Worst thing a manager has ever said

[Cosmos123]

A senior partner of one of one of the big 4 on a social evening last week.
He mentions to the new graduate recruits that he spend 3 years in Sweden.

When asked why he was there

He responded 'I wanted to live somewhere where I could blend in'.

Bearing in mind he said this to a young black recruit.
How shocking is that!

I went for a promotion at work, and got it. The next grade comes with significant additional benefits. When I spoke to HR to discuss my salary, our HR Director asked me if I’d rather take the job but on my current lower grade, given that “as a women I might be more risk averse” and less keen to take the step up and take on more responsibility. . Needless to say I did not take up that offer and pushed for the full promotion.

That is incredibly yuck (and I am dearly hoping he somehow meant something else, like that he is incredibly modest or really likes meatballs), but I've just rolled off an engagement with a senior partner who screamed down the phone at people regularly and would text me at all hours demanding pointless things so I'm feeling slightly jaded and unsurprised. I do wonder how some of them get to where they are with so little challenge of their behaviour. Luckily all the partners I've come across in my own business unit have been human, humble and incredibly easy to work with.

‘I have feelings for you’. I was 21 and he was 40. I really respected him as well and thought we had a good working relationship

In response to your title, when I was in my early 20s and out with my team (pre-big 4 days) one of the directors told me he was going to 'tear my arse apart', kept trying to hold my hand in the cab back to the hotel then tried to follow me into my room. It was a tiny company with no HR and it was terrifying and disgusting in equal measures.

Years and years back, I was at a job interview (temp contract job). The guy interviewing me (also one of the company owners) asked if I was single/married and/or planning to have children anytime soon. I had not long found out that I had PCOS and was told that it would likely be difficult for me to have children.

I think I was so shocked at the question, I just muttered something about not planning to for a good long while. Had it been now, I would have told him where to stick the job and walked out of the interview!

My manager when I was struggling with sickness in pregnancy - “Your baby may be your priority but it’s not mine”.

HR manager when I went to her after mat leave to complain that said manager was blocking me from promotion - “Well if you could just reassure her that you won’t be having another baby”

I only have one child btw. Not that it should matter…

My first job from uni in finacial services role not that long ago 2012...my boss would say to me "if you care about your career don't have a baby" (!!!) I wish i had gone to HR he said this to me more than once and when I handed my notice in I said I had something to tell him...he said "oh god dont tell me youre pregnant..." no actually I am handing in my notice...

It was fine for him and his wife to have 2 kids in the time I worked there.

Now I am a senior manager and cannot believe he said this

Used to rub my shoulders and tell me to “enjoy the hands of experience” I was 19

Years ago, we were extremely busy at work. My boss hired a guy to help us. The man was black and from Africa. This is relevant. The day he started, the boss brought him in to the office and announced that our slave had arrived. I still die a bit inside now thinking about it.

Being told by an narcissistic witch of a deputy head that I was too kind to the children! They were reception children and their classmate had just died of leukaemia.

Really ignorant or to be brutally honest, racist, headteacher.
Just horrific the things that came out of her mouth.

When I was 16 I worked as a waitress. At the end of my shift i went into the office to get my tips and my manager asked if we could "have a shag now?". I laughed and walked out, but thinking back obviously massively inappropriate

Our (all white, all male) executive leadership team were taking questions at a big work event. Someone submitted a question about whether they intended to improve diversity amongst senior leadership. One of them responded that diversity comes in many forms, and that they were quite diverse seeing as Bob was from and Steve was from .

Fortunately someone must have told them how ridiculous they were being, because not long after they hired a female exec, who then launched series of diversity initiatives which thankfully encompass more than just white old men.

My first job after university at 21, I was being bullied by a woman in her late sixties. She would constantly lie about me and gaslight me, mark me down as taking annual leave on days I worked so I would lose annual leave days etc I approached the manager several times about it but nothing was done.
It really got to me one day after working there for 10 months and I ended up crying in the loos. When I came out the manager and woman were stood waiting for me, he then told me (in front of this woman) that I should look into therapy.

