Comments on: How I wish this was fictional… http://www.warlach.com/2009/02/22/how-i-wish-this-was-fictional/ Cloggin' up your tubes... Wed, 08 Sep 2010 10:55:15 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.2 By: deconstructo http://www.warlach.com/2009/02/22/how-i-wish-this-was-fictional/#comment-103 deconstructo Mon, 23 Feb 2009 02:13:22 +0000 http://www.warlach.com/?p=117#comment-103 I had to go and look up the definition of Donkey Punch... I'm not sure about a formal complaint or not - but certainly taking it up with the consultant and boss is an important first step. Personally, I'd leave the formal complain in abeyance until after I'd spoken to them and determined whether they were going to amend their behaviour or not. If they didn't, then I'd take the formal approach. I had to go and look up the definition of Donkey Punch…

I’m not sure about a formal complaint or not - but certainly taking it up with the consultant and boss is an important first step.

Personally, I’d leave the formal complain in abeyance until after I’d spoken to them and determined whether they were going to amend their behaviour or not. If they didn’t, then I’d take the formal approach.

]]> By: alan http://www.warlach.com/2009/02/22/how-i-wish-this-was-fictional/#comment-102 alan Mon, 23 Feb 2009 01:39:06 +0000 http://www.warlach.com/?p=117#comment-102 If I was going to take the complaint route, I'd stop twittering and blogging about it. It's not going to make you look like someone who has the company's best interests at heart. If I was going to take the complaint route, I’d stop twittering and blogging about it. It’s not going to make you look like someone who has the company’s best interests at heart.

]]> By: Beaney http://www.warlach.com/2009/02/22/how-i-wish-this-was-fictional/#comment-101 Beaney Mon, 23 Feb 2009 01:31:16 +0000 http://www.warlach.com/?p=117#comment-101 So I couldn't be bothered reading all the other responses. But some people did say, if you lodge a formal complaint, prepare to be victimised, or to loose your job. They might not fire you over this, they might just harrass you until you leave. Or they might find that clause in your contract that says you can't check personal email at work. But I agree the bosses sound like tools. ... It's important to stand up for what you believe in, by lodging a complaint - possibly using a union mediator or whatever - but also be aware that sometimes standing up for what you believe is right comes at a cost. Can you (literally) afford to loose your job? Hm! Good luck! So I couldn’t be bothered reading all the other responses. But some people did say, if you lodge a formal complaint, prepare to be victimised, or to loose your job. They might not fire you over this, they might just harrass you until you leave. Or they might find that clause in your contract that says you can’t check personal email at work.
But I agree the bosses sound like tools. … It’s important to stand up for what you believe in, by lodging a complaint - possibly using a union mediator or whatever - but also be aware that sometimes standing up for what you believe is right comes at a cost. Can you (literally) afford to loose your job?
Hm!
Good luck!

]]> By: Lindsay http://www.warlach.com/2009/02/22/how-i-wish-this-was-fictional/#comment-100 Lindsay Mon, 23 Feb 2009 00:59:12 +0000 http://www.warlach.com/?p=117#comment-100 @Shaun, Actually I am a female and I wouldn't complain. In my (admittedly limited) experience it doesn't matter what gender you are, if you're male and you complain you're a wuss, if you're a female and you complain, you're a humorless feminist. There's no winning, FWIW Joe's advice strikes me as the best response, couch the complaint as a "gentle reminder about the need to be sensitive in a work environment" @Shaun,

Actually I am a female and I wouldn’t complain. In my (admittedly limited) experience it doesn’t matter what gender you are, if you’re male and you complain you’re a wuss, if you’re a female and you complain, you’re a humorless feminist.

There’s no winning,

FWIW Joe’s advice strikes me as the best response, couch the complaint as a “gentle reminder about the need to be sensitive in a work environment”

]]> By: harviek http://www.warlach.com/2009/02/22/how-i-wish-this-was-fictional/#comment-99 harviek Mon, 23 Feb 2009 00:58:25 +0000 http://www.warlach.com/?p=117#comment-99 You really should have an off the record conversation with the Hr dept, don't mention names just discuss the nature of the complaint. You really should have an off the record conversation with the Hr dept, don’t mention names just discuss the nature of the complaint.

