Chastised

January 28th, 2010

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.


15 Responses to “Chastised”

  1. Jodi on January 28, 2010 8:32 pm

    Seriously?

  2. bitchy mcbitchesalot on January 28, 2010 8:39 pm

    Um, that’s jackassery right there. Them, not you. Did the co-worker REPORT you???

  3. Erica on January 28, 2010 8:42 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.

  4. Mama Bub on January 28, 2010 9:14 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.

  5. Becky on January 28, 2010 9:55 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!

  6. Jess on January 28, 2010 10:34 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.

  7. Korinna on January 29, 2010 7:45 am

    Gah. I’m cringing for you over here. Horror.

  8. Swistle on January 29, 2010 8:26 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.

  9. Shelly on January 29, 2010 9:16 am

    Yuck. I have nervous tummy for you, too. And I agree with Swistle that it was unfair. Urgh.

  10. Artemisia on January 29, 2010 12:29 pm

    Oh, now that just sucks. Sorry.

  11. Lydia on January 29, 2010 1:27 pm

    Ridiculous! And, if there was NO PROFANITY in my work place it would be empty.

  12. Suzy Voices on January 29, 2010 3:32 pm

    Wow. I would have been fired multiple times by now.

  13. Shelly on January 29, 2010 3:47 pm

    Oh holy hell. How ridiculous. Good thing they haven’t heard how you can REALLY talk. :)

  14. Mommy Daisy on January 29, 2010 9:47 pm

    Aww man, I think that stinks. Too bad it was taken the wrong way by your boss.

  15. Domestic Extraordinaire on February 2, 2010 10:18 am

    seriously?

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