Hiring manager - are you married and do you plan on having kids in a couple of years?

Senior manager 'between you and me I hate these part time women, it really inconveniences everyone else (unlike him fucking off to golf / the pub with 'customers' (who dont make us any money) half the week.

Senior manager - 'I know it's the law, but it just doesnt feel fair' (on giving parents on paternity leave equal rights for pay and opportunities) which was supported by HR.

Senior manager - 'she was a good candidate but she has only recently had a child so it's too risky that she will get knocked up again soon'

Too many more to mention

I work in one of the top family friendly firms in the UK

My first job out of uni I had an interview with a small town company & during the interview & nervous as, one of the directors commented that at my age they'd be safe offering me a job as I wouldn't be getting pregnant & leaving (I was 43 I think)

I almost got up & left I was so gobsmacked, but wanted a job, any job - was a mature student with 3 kids, & newly graduated. But!!!
I got the job but didnt report to him thankfully & later found he had a roving hand & wandering eyes for pretty young staff too.

When I was in my 40s I applied for a promotion in the large organization where I worked. I had qualified in that profession (Librarianship) under an older system when there was no such thing as a degree in "Library Science". I also had specialist qualifications which ideally suited me for the post and had often stood in and done the work on relief. However the post went to a graduate whose degree was completely irrelevant and who had none of my specialised qualifications.

When I discussed this with the head of department (who had no input into the interview process) he rolled his eyes and said "He had a bit of paper that you dont have" meaning a degree.

He words made me see that I would constantly be losing out to younger people who had a degree of any kind if I remained in post. It convinced me to step off the career ladder and return go to Uni as a mature student. I ended up with a 1st, Masters and Ph.D and went into accademia.

The manager did not actually mean this remark unkindly. It was a cynical remark directed against the employer, rather than myself. He himself was in process of applying for a much better job at a highly prestigeous London art gallery. He was successful and showed me round at a later stage when I was visiting London. Like me he saw that he was under valued by his current employer.

Sometimes remarks which are hurtful at the time can prove to be a blessing in disguise.

"It's really tricky to manage all you mums"

'Suck it up princess'

Then the next day he hooked his hand in the front of my belt whilst he was talking to me.

This was 10 years ago in the Army whilst we were based in Germany.

I had an unexpected pregnancy and needed a termination for medical reasons (due to medication I was on at the time).. my boss said "sort your bloody contraception out"...

First lesson observation after returning from work after being signed off with depression. “You may as well just take. Gun and shoot yourself” as she mimed putting a gun to her temple. They didn’t want much just that I changed the way I think. I’m actually a very good teacher by the way!

Both times same manager while working at a café when I was 18

Had a very bad allergic reaction, face swelled up, couldn't see properly. Called my manager to say I couldn't come as I didn't feel comfortable serving people looking the way I did plus felt like absolute garbage. Manager told me to still come in and I could help the chef prep the food. A) I couldn't see properly and B) did not have any kind of food safety certificate so refused to come in. Manager asked to see proof so sent a photo of my face alas this still wasn't enough so went to the doctor who signed me off for two weeks. Would have been back at work a lot sooner than that if she hadn't ben a bitch about it.

A guy came in and asked for a bacon sandwich for him and his wife, manager was in the kitchen and she was the one making the bacon sandwich. Bacon sandwich wasn't on the menu so I asked the manager how much to charge and she said to charge it at the same price as the cheapest sandwich on the menu, explained the cheapest sandwich was £4.50 (cheese sandwich, chips and a side salad) manager thought this was a fair price for a bacon sandwich so £9 for two basic bacon sandwiches. Ended up ignoring my idiot boss and charging £4 for both.

I worked for the NHS.
One day I answered the phone and the caller, who was almost certainly a disgruntled ex employee, said in a low voice ‘cock sucker.’
I reported the call to my manager.
His reply was ‘ You know you love it.’