Sexist boss?

Question

I'm the safety trainer for our manufacturing plant and the office manager for our corporate office. Everytime I want to go to the plant for somethng my boss says things like I should go there without and escort because they will think the Plant Manager just wants to talk to a pretty girl. Now the bosses wife asked me to go over there and have a b-day card signed by everyone at the plant. So, I called the plant manager to ask if it was all right to bring it by and he said ok. I went there and the guys came over to sign it. The plant manager was all pissed off because the guys stopped working to sign and told me they have too many exuses to stop working and now I know I'm going to be chewed out because its my fault for being a girl and being at the plant. Come on, I'm 30 years old and am a proffesional. Should I be made to feel responsible??? Is this a sexist company??? Is this harrastment or descrimination???

The owner, wife (company is owned by a husband and wife) me to take it to the plant, I only called the plant manager as a courtesy.

The operations manager, which handles hr issues is the one telling me these sexist things.

Answer 1

It's totally sexist, but I don't know if it's worth any legal action for discrimination or harassment. It wouldn't hurt to speak to the owner and his wife privately and basically state what you put here, adding that you're a professional and deserve to be treated as such. It seems like they mean well, even though they express that in what we see as sexist behavior. I think that if they knew it offended or bothered you, they would probably knock it off.

Answer 2

It does not sounds like a sexist company, harrassment or discrimination based on the the above; however, the comment about being a "pretty girl" is inappropriate and should this person ever say anything along the same lines in the future, pull them aside and make him aware that comments like that are inappropriate and demeaning and will not be tolerated in the future,and should be treated with courtesy and respect as any other employee that works in the plant.

Should the same person persist along the same lines, file a complaint with your Human Resources Dept. They are required to look into the matter and take appropriate action.

As for the Plant Manager's complaint about the birthday card, it is a legimate one that doesn't have anything do with your your gender; while he agreed to allow you to bring over the birthday card for people to sign, he did not say you could take it around for everyone to sign - you should have hand-delivered it to the Plant Manager and asked him to obtain signatures on the card at his convenience so as not to disrupt the workflow of his people. Your boss has the right to reprimand you on that, but if he brings into the equation it has anything to do with you being a "pretty female", call him on it as indicated in the first paragraph.

Answer 3

It's certainly degrading.

To say that you can't be around other people because you're of a different gender is pretty much a slap in the face. To have that little amount of faith in his workers is sort of sad as well.

You should bring up the point "so if I wasn't a 'pretty girl' would my place here be different and then you'd respect me?" He is certainly discriminating! He might as well be saying "Don't you worry your pretty little head dear, lets just keep you in a box from all the outside world because your presents just distracts men and men can't control themselves." People like that drive me insane.

Of course he's going to blame you for going over there, as a women around a bunch of guys-as all misogynist would. He'd say that your gender has distracted the men from their work. He's being ridiculous. I'm sorry you have to deal with someone like that. Best wishes and luck to you.