Fri 28 Mar 2008
Yesterday, I had to forego my noontime workout because we had a mandatory meeting. Something about sexual harassment policies and how we’re strongly urged to report any harassment we feel we’re victim to. At the end of the meeting I asked the district administrator, “Does this mean I have to stop making racial slurs?” He laughed and said that’s probably a good idea for workplace conversation. I asked, “What if I just make fun of my own race?” He indulged me (knowing who I am, after all) but still said in a supervisory way, “Well, people who overhear you may still take offense to what you said. Like maybe you’re perpetuating the negative stereotypes or something. At our meeting downtown about this, they talked about tons of things that I never would’ve THOUGHT would be offensive to some people, but to some, it’s harassment.” I bitched about oversensitive, overly-PC people these days with no senses of humor, but we all know people like that we have to tiptoe around at work or in social circles because they take everything wrong. Those people are so no fun, always looking for an opening to accuse someone of racism, sexism, bias, so they can file a grievance. I think those people are the least colorblind of all, reading color issues where there were none.
After work, I called Vicky and dragged her out to the gym with me. Actually, I didn’t have to drag, she eagerly agreed to meet me there at 8p. She’d just gotten her gym membership reinstalled at my gym corporation, so I got a solid lower body workout in plus we did a heaving hour’s worth of cardio together on treadmill and elliptical trainer. It’s fun to catch up while being physically productive, so different from a few days ago, catching up while shoving food in our pieholes.
We have a harassment video andit’s about girls hitting on the water delievery guy. Haha! But the key point is someone has to tell you it’s offensive FIRST before it you can get in real trouble for little jokes. SO I think you are in the clear 🙂
I call myself a cracker at work…lol
we took our mandatory sexual harassment training online. a few weeks later, my boss (with whom i have a very casual relationship) gave me a company-issued tri-fold pamphlet called something like DON’T BE A VICTIM OF SEXUAL HARASSMENT. as he handed it to me, he said “sorry for all the times i’ve harassed you… sexually. this will tell you how to bust me next time i do it.”
busykitty – are you saying everyone gets a freebie?
Flat Coke – I’ve never been to TN, what’s the ethnic breakdown in your work environment?
flip flop girl – your boss sounds like one of my bosses. 🙂 They know who they can joke with and who would actually file a “bust.”
Now don’t go grabbing your boss butt and think you have a freebie… haha! But on most stuff someone has to notify you that it is offensive, like a calendar of hunks on your desk or a joke.
I had an incident in one of the courts where one of my guys said to a woman that he has routine coffee and lunch with, “don’t get your panties in a bunch”, when she asked about where her new fax machine was. That almost got him fired. I, My Boss and the District Court Admin had to talk to him AND he had to officially apologize to the lady. Not to be sexists, but guys usually will not get a first warning. But then again most guys do not mind being harrased by women. Except the really big fat old ones that tell you they like to see you on your knees in front of them. I had an old hag tell me that once when I was working around her desk trying to connenct something, and I nearly puked, but I just moved on.
Bryan – I think it sucks that someone you consider a friend at work, whom you socialize with out of work and break bread with, wants to report you on something petty KNOWING you didn’t mean a cliche comment in a sexually harassing way. But your story about being sexually harassed made me laugh! I’m sure it sucked, but you men do tend to be such good sports about it.