Is it possible for a man to be taken seriously when making a complaint about harassment by a female boss? My boss creates a hostile work environment for men by asserting her authority through fear and intimidation and saying things such as, “She’s got a bigger private part than any man in the business.”
We usually like to have a little fun here with common workplace issues most of us can relate to. But some topics are just too important and serious to make light of, and harassment is one of them — even though the example you’ve provided is sure to get a chuckle from some readers. Harassment is known most commonly for examples of a male offender and a female complainant — but a hostile work environment isn’t defined by gender but rather by severe and pervasive conduct that interferes with an employee’s ability to perform his or her job. And if that describes your situation, follow your company’s complaint procedure, and put the burden on your employer to remedy the situation.
My boss wished everyone a happy Easter. I was offended because I don’t celebrate the holiday. Should I have said something or am I being too sensitive?
Wow, the Zen state from my vacation is totally gone — we’ve got bosses creating hostile work environments by swinging big bad words and intimidation, and others who are just clueless or insensitive (and hopefully not worse than that!). There’s a reason why topics like politics and certainly religion are to be avoided or treated very carefully in the workplace. You shouldn’t be questioning how you feel about the comment. The comment your boss made was unequivocally, indisputably wrong — it offended you, and that’s not subject to anyone’s evaluation of right or wrong. As far as what to do about it, you might consider pulling him aside in a private moment and saying that although you are sure he didn’t mean anything by it, not everyone celebrates Easter. If he’s smart, he’ll immediately get it, appreciate you for calling it to his attention and apologize.