]]> By: Richard http://www.warlach.com/2009/02/22/how-i-wish-this-was-fictional/#comment-98 Richard Mon, 23 Feb 2009 00:54:31 +0000 http://www.warlach.com/?p=117#comment-98 Probably have to let it go if you want to keep working for moronic fuckwits, which sadly many people have to just to pay the mortgage and I chose not to decades ago. Mind you I'm definitely poorer than you but possibly happier. At least as others say, keep a record (which you are here anyway) so if you finally want to hit them you'll have a shitload of leverage and justification. Probably have to let it go if you want to keep working for moronic fuckwits, which sadly many people have to just to pay the mortgage and I chose not to decades ago. Mind you I’m definitely poorer than you but possibly happier. At least as others say, keep a record (which you are here anyway) so if you finally want to hit them you’ll have a shitload of leverage and justification.

]]> By: Shaun http://www.warlach.com/2009/02/22/how-i-wish-this-was-fictional/#comment-97 Shaun Mon, 23 Feb 2009 00:39:44 +0000 http://www.warlach.com/?p=117#comment-97 You know where I stand on this Lachlan. Document this behavior in a diary and then if things get really bad you take it further up the food chain. Make the complaint. You shouldn't be made to feel bad for something that's offensive. Again if you were female there would be no question about whether or not to make a complaint. You know where I stand on this Lachlan. Document this behavior in a diary and then if things get really bad you take it further up the food chain.

Make the complaint. You shouldn’t be made to feel bad for something that’s offensive.

Again if you were female there would be no question about whether or not to make a complaint.

]]> By: joe http://www.warlach.com/2009/02/22/how-i-wish-this-was-fictional/#comment-96 joe Mon, 23 Feb 2009 00:10:37 +0000 http://www.warlach.com/?p=117#comment-96 I think it is worth having a minimal, off the record statement saying you would rather not have to hear sexual descriptions in the workplace, as you understand there's probably legislation on this point. Sometimes it is worth starting on a point that you would like your workplace to be comfortable before bringing in a formal complaint. Find a clever way to steer behaviour into a positive result for yourself before getting TOO serious. The consultant might be more of a threat than the boss since he "bonds" better, even if inappropriately. IMHO.... I think it is worth having a minimal, off the record statement saying you would rather not have to hear sexual descriptions in the workplace, as you understand there’s probably legislation on this point.

Sometimes it is worth starting on a point that you would like your workplace to be comfortable before bringing in a formal complaint. Find a clever way to steer behaviour into a positive result for yourself before getting TOO serious.

The consultant might be more of a threat than the boss since he “bonds” better, even if inappropriately.

IMHO….

]]> By: Sara http://www.warlach.com/2009/02/22/how-i-wish-this-was-fictional/#comment-95 Sara Mon, 23 Feb 2009 00:04:39 +0000 http://www.warlach.com/?p=117#comment-95 I think you should make a former complaint. Reason: Obviously you think it's inappropriate, and you probably have coworkers who feel the same way. But if no one says anything, the culture continues. If you say something, the ruling as to whether it's "appropriate" sits with the right people - HR. I think you should make a former complaint. Reason: Obviously you think it’s inappropriate, and you probably have coworkers who feel the same way. But if no one says anything, the culture continues. If you say something, the ruling as to whether it’s “appropriate” sits with the right people - HR.

]]> By: xutraa http://www.warlach.com/2009/02/22/how-i-wish-this-was-fictional/#comment-94 xutraa Mon, 23 Feb 2009 00:04:27 +0000 http://www.warlach.com/?p=117#comment-94 Considering that they're planning 'restructure' and it's the consultant who's having this kind of conversation? Yes. Make a complaint. Normally, I'd be on the boat of 'oh hey now, don't rock this' but they can't honestly expect to get away with that kind of conversation in an office environment. The 'lesbians in sport' would have been enough for me, actually. And there's also the whole thing where he read the 'confidential' complaints... Considering that they’re planning ‘restructure’ and it’s the consultant who’s having this kind of conversation? Yes. Make a complaint. Normally, I’d be on the boat of ‘oh hey now, don’t rock this’ but they can’t honestly expect to get away with that kind of conversation in an office environment. The ‘lesbians in sport’ would have been enough for me, actually.

And there’s also the whole thing where he read the ‘confidential’ complaints…

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