Inappropriate comment

[madasa]

Hi
This is my first post although I have lurked and read for a long time.
Something happened at work today which is bothering me a lot and I just feel I would like some perspective on it.
I will try and make it as brief and straightforward as possible.
I work for a charity which supports people with mental health problems. We are currently having a complete new system installed on our computers and had our second training session today.
I was inputting a client's details on the computer and the trainer was watching over my shoulder checking. He misread the clients' name and said to me"'oh I thought that said Courtney Cox....if it's her I'll go and visit her myself!" and laughed. He then asked what this client's visits were for (we support in lots of ways) and I told him it was for medication monitoring to which he replied "oh is that all.....still I could go and see her anyway ...if I gave her enough medication and drugged her up, I'd be able to do what I wanted with her anyway...." or words to that effect.
I am no prude and I have a wicked sense of humour but that just seemed so inappropriate and has been on my mind since I left work 5 hours ago!

very inappropriate, I'd report it.

You know this is wildly inappropriate.

I'd have been tempted to say "That's rather inappropriate isn't it?" there and then. He must have diversity and appropriate behaviour training regularly surely? What you could do is wait till he makes the next comment of that kind and respond sharply then. He will, soon. People who think that kind of comment is acceptable do it often ime.

Inappropriate and creepy! Report him.

It's more worrying and creepy because he comes into regular contact with vulnerable people. The OP might be unwilling to jeopardise her job though (depends how much you need this job OP) by reporting directly- I am sure the creep knows it's an inappropriate comment and needs to be reminded that pple won't stand for this kind of crap.

Thank you for your comments.
Yes I do know it's inappropriate....for some strange reason I needed it confirmed!
I did report it to one of the very senior managers and I will report it to the trainer's boss on Friday.
I am usually very upfront and have no problem saying what I feel, but I just sat there and all that came out of my mouth was " that wasn't very nice" ??!!
I think I was so gobsmacked I couldn't quite believe I'd heard him right.

Duchesse, he is from an outside agency training us, so in effect we are his clients , so my job is safe :)

Aren't you supposed to just run dummy data on a test run, for this very reason?

Doesn't the Data Protection Act state that private data should be kept secure?

Ah, report the creep then!

Bloody hell! Erk, so out of order. What a creep.

And this man is a TRAINER??!!!! WTF?

Is this trainer a member of the charity's staff, or is the computer training being carried out by an outside agency?

In any event, and particularly in view of the fact that this trainer may have access to personal information relating to the charity's clients, it is a highly inappropriate comment which you should report to your line manager tomorrow.

Rest assured you've done the right thing, and will be doing the right thing again on Friday.

Izzy he's from an outside agency. I have reported it to my line manager and above.
Imperial...I honestly don't know the answer to your question re data protection...I think that's something else I will discuss with my line manager.

Ew, that 'joke' is very very wrong. I can't believe people can misjudge things so much, how could a creepy comment like that ever be funny?! Well done for reporting him, however I wonder if he just works for computer training company rather than job involving vulnerable people, what exactly could his boss do?

re dummy data: I'd love to see him make the same inappropriate comment about Tasmanian Devil or Puff the Magic Dragon.

Pubquiz I think he does just work for the training company rather than actually with vulnerable people. I don't know what his boss can do but I would assume that their trainers/staff etc. would have some kind of code of conduct? I guess I'll find out soon enough as he's due back for another three training days with us!

Oh well good luck with that! at least now you are aware of what he's like, maybe pre-plan some replies to stop him in his tracks next time.

I think that goes right through inappropriate and into 'creepy as fuck' territory.

What Morloth said.

I didn't meant that kind of dummy data, duchesse!

Maybe they were testing you! Like if you didn't report it you'd get in trouble...

You did the right thing.

I'm glad you told your manager(s). They need to a) get him sorted via his employer and b) ensure they use dummy data in future. He has seen her address? Not clever.

You don't ever use real names and addresses with training, especially with an outside agency and especially with vulnerable people That's basic data protection, and especially disclosing what service you actually provided, I'm really shocked that you thought that an appropriate conversation!

You always use dummy information, our testing box of our HR computer system is full of names such as Lady Eliza Dolittle and addresses such as 1 The Street, Midsommer Murdersville.

I would be asking for the training company to provide dummy accounts. I would also be aware that unless the info you gave him was needed you may have to explain why you disclosed the reason she is being supported.

SO wrong! Awful and inappropriate.