Office environments today are like minefields. A man never knows when his next step, word, or simple action will be misconstrued as harassment.
Hold a door? Thats harassment.
Wink ;-) in an email or IM? Thats harassment.
Tell an off-color joke? Thats harassment.
Complement female coworkers outfit? Thats harassment.
Stand too close in an elevator or inline at the canteen? Thats harassment.
Getting caught looking looking at a female coworkers boobs? Thats harassment.
The problem is that at the end of the day it is all up to how that female employee "feels." If she is especially sensitive, then everyone around her has to walk on eggshells.
Why can't anyone have a sense of humor about any of this?
I think I'm going to watch 9 to 5 with Dolly Parton tonight, just to remember a time when people had a sense of humor about dealing with toxic office culture.
Hold a door? Thats harassment.
Wink ;-) in an email or IM? Thats harassment.
Tell an off-color joke? Thats harassment.
Complement female coworkers outfit? Thats harassment.
Stand too close in an elevator or inline at the canteen? Thats harassment.
Getting caught looking looking at a female coworkers boobs? Thats harassment.
The problem is that at the end of the day it is all up to how that female employee "feels." If she is especially sensitive, then everyone around her has to walk on eggshells.
Why can't anyone have a sense of humor about any of this?
I think I'm going to watch 9 to 5 with Dolly Parton tonight, just to remember a time when people had a sense of humor about dealing with toxic office culture.