Office Etiquette. Some Men Behaving Badly.

It’s yet another Monday morning and we get to share your career and  job  related troubles. Help this young woman who wrote over the weekend.

I work in a small office with four men. I am a 23 year old woman–they are all in their thirties and forties. You should hear the way they talk to each other; they use profanity, make sexist, lewd and derogatory comments, gossip and talk bad about everyone, including their customers, wives and girlfriends.

My goal at my job is to do my job, be kind and polite to customers and co-workers. So for the sake of keeping my job and not being hated by everyone I keep quiet about the things I see, hear, and endure. I don’t say much when someone is rude to me because I don’t want things to escalate into an argument.

I make these guys tea everyday (although it’s not in the job description). I thought this would show them that I care about them and I just want to fit in – but I want to fit in without having to compromise my own dignity.

Why do I have to put up with this type of behavior? Isn’t this my workplace too? Don’t these grown men realize what’s acceptable and what’s not appropriate in an office/business setting? Do they not think some of their comments and references offend me? I feel like they do not value me and my position here, they see me as a dumb little blonde, hired just to appease people because I have a nice disposition.

I am smart, competent, a hard worker, dependable, efficient AND nice. One thing I lack is the ability to handle confrontation as I don’t want to upset people. I like everyone to be happy.

My true boss works a branch away and is only here every few weeks. I’m afraid if I complain to him that he’ll just replace me. I’m the third office assistant they’ve had in less than a year.

I like my job – I like my benefits – It’s very hard for me to find another job with this kind of flexibility. What should I do?

Are men behaving badly at your office?

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