Please or to access all these features

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To think this is not professional or am I overacting? Sex talk.

94 replies

MeatPotatos · 12/11/2024 14:00

Changed username as potentially outing

I’m not prude but…

In the small team meetings between myself (junior), other junior, the senior, the manager and the head of service (all female) sometimes the conversation goes toward intimate topics such as sex especially between the senior and the head of service. The manager laughs, the other junior aldo make little comments and I just sit there with a poker face cringing

ie:

1 - once the senior asked to work for a few weeks abroad in a sunny place known for vacations and the HoS said: ‘yes but I don’t want to see any naked men walking around while on online meetings’

2- in a meeting with a solicitor who is outsourced and not part of the team to discuss an important issue, the senior asked the solicitor in a notmal way to have a doc as soon as he could deliver and the HoS said: ‘stop flirting and using your charms, it does not work with lawyers

3- HoS was talking about how she enjoyed a day off with her husband and then complained of back pain, then the senior insinuated that her and her husband had too much sex

It seems like it is mainly the HoS starting and the senior playing along, maybe I shouldn’t be bothered as it is not towards me, but I feel uncomfortable because I’m at work. I want to work with serious professional people, not this - they sometimes make general jokes about sex, not aimed at anyone in particular and I just think it is ridiculous

In case is relevant:
The senior is mid 30s
I’m early 40s
The other junior, the manager and Head are late 40s/early50s

All married, we are not teenage girls

Because I don’t engage in the above, I feel as I’m not as close to them as they are from each other, fine, I’m there to do my job not make friends. I do laugh and banter re: other topics though.

But sometimes I find myself wishing as was in a more professional environment and wonder if I should leave

OP posts:
LlynTegid · 16/11/2024 06:56

What is said in meetings with others, such as the solicitor example, is not acceptable. It also could lead to allegations such as harassment, or someone declining to do business with them.

Starting point for saying their 'banter' is unacceptable.

MyTwinklyPanda · 16/11/2024 06:42

Fair enough if you're not someone who is chatty like them, possibly shy and single??but I feel I need to tell you to chill a little and not be so uptight about life. You can have friends at work, you sound very black and white in your opinions with no fun.

Regarding their sexual comments. If it makes you feel uncomfortable it's worth you saying something if they ever ask you about your sex life, call them out on it as it can be quite embarrassing especially if you haven't been brought up to be open. I'd be careful on this though, but if it affects you so much speak to HR. Some people think they're funny talking about sex when their not and it sounds desperate and common.

Lizardgirl797 · 16/11/2024 06:38

It's honestly very innocent sounding. I realize it involves sexuality but for people who are comfortable with making reference a bit, I think it's pretty normal. You don't have to participate and I get that everyone's comfort level is different. You could mention how it makes you a little uncomfortable because you're very private in that department and perhaps they'll wait for when you're not around. As for making a complaint, nothing here sounds over the line at all. You just have different boundaries than your work mates.

DuckbilledSplatterPuff · 13/11/2024 16:03

I don't think the strength or the level of crudeness or whether the OP is considered "prudish," matters.

I think what is probably getting to the OP is the utter predictability of these childish remarks double entendres, even in business meetings, and even to clients, and the fact that she can't escape it and being associated with it.

It must be extremely irksome knowing it's going to happen most days.

It sounds like a conversational reflex. That is so engrained they don't even realise the extent they are doing it to. It may be that this has evolved as the way the two main managers communicate with each other - that signals they are on good form, cheerful or whatever. Its like its their own form of conversational shorthand.

It's either to say "Everybody! Look at me!" or "You see what I did there? I'm so clever." or creating a frisson of embarrassment in the listening group? or make everyone think that they are the confident life and soul.They remind me of Eric Idle's Nudge Nudge Wink Wink character from Monty Python character.

It's probably so ingrained now OP that it would be hard to get them to stop, and they would certainly resent it. Maybe some one on here could think up some phrases you could use to water it down in a polite way like "Calm down ladies." or similar. In the same way that people say "get a room".

YellowAsteroid · 12/11/2024 22:10

They all sound a bit childish but the examples you give are hardly about sex. They’re clumsy crude double entendres but hardly anything to make a person blush !

doodleschnoodle · 12/11/2024 18:36

BrendaSmall · 12/11/2024 18:05

From the title and the way you started to say about talking about sex I thought it was going to be a bit more dramatic than what it is!

Yes me too, this is very tame indeed!

missmollygreen · 12/11/2024 18:33

LoafofSellotape · 12/11/2024 14:19

That changes everything and becomes a whole different dynamic then.

Yes all men are evil predators. Report him to the police OP!

This really is pathetic

TwattyMcFuckFace · 12/11/2024 18:15

MeatPotatos · 12/11/2024 14:14

There is more but I dont want to be outing

I’m not planning on doing anything, just checking if I’m the problem and if it is normal practice in other people’s job

I wouldn't say you're the 'problem' but they certainly aren't either in my opinion.

I'd say the problem is you're not the right fit, if such very mild talk of nudity etc makes you flinch.

MeatPotatos · 12/11/2024 18:09

KarlWrenbury · 12/11/2024 18:03

I don’t see why anybody’s age is relevant

Don’t know, I guess somebody would ask thinking I’m young in a team of older people or vice versa

OP posts:
BrendaSmall · 12/11/2024 18:05

From the title and the way you started to say about talking about sex I thought it was going to be a bit more dramatic than what it is!

