Chastised
As I was leaving work yesterday, another member of my team was teasing me (good-naturedly) about being stupid. I jokingly, and sotto voce, called her a jackass. No big deal, right?
Wrong.
Today, my boss called me into a conference room to chastise me for it. Item The First: There is absolutely NO PROFANITY tolerated in the workplace. Yes, “jackass” counts as profanity. Item The Second: Calling someone a jackass is “name-calling” and could be an HR issue, should anyone want to pursue it. This serves as my “off the record” warning.
Lessons learned: It’s ok to call a coworker stupid, as that is not technically “a name” nor is it swearing. Also, apparently, I’m 8 years old again.
Filed under: Workplace, complaining
Seriously?
1 Jodi said this (January 28, 2010 at 8:32 pm)
Um, that’s jackassery right there. Them, not you. Did the co-worker REPORT you???
2 bitchy mcbitchesalot said this (January 28, 2010 at 8:39 pm)
No, she didn’t report me. As far as I know, she didn’t care whatsoever. My boss sits in the next cube and witnessed the exchange and took it upon herself to engage me in Awkward Conversation about The Incident.
3 Erica said this (January 28, 2010 at 8:42 pm)
Ah, jeez. That is the kind of thing that would stick with me for DAYS. I would re-live that conversation with my boss in my head ad nauseam. I have nervous tummy for you, which is ridiculous because that conversation was ridiculous.
Also? I would NEVER be able to work in a place where profanity is banned.
4 Mama Bub said this (January 28, 2010 at 9:14 pm)
Wow. First of all, how embarassing for you over something so little. Second of all, I can’t believe THAT warranted a talking-to! That’s ridiculous!
5 Becky said this (January 28, 2010 at 9:55 pm)
Oh MY. In a way, it’s good that this happened because now you know that your workplace is super uptight about stuff like this. Fair warning and all that. But still: YIKES.
6 Jess said this (January 28, 2010 at 10:34 pm)
Gah. I’m cringing for you over here. Horror.
7 Korinna said this (January 29, 2010 at 7:45 am)
Well. That is just blatantly unfair. Did the coworker who said “stupid” get NO chastisement? Because actually, I think stupid is a worse thing to call someone than jackass. I would call my own dearly-loved husband a jackass, but I wouldn’t call him stupid. Well, not unless SORELY PROVOKED.
8 Swistle said this (January 29, 2010 at 8:26 am)
Yuck. I have nervous tummy for you, too. And I agree with Swistle that it was unfair. Urgh.
9 Shelly said this (January 29, 2010 at 9:16 am)
Oh, now that just sucks. Sorry.
10 Artemisia said this (January 29, 2010 at 12:29 pm)
Ridiculous! And, if there was NO PROFANITY in my work place it would be empty.
11 Lydia said this (January 29, 2010 at 1:27 pm)
Wow. I would have been fired multiple times by now.
12 Suzy Voices said this (January 29, 2010 at 3:32 pm)
Oh holy hell. How ridiculous. Good thing they haven’t heard how you can REALLY talk.
13 Shelly said this (January 29, 2010 at 3:47 pm)
Aww man, I think that stinks. Too bad it was taken the wrong way by your boss.
14 Mommy Daisy said this (January 29, 2010 at 9:47 pm)
seriously?
15 Domestic Extraordinaire said this (February 2, 2010 at 10:18 am)