to think it is cruel to pick on a man for this

[alpacaonfire]

There is a young guy on our office relatively recently joined. Although he's early ish 20s he is significantly bald. My female manager early 30s is forever commenting on it, sometimes on front of him sometimes not. He smiles and laughs along but I sense he is actually quite hurt by the things she says and embarrassed about his baldness and relative youth. AIBU?

So you don't mean the company directors then?

And yes, you did indicate that it was abnormal to have induction training or to be aware of the content of policies.

could not comment

But you did yesterday.

Yes, the public sector is very hot on having very tight processes and procedures - which means that those of us who work in that sector tend to take a very dim view of bullying and know how to deal with it effectively as soon as we witness it.

Morning ilovesooty
Whats your problem ah? Always snide little remarks. What has happened in your life.?

ilove doesn't have a problem - and there have been no snide little remarks. What an odd little post

Thanks SirChenjin
I don't see myself as having a problem and don't consider myself to have made snide remarks either.

Only snidey coment came from you Flat

This is completely unacceptable. Speak to someone senior to her. HR?

Its completely unacceptable, part of the spectrum of things that men are supposed to laugh off or put up with, it's sexist and she should be pulled up about it. Care should be taken so that being bald is not made out to be a particularly unfortunate physical trait, but commenting on one aspect of a persons appearance repeatedly is the problem here.

Poor guy. It's bullying and she's an utter bitch.

It really doesn't matter if he is bothered by it or not. It is unprofessional and bullying, so we'll done to the OP for reporting her.

Actually unpacking what is or isn't bullying can be tricky as it's often a build up of incidents over time. ACAS guidelines are useful though.

I've worked in both public and private sector. I always make myself aware of policies. Far better to know what they are before you risk breaking them, and not all of them are common sense.

Well done for reporting, OP.

although I work for the (gasp!) Public Sector, I would go to the manager, talk to them and then tell the guy I'd done so afterwards. I'd make it clear to the manager that the complaint came from me.

If she then continued, I'd escalate it

Flat - you seem to be the chap with the problem

If I remember rightly Flat, you like to take the piss out of your colleague's accent. Correct me if I'm wrong.

Derxa
Thats right. And she takes the piss out of my Essex accent.
Totally different having banter with each other. Whats your point?

MrsJayy
have a good weekend

My point is that 'banter' is causing untold misery in workplaces up and down this country. People may laugh along but they're dying inside.

Derax
If you are going to quote from a previous thread then tell the whole story. Crafty you are!
Two colleagues/mates at work having banter with each other is nothing like bullying. You are being goady.

Funny, the people that used to bully in my work would have said there was no bullying too. To see ourselves as others see us, ehh?

Derxa
Depends on the colleague and how friendly you are. Nothing wrong with mutual banter.

Bullying is all too often excused as "banter"

Nothing wrong with mutual banter. True but I find it's rarely mutual.

And if you want to indulge in "mutual banter" with friends it's generally appropriate to remember that while you're at work you are colleagues and employees of your company and certain behaviours have no place in the office.

Not TRFT and don't need to.

Utterly unacceptable.

Dob in the twatty manager.

Did they appear to take it seriously OP?