to be really annoyed at this comment from a stranger

[diamond457]

I started a new job last week. I'm one week in. I mind the desk at the company and put clients through to who they should be seeing.

Someone who worked for the company, but has nothing to do with me or my role, or anyone I work with came up to me and said smile will you, remember your the face of the company!
I was shocked! Nothing was wrong with me, it was just my normal face and I was logging into my computer as I had literally just arrived.
This woman didn't introduce herself or say hello. I thought it was extremely rude!
I always smile at anyone that comes in and she caught me off guard.

I sooo wanted to say something like I'm sorry my face offends you, but with being brand new to the company I didn't want to get myself into trouble.

It really bothered me. People in life have all sorts of problems going on in their lives and God forbid but if something awful had just happened and I was a bit upset and she said that I would have wanted to punch her in the face.
I hate these people in the workplace that go on a little power trip and think they are better than everyone else and splash their opinions about left right and centre without knowing full facts.

[PovertyPain]

Don't let her get under your skin, OP. She sounds like a patronising prick and I wonder if she would have said the same to a man? I doubt it.

So long as you are professional and civil, then don't worry about it. I hate that fake, plastered on smile, that doesn't reach the eyes.

[duskonthelawn]

You should have bared her teeth at her and given her an all out maniac grin, then carried on doing your work on the computer still grinning.

[Pineappletastic]

YANBU

I hate the assumption that women's faces are decoration and that we should smile for the world. Fair enough when greeting people, but not just generally.

I wear a facemask for most of my job and a visiting fireman commented to another guy 'it's a shame, you can't even ask them to give you a smile'. Give him a smile, what the actual fuck? I replied that he was pretty lucky he was prevented from making such a sexist remark since it saved him being reported, and that he should probably watch his mouth while he was up that ladder!

[DownWithThisSortaThing]

You should have bared her teeth at her and given her an all out maniac grin, then carried on doing your work on the computer still grinning.

This. Next time you see her do this.

[PotOfYoghurt]

You probably have resting bitch face. I do. I can be thinking about the funniest thing the baby did yesterday or a delicious cake and look like I'm in the foulest of moods.

[diamond457]

I think I was actually making plans in my head about what I'd do if I won the lottery 😂

[kmmr]

I have a colleague who does that. She wanders by and says 'oh kmmr, you are always on that phone, and your posture is terrible. You'll mustn't slump/get a sore neck etc'.
All in a sing song critical voice. I actually called her out on it the other day 'look, while its always nice up get a bit of extra criticism, not like I don't get enough, I was actually just taking a moment to look at the pictures daycare sent me. It's hard working and missing him.'
Anyway, she did apologise, said it was meant in jest, but seriously it's about the 10th time and we literally have no other interaction. She's been nice since! Hopefully makes her think twice about commenting on personal things.

[diamond457]

Some people just don't have any tact even though they think they do. good for you standing up to her. I was walked all over in my last job, too nice for my own good so with this job I am determined to stand up for myself when needed.
There is always someone in every work place.
I was telling a colleague about her today and they said they stopped having lunch in the same place as her as she always had an opinion on their food, telling them it's not good for them to eat this and that for lunch. Sigh

[Discobabe]

I had this said to me once. Funnily enough a few years later someone said the same thing to the person who said it to me. It didn't go down well, she ranted about how ridiculous she'd look if she had a permanent grin stuck on her face 😂. Great karma though.

[acasualobserver]

It is at times such as these that I would like to be able to fart loudly at will.