareness to the situation could be eye-opening for him. Best-case
scenario, he’ll apologize and correct his behavior, so both of you can
move on with your lives.
Set boundaries
Let him know he’s crossed the line.
What’s acceptable for Barbara may not be tolerable for Shirley. To put
it plainly, he’s broken boundaries when “Haha, that’s funny” becomes
“WTF did you just say?” Despite the anticipated awkward moment, tell him
when you deem something hurtful and inappropriate. Even if you’re not
on the receiving end, don’t let him get away with disrespecting your
coworkers either. Yes, we like to mind our business and sip our tea, but
having your coworker’s back can make a world of difference.
Report it
After you’ve made your point clear, the
unruly behavior is likely to stop. However, there will always be that
one. The one who, no matter what you say or do, he will continue with
his antics. When putting your foot down is not enough, it’s time to take
a trip to your supervisor’s office. I
If he’s your supervisor, HR should be
your destination. Many employers offer sexual harassment training and
have a defined protocol for addressing issues. Filing a complaint
against a coworker can be difficult, but necessary. You’re entitled to
feel safe and respected at work regardless of what anyone else thinks.
If your company doesn’t want to get sued, they’ll lain ch an
investigation ASAP.
We spend most of our waking hours at work
and deserve to enjoy it. No one has the right to grab you or “come at
you sideways” no matter what position your coworker holds or how he
attempts to explain it away.
Ashley Watkins, Career Coach and
Nationally Certified Résumé Writer with Write Step Resumes, LLC,
provides high-quality résumé writing, interview preparation, and career
coaching services to help job seekers get more interviews and job offers
fast. She can be found on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, or via www.WriteStepResumes.com.
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