KarlWrenbury · 12/11/2024 18:03

I don’t see why anybody’s age is relevant

BadPeopleFan · 12/11/2024 18:02

It depends how close you are to your colleagues I suppose.
We talk about everything at work. It's funny and it makes the day go more quickly.

Lisanoonan · 12/11/2024 17:28

Lovelynames123 · 12/11/2024 17:26

Oh gosh, you wouldn't want to work with us, all close colleagues and nothing is off limits! We don't work in an office and the banter is generally BOH but we do have plenty of customers who also enjoy a bit of double entendre, cheekiness, all in good fun!

Nothing you have said stands out as over the top to me

Well if someone came into my workplace and said that their back was hurting, I don't think I would say to them "you must have been having too much sex".

Like someone said in the OPs post.

Lisanoonan · 12/11/2024 17:27

BadPeopleFan · 12/11/2024 17:20

You wouldn't last five minutes in my workplace, the examples you have used are very tame. It does make me think you are more of a prude than you are admitting to yourself!

But why should people have to talk about sed with their colleagues?

Lovelynames123 · 12/11/2024 17:26

Oh gosh, you wouldn't want to work with us, all close colleagues and nothing is off limits! We don't work in an office and the banter is generally BOH but we do have plenty of customers who also enjoy a bit of double entendre, cheekiness, all in good fun!

Nothing you have said stands out as over the top to me

BadPeopleFan · 12/11/2024 17:20

You wouldn't last five minutes in my workplace, the examples you have used are very tame. It does make me think you are more of a prude than you are admitting to yourself!

Teanbiscuits33 · 12/11/2024 16:53

To me, there’s nothing wrong with example 1 or 2, and I’d personally also laugh at 3, but think 3 is a bit much for a work meeting at the same time and I understand why that would make you uncomfortable

MumOfOneAllAlone · 12/11/2024 16:49

Lisanoonan · 12/11/2024 16:18

Would you love a bit of girl talk with a 65 year old married female manager who constantly talked about riding young men and laughing. That's who I had to listen to

That's who used to talk about sex in my workplace. I'm pointing out her age not because I'm ageist but simply pointing put that she was older than us at the time, and we were a bit intimidated and creeped out by her. But we had to put up with it.

I think it's a bit of an abuse of power when managers talk about sex. Because people lower down can't really stand up to the manager about it. And also the manager should be creating a safe work environment

I think everyone in op's workplace is of a similar age

I guess it's not nice if it's just one manager forcing younger people to get involved x

But if it's an otherwise decent workplace with others who get along well, a bit of girl talk is okay for me

MeatPotatos · 12/11/2024 16:46

SophiaCohle · 12/11/2024 16:37

I wouldn't care about this in the canteen but in the context of a team meeting it's grim and I would take them less seriously as colleagues.

That is how I feel

If it was in the office at break times and break designed areas I could leave or look down on my phone or whatever

But during meetings, when we are discussing or are about to discuss work related issues and I have to be engaged it just feels so weird to me

OP posts:
SophiaCohle · 12/11/2024 16:37

I wouldn't care about this in the canteen but in the context of a team meeting it's grim and I would take them less seriously as colleagues.

Lisanoonan · 12/11/2024 16:18

MumOfOneAllAlone · 12/11/2024 16:11

I'm chronically single so love a bit of girl talk tbh 🙈🤭🤭🤭

Would you love a bit of girl talk with a 65 year old married female manager who constantly talked about riding young men and laughing. That's who I had to listen to

That's who used to talk about sex in my workplace. I'm pointing out her age not because I'm ageist but simply pointing put that she was older than us at the time, and we were a bit intimidated and creeped out by her. But we had to put up with it.

I think it's a bit of an abuse of power when managers talk about sex. Because people lower down can't really stand up to the manager about it. And also the manager should be creating a safe work environment

Nodlikeyouwerelistening · 12/11/2024 16:18

Lisanoonan · 12/11/2024 14:43

A lot of people don't want to talk about sex at work though. Many people see the workplace as a professional place.

I remember everyone used to cringe at the one woman in out workplace who used to talk about sex a lot

Some people don’t, I agree. The examples given were barely something from a Carry-on film though.
That’s why OP should raise it if she’s uncomfortable. If it’s a culture that’s a little more relaxed it might only get more difficult for OP.

MumOfOneAllAlone · 12/11/2024 16:11

HornyHornersPinger · 12/11/2024 16:08

I voted yabu because I thought your were going to give some filthy examples of the sordid conversations you're forced to listen to.
You didn't...

I'm chronically single so love a bit of girl talk tbh 🙈🤭🤭🤭

MumOfOneAllAlone · 12/11/2024 16:10

I feel like if you say something you'll seem like a stick in the mud

It does seem harmless but as long as they're not trying to make you talk about your sex life, I'd leave it and just cringe inwardly

All offices have their quirks x

HornyHornersPinger · 12/11/2024 16:08

I voted yabu because I thought your were going to give some filthy examples of the sordid conversations you're forced to listen to.
You didn't...

Swipe left for the next trending thread