As she was walking out, he didn't see me coming in, and he just mumbled "dumba$s" at her as she left his office. I feel like this is really inappropriate. Should I tell my boss that I heard what he said? Should I tell my coworker what he called her? Should I ignore it?
2007-09-26 14:21:45 · 30 answers · asked by Luna Maya 4 in Society & Culture ➔ Etiquette
Why everyone is following the crowd here? I am not a follower. I say if you care about her and you think she doesn't deserve that comment, tell her anonymously, so that you wouldn't cause trouble for yourself. She deserves to know what her boss really thinks of her.
2007-09-26 20:44:25 · answer #1 · answered by Highland 5 · 1⤊ 1⤋
As bad as this sounds, you should ignore it. You're not in a position of power to challenge your boss, and telling her about it would just cause unnecessary stress. If she took action against him, and word got out that you were the one who told her, it could mean a big headache for you. And I mean, although you're pretty sure she was who he was referring to you just never know...he could use that as a defense and claim you were reading too much into the situation. He could even claim that you're lying (depending on how big of a jerk he really is). Bottom line is, you need to pick and choose moral battles in the work place. I don't see how anyone can win in this situation. I think it'd be a lot different if he was insulting her to her face and you did nothing to stick up for her if she wished to pursue a reprimand. In this instance adjuring to the saying "live and let live" is the wisest thing to do.
2007-09-26 15:00:23 · answer #2 · answered by snapessxy 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Agreed that it's inappropriate, but you do neither yourself nor anybody else any good by telling anybody. Just ignore it. However, you may want to watch your own back in the future. Oh, and don't do anything that puts you in the position of being called a dumba$$ either...
2007-09-26 14:53:27 · answer #3 · answered by Gary B 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Ignore it and pretend as if you didn't hear a thing. It's a no-win situation if you were to tell your boss and/or co-worker what you overheard. Just ask yourself how this could possibly work in your favour. And then consider how this could work against you. I think you could get yourself into a real pickle if you decided to spill the beans. Moving on and playing dumb seem to be the best options here under the circumstances.
2007-09-26 15:25:16 · answer #4 · answered by milly 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
We all say things when we think no one is listening just to blow off steam. It's better than saying it to their face. You should keep out of it. Definitely do not tell your coworker. It could potentially ruin her relationship with the boss, and who knows what she may have called him under her breath that no one heard!! Don't cause trouble where there is none.
2007-09-26 14:53:13 · answer #5 · answered by uscitizen 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It would be inappropriate to put it in an email to the whole company, but he thought he was muttering under his breath in his own office. He might think he is entitled to his private opinion.
I wouldn't mention anything to your boss, unless you want to be thought of in the same terms, for good reason.
If you want to counsel your friend, you could say 'what happened in there yesterday? he looked kinda bummed when i went in.'
It's not like he was taking her from behind while making her do the filing. THAT would be inappropriate.
2007-09-26 14:31:32 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Of course you should ignore it & not bring the subject up to either person.
By doing so you'd be a troublemaker & yourself a "dumba$s".
Bosses call underlings all sorts of names (I've done it many times over) & in this instance it was not meant to be heard by others.
Just worry about getting on with what you are employed to do & stop trying to be a stirrer.
2007-09-26 14:27:41 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
I generally say i'm basically shaking palms with an previous pal, he's been out of paintings for awhile and desires some cheering up. the two that or "my boys have been performing up and must be separated"
2016-10-20 02:26:19 · answer #8 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's unanimous, I agree with everyone else..... do as if you never heard it and move on.
I used to have a boss who was really rude and would treat you like crap IN YOUR FACE, in which case you could either ignore him, counterattack, demand for respect and/or report him to HR. I tried all of those options and he finally learned to respect me. However, he continued to call people names on their back BUT in front of me....!! So I knew what his opinion was (pretty poor in ALL cases) about each and every person we worked with. It was pretty uncomfortable, but there was nothing I could do about it and telling my coworkers what my boss thought and said about them was not going to do anyone any good. So I just ignored his remarks, as rude as they were. He's just that way and he's never going to change... the management knew about it and did little or nothing to solve it, so that proves you that nothing we (as employees) did or said would have helped improve the situation. So just SSSHH!!
2007-09-26 15:09:16 · answer #9 · answered by Lprod 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
As it was not meant for you to hear, ignore it, but don't forget it.
It may be that your colleague fully deserved the boss's comment, but it may be that your boss is two faced.
You need take no action, but it is wise to know as much as you can about what a person senior to you is like ~ you may be the one walking out of his office one day!
Cheers :-)
2007-09-26 14:25:46 · answer #10 · answered by thing55000 6 · 2⤊ 1⤋