Do I need to unclench? Horrified by comment my manager made

This

Back in the day when remarks like this were common place, I probably wouldn't have been surprised but it's completely inappropriate in the modern workplace imo

It's great that you're in big corporate OP. They will likely deal with this swiftly and appropriately. They will have all the procedures in place and know how to handle it.
It's a no brainer. Report it. Just in a straight forward "this is not appopriate behaviour so I wanted to let you know" manner... don't over complicate it.

It sounds like he's the type of person to make these comments regularly, so I'd suggest being ready with a "witty" remark in reply next time.

"Blimey Bob - did you skip the new Sexual Harassment policy memo??"

Then if he continues making such remarks, raise a grievance/complaint with HR.

Yes, you're right! It's lovely!

Your manager needs taking down... by women!

'The 1970s called ... they'd like your attitude back.'

It's funny that this (and much worse) used to be so normal and acceptable. I'd eye roll, I'm guessing he's older and stuck in the dark ages. I don't think I could get worked up about it.

@PistachioTiramisuOff topic but is your username a reference to the M&S Pistachio Tiramisu?! If so, isn’t it heavenly?!?!?! My eyes turned into little hearts when I tried it 😍

I think as a one-off it’s just a badly-placed joke which he may well have regretted afterwards. We can’t pretend men don’t have sex drives and/or like to make filthy banter with other blokes, after all.

However, if it happened again or he’s said this kind of thing before then that’s a totally different story. Nope! Then he’s a sexism prick, without a doubt.

Probably the people on the other thread trending today where a guy jumped in with an innuendo about someone getting her lip filler topped up.

I think the casual or low level stuff is actually more egregious than really out there stuff - because it is harder to directly challenge and the jerks who do it know full well what they are doing but can pretend they are innocent and have no idea. Its really sneaky.

This wouldn’t be tolerated where I work and if it did happen I would have expected several people to have remarked on it and set him straight. But it just wouldn’t happen. We have a strict policy on how to deal with this stuff, the intention is to make them see the error of their ways hopefully but if necessary it goes as far as needed.

edited as missed a word out

JFC - literally since Freud in the 19th fucking century we have known that jokes aren't 'just jokes'.

They usually involve an 'in' and and 'out' group for a very simplistic start - one group whose needs and values are normalised and prioritised, and the 'other' group who are defined by their not being the in group.

In this case the other ones are women - all women.

These ideas are very basic critical thinking. Unless you genuinely lack cognitive capacity you have had to make a decision not to come to these conclusions all by yourself - suggest you ask yourself why you've done that.

I love a bit of office banter…which this certainly wasn’t. Which office playbook is he working from? The Douchebag’s Seventies Management Almanac? Definitely one to report.

What was the funny bit?

Ughh. As a male I object to such sexism and lecherous behaviour, and as a manager at work they should know better.
It's difficult as a new one on the team, do you risk upsetting a few numpties and raise it with them/HR (I'm of the view that if someone would speak that in a work meeting, they are unlikely to take it well) or do you write this one down and raise it next time there's an issue..... I think I would err towards raising it straight away, as ducking it is to allow it to continue.

I work for a big corporate company, it would not be accepted here. I would 100% report this. Turning a blind eye to such casual sexism is why it still exists in 2025. He needs to know he can't behave in that way. He's clearly not particularly intelligent to have thought it was okay to say that. And he is in charge of a team of people? Definitely report to HR.

Nah...my boss makes jokes. Thankfully he would never regard viewing his female staff as flesh to be ogled at as a joke.
I absolutely would take offence at such a comment.

"Flesh"? Gross.

Talk about being treated like a piece of meat.

That comment was unacceptable, vile, and way out of line! The caveman needs reporting and the matter investigated thoroughly. No one, absolutely NO ONE, has a right to make comments like that in any environment!

I can’t believe 7% of votes say YABU. Obviously, you’re not. It’s gross.

Blimey, sexist prick!
Was the meeting recorded by any chance?

So the person in charge of people’s careers, salary reviews, upholding company values etc, thought about and decided to openly say ‘I’ve chosen today to come into the office so I can letch at tits and arse’ to his team?

and that’s the kind of leader you’re okay with?

Grim. I used to put up with so many revolting sexist jokes, remarks, conversations etc in the office in my 20s. Now I’m 40 I can’t stand these sleazy men anymore.

Basically saying women are just pieces of meat for men to salivate over. Yuck.