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Original poster

Work colleagues found photos from when I used to do pole fitness and are mocking me

185 replies

JadeyFlies · 09/06/2025 19:37

I haven’t done it for a while but prior to having
my 2 DC, I used to attend weekly pole fitness classes. These were really fun, and what made it brilliant was how supportive the environment was and how everyone encouraged each other.

I’ve mentioned in passing to a couple of colleagues about how I used to do this when we’ve been discussing fitness and routines etc. They seemed intrigued and the conversation moved on.

Fast forward a month, sat on lunch in the staff area and one of the girls I work with showed me a photo on her phone and asked whether it was me. I confirmed it was.

The photo was on the instagram page of the fitness group I used to attend and was from 6 years ago!! I have no images of this on my own social media, this is private, rarely used and I have no work colleagues on there.

It was a group photo so I was with 3 others but we were in ‘outfit’ so to speak so I wasn’t wearing loads of clothes.

One of my other colleagues (male) chirped up and asked me if I realised I need to declare second jobs to our boss (as in I’m a stripper), and another one said I should wear that outfit in front of clients as it would help us win business. So my female colleague had obviously shared this photo with them before.

I haven’t left a workplace in tears since I was 16/17, but I was so upset on my way home and felt humiliated by my colleagues.

I don’t think this is just ‘banter’ and in my view it crossed a line so I’d be worth considering reporting this? Or do you think I’d be better laughing it off as it won’t get anywhere

OP posts:
LoveNRoses · 09/06/2025 19:46

I don’t understand this. Either you’re pleased to have done it or embarrassed. If embarrassed then why bring it up? If embarrassed then why did you do it in the first place. So odd.

SummerEve · 09/06/2025 19:46

Srubag · 09/06/2025 19:39

They are very mean, but I don’t know why you would bring this up in a work environment. I’d also contact the old instructor and ask them to remove scantily clad images of you from the internet.

Give over. OP has done nothing wrong. The behaviour of her colleagues is absolutely shameful though.

LegoAirlines · 09/06/2025 19:46

Tell them to drop it, and let HR know if they don’t.

But… this is why you should be careful of the photos that end up online.

Missanimosity · 09/06/2025 19:45

Srubag · 09/06/2025 19:39

They are very mean, but I don’t know why you would bring this up in a work environment. I’d also contact the old instructor and ask them to remove scantily clad images of you from the internet.

Don't tell anyone to take picture off. That would mean you are ashamed, why would you? I have each bikiny pictures on my facebook no one ever dared to make inappropriate comments at work about them. Is called every day life, if they can't be grown up about it they shouldn't be in a working environment.

Gizlotsmum · 09/06/2025 19:45

Raise a complaint!! I do Pole fitness, some people at work know.. others don’t but nothing negative has ever been said. It is really hard to do it well..

Notyomama · 09/06/2025 19:45

Are you able to talk to them about it and tell them how it made you feel?

It's so disappointing when people you thought were nice behave like dickheads.

That said you have nothing to be ashamed of. They have plenty to be ashamed of. Idiots.

blubberyboo · 09/06/2025 19:43

Disagree with first poster.

You brought it up in a fitness sense

Your colleagues made derogatory and sexual comments about your clothes and implied you have some sort of shameful second employment...false.

If we mention at work that we've been on a beach holiday would we expect a male colleague to bring up a bikini photo from Facebook and imply that we are ladies of the night etc? No

Definitely report. It amounts to sexual harassment

Missanimosity · 09/06/2025 19:43

How nasty of them. Tell them if they don't drop it now you will go to HR and mean it. What you do im your free time is none of their buisness and sharing a pictures of yours they went digging for is plain nasty. Don't you dare being ashamed, you did it for fitness not for money, even if it was for money is still not their buisness. I see girls in gym wearing less then strippers, same with dancers who the hell takes pictures of women and tease like that? Bunch of pervs, that's who!

Original poster
JadeyFlies · 09/06/2025 19:42

Srubag · 09/06/2025 19:39

They are very mean, but I don’t know why you would bring this up in a work environment. I’d also contact the old instructor and ask them to remove scantily clad images of you from the internet.

Sorry, I should have said in my OP - conversation was outside of work and they’d specifically asked what fitness related stuff I do/have done. I didn’t expect the conversation to go any further.

OP posts:
Srubag · 09/06/2025 19:39

They are very mean, but I don’t know why you would bring this up in a work environment. I’d also contact the old instructor and ask them to remove scantily clad images of you from the internet.