Genuine quote from a consultant colleague last week

[BillyBig]

I’m a NHS manager - he’s a surgeon

“There’s too many women managers, what happened to all the men, do you know X and Y? they knew how to get things done”

Ive been in the department for 3 months. Brought in because they are horrors and no other managers want to work with them

No I don’t care if this gets picked up by work because as if he’s going to admit he said it..

😲

For context he didn’t even look at me when he said this. Just stared at his screen and looked sad. Like, actual sad.

It's possible that it's true in this department.

Is he old?

"I was told X and Y didn't like the working environment here and so moved on"

In my department (not NHS) - it is well known that the head of department hires women who get things done because he is incapable of doing so and so are most of the men.

Time to prove him wrong, I don't think moithering on about a comment from a stressed colleague is helpful.

Interesting take.

Theres one manager. Me. Is that too many women managers?

"Too many male surgeons. They have a higher tendency towards psychopathy and have ruined lives with their inability to listen to advice."

But only if you want to lose your job.

He's probably talking about the last ones

I think sexism is rife but downplayed. He shouldn’t have said that at all even if he is shattered and worn out .

Not related to this but for context I was in the barbers with my youngest son yesterday. A man sitting in the next chair was asked if he liked football ( barber clearly making polite chit chat) and I overheard him reply that he used to love football but refused to watch it now as there are too many women involved … “ Women players , women referees”- they’re everywhere and football is a man’s sport “

I bit my tongue very hard. 🤬

You've got two choices , follow this up and tie up your valuable time while the department gets worse. Or ignore him, you don't and spend your time sorting things out managing the department

“Interesting, could you elaborate on those things that you think are not being done? “