Charlotte Proudman

Yes, I think her message was "ye gads, how much more of this shite?" Not personal!

Lass

Do you think she shouldn't have done it if it had been an accountant that did this? Or a less regulated profession - let's say an IT support person?

Does that distinction give you another way of looking at the issue Lass?

It does but her activism was directed at one particular individual she had other routes to target specifically.

Cool thank you for explaining Lass. So there are still people to complain to without going on social media.

Mide7 She doesn't have an employer. Barristers are self-employed but work in chambers (stables in Scotland ) with other barristers and share facilities and running costs.Some chambers will be of a certain ethos and /or specialised work as is the case with her chambers.

His firm will have a social media policy (which he has probably breached) and he and his firm are governed by the Solicitors Regulatory Authority code of conduct. She may have a justifiable complaint in relation to diversity and equality which she could have submitted to them. I think I've read she has or will do so.

He's not an employee either but I expect internally he's being hauled over the coals on this- as he would also be (one would hope) if a letter had been sent to the management partners and the SRA. In my own firm a complaint to our managing partner would be taken very seriously and a letter intimating a complaint has been made to the professional body is an awful letter to get.

Never said sending the comment wasn't thin ice Yonic. In fact it's a lot more than that.

I can't really remember the story with scudamore but if he used work emails to make sexist comments he should be disciplined at the very least and in my opinion fired.

And again, the only privacy she violated was her own, which is hers to surrender, because she was the subject of the comment.

Where do you stand on the Scudamore emails, Mide?

If using social media to discuss work stuff is on thin ice, sending a sexist message on a professional social network, probably during the working day, to someone interested in connecting with you in part or whole because of the firm you work for is also thin ice.

Interestingly, BigChoc, I once put in a formal complaint about my workmates' racism and subsequent bullying of me for speaking up against it. The company in question first made very sure to protect themselves against the claims of racism and then proceeded to ice me out. I ended up resigning as I couldn't face the daily struggle with such a complete lack of support.

I also consulted a solicitor at the time who told me since I was white, I had no grounds for complaint.

White male power is a damned sight stronger than we think sometimes. I really, really wish I'd gone to the local rag with the story as that might have changed something. I have all the respect in the world for Proudman, she's doing what I couldn't.

To me personally, it's not the speaking out that I disagree with and don't understand. It's the way she's has done it.

IMO going to a professional body or employer( sorry I don't understand this line of work particularly) is the right way to do it. Using social media to discuss work stuff is very thin ice.

The last couple of companies I have worked for have had strict social media policies.

It wouldn't in any way, shape or form put me off instructing her.

Buffy there are more solicitors, barristers, advocates and law graduates than there are jobs for.

If one is hiring the questions are (a) can they do the job they going to be hired for and (b) if yes, what will they be like to work with? Will they be easy to get along with?

You (general you, not "you") may see that as silencing her. I've said I think there were other ways of addressing the issue without silencing her.

So, if I complained publicly about a racist remark I'd deserve career damage for embarassing the racist ? I think not.
Sexism needs to be treated as seriously, not as the silly woman misunderstanding a joke

He's obviously been allowed to get away with remarks before, so he keeps on making them.

His remark under his DD's photo was so inappropriate too.
Saying that someone is hot carries the element of lust.
e.g. if a friend said "that's a beautiful Labrador", you'd be pleased your hound was complimented.
In contrast, if they said "Ye Gods, that Labrador is HOT!", you'd fight them off with the floormop if they tried to take it out walkies.

If someone's thoughts are pure, they don't preface their remarks with "I know this is politically incorrect, but ..."