Hey guys, it's been awhile since I posted. I'm having a bit of trouble at work and could use some advice.
Firstly, sexual harassment is pretty much the norm where I work. I'm a mechanic so these men are just pigs. I hate to generalize but honestly, 80% of them have few redeeming qualities.
To my point, some higher up women in the company have started a "women in aviation" group where we can attend monthly meetings to talk about whatever really. Career advancement, stories, even yes, sexual harassment.
I've really been enjoying these meetings, it's really nice to be around NOT MEN for an hour a month. But I've been getting a lot of flack for it from my Leads (bosses). They make fun of me for going, saying it's probably just a big lesbian fest. Asking me if we burn our bras, and today one of them said we are probably just trying to sync our periods so we can become powerful enough to take over.
All of this I have tried to ignore but when I asked one of the Leads today if I could bring a couple of females on his crew to the meeting, he flat out said no which I KNOW is not right because we were told anyone is welcome and allowed at the meetings.
So after the meeting I told the lady heading them everything. I told her that the particular Lead wouldn't allow his female mechanics to attend, and I told her about all the disparaging comments I have had to deal with. Almost immediately after the meeting my MANAGER (who is two steps higher than the Lead) approached me about it. He was very upset and I guess had already talked to every Lead on my maintenance line (because I didn't name names). Then I had several of the Leads approach me to apologize.
I guess my question is, did I do the right thing? Or should I have kept my mouth shut?
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Was it a bad day?
Or was it a bad five minutes that you milked all day?
As an aside, I really feel like the Leads in particular should be setting the example for acceptable behavior. So it especially pisses me off when THEY act like this.
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Was it a bad day?
Or was it a bad five minutes that you milked all day?
You did the right thing. They apologized so they did the right thing. So sounds like things are OK. I would just go about my work and now those ladies can go to the meetings.
But, I guess I wonder why you have never said anything to HR before, or why you haven't come right out and told the guys to shove it?
In my experience, we teach people how to treat us and how to interact with us.
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A flock of flirting flamingos is pure, passionate, pink pandemonium-a frenetic flamingle-mangle-a discordant discotheque of delirious dancing, flamboyant feathers, and flamingo lingo.
I'm going to go with right thing as well. BUT, I also worry that you are in an environment that might not be conducive to such conversations (leads to male-pig employees) so maybe keep your eye (or your ears) out. JIC.
You did the right thing. They were disparaging every woman in the workplace with those comments. It's ridiculous. And they were doing it because they were able to get away with it.
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LawyerLady
I can explain it to you, but I can't understand it for you.
You absolutely did the right thing. I can't believe, in today's day and age, there is a company still in business who allows this type of behavior to continue. Talk about opening themselves up for lawsuits. HR needs to get on the ball and retrain these guys or find others who want to do the job without harassing others.
You absolutely did the right thing. I can't believe, in today's day and age, there is a company still in business who allows this type of behavior to continue. Talk about opening themselves up for lawsuits. HR needs to get on the ball and retrain these guys or find others who want to do the job without harassing others.
I think it's still very common despite all the HR, media attention, regs, etc.
A flock of flirting flamingos is pure, passionate, pink pandemonium-a frenetic flamingle-mangle-a discordant discotheque of delirious dancing, flamboyant feathers, and flamingo lingo.
I don't know. I mean, women often "feel bad" over things. I think the right thing happened here. I would assume it was sincere and just move forward. Time will tell.
Vette, YOU should not feel bad! They wronged you and every other female there. No way they were ignorant to that with all the public awareness in the past decade about that sort of crap in the workplace.
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Sometimes you're the windshield, and sometimes you're the bug.
At least they were put on notice that
their prior behavior would not be
tolerated in the future. No way
should anyone have to accept the
inappropriate comments that were
tossed your way.
You stood up for yourself and for all
the other women in that location.
GOOD FOR YOU !
