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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

to have a conversation with manager about what I think is awkwardness/ sexual tension

61 replies

Hairyleg · 09/07/2023 19:51

Exactly this really.

Been in a hybrid job for about a year. Go on visits and then do paperwork at home. whole things been dofficult (I miss having a workplace and working in a team )

Anyway added to this I can’t help but feel sexual chemistry/ tension with the manager. A few of the following things:

  • Imtense eye contact.
  • text messages outside of work days/ hours.
  • Just a feeling. Like he will start off a convo when others are around all serious- like how’s the family- then huuuuge smiles, twinkly eyes etc
  • goinf out of his way to find me
  • double entendres
  • when carrying out a visit together (literally only one we’ve done)- sparks when touching.
  • awkwardness
  • him blushing and getting all flustered
  • him leaning in close, touching, brushing arms, and just seeming to be around a fair bit.
  • glances accross rooms

sometimes I feel pretty excited about it but it’s wrong and no good can come of it. He’s my manager. I’m married with kids as is he.

So far I have tried focussing on his negatives, went for around a month avoiding the office so not seeing him and only communicating about it specific work things via teams, responded to one of his texts worth a very lighthearted reminder that it’s a day off and I’d see him in the office which stopped the out of work messages (I was enjoying them a bit too much) etc which I thought had worked- Then we had a work social which seems to have sent the whole thing into overdrive- worse than before- and since then I think it’s really bloody obvious.

Anyway I want to nip this in the bud because I think it’s affecting work (I honestly think he’s over valuing my work, is either incredibly supportive going out of his way to help or incredibly distant).

So thinking a little combo along the lines of ‘there’s nothing awkward here/ no beef is there?’ Just to acknowledge the situation without acknowledging how inappropriate it is without shaming anyone or
makinf it a HR issue etc.

AIBU to think this is a good idea? Or any other way of doing this? Thanks for reading this far.

OP posts:
SideWonder · 09/07/2023 20:32

YABU. Do not talk about it to him, and have some self-discipline and stop thinking about it. Behave professionally.

Gracewithoutend · 09/07/2023 20:35

Don't do it! Nothing good will come of it. It would be a big mistake. And ruin any working relationship you have.

takealettermsjones · 09/07/2023 20:37

A conversation about it would be a bad idea imo. If you truly want to end it, then grey rock non-work conversations, stop texting back, stop returning "intense eye contact" (🤨) and practise your resting bitch face.

missmollygreen · 09/07/2023 20:40

Dont do it!! Big mistake

mynameiscalypso · 09/07/2023 20:41

It's a terrible idea. If you think he's acting inappropriately, report it to HR.

Blossomtoes · 09/07/2023 20:42

Keep your mouth firmly shut. Be cool and professional and bear in mind you could easily be flattering yourself.

DIYandEatCake · 09/07/2023 20:43

Noooo don’t do it - you’re basically saying ‘I fancy you and I can tell you fancy me’ and that is not going to end well whichever way it goes. Unless you do actually want an affair with him - just keep professional distance, be polite but don’t get involved in the eye contact, personal conversations etc.

Singlikeyourebinning · 09/07/2023 20:44

The thought of you bringing this up is making me cringe... either shag him or shut this shit down but for the love of God don't have a meeting about it 😂

AtrociousCircumstance · 09/07/2023 20:46

Yeah a conversation about it will intensify it. The intimacy of “we both know what’s happening here…” - just fuel for the nonsense.

Maybe a part of you wants to poke it, see what happens?

JanesBlond · 09/07/2023 20:49

Definitely not - what if you’ve misconstrued things? Even if you haven’t, he might say you have out of embarrassment. Just grey rock him.

Gracewithoutend · 09/07/2023 20:49

Yeah, I don't think there should he any poking going on. That's a very bad idea!

cansu · 09/07/2023 20:52

This would be a mistake. Leave it alone. If you are not interested, keep it professional.

Shoxfordian · 09/07/2023 21:02

Bad idea; just ignore it and don’t entertain it anymore unless you want to have an affair with him

Missingmyusername · 09/07/2023 21:06

Singlikeyourebinning · 09/07/2023 20:44

The thought of you bringing this up is making me cringe... either shag him or shut this shit down but for the love of God don't have a meeting about it 😂

^ this! 😂

Paperbagsaremine · 09/07/2023 21:09

"No! No! No!"
From this moment on, behave with the utmost cool courtesy and professionalism. That's how to deal with this.
Any time you waver, picture your DH and his DW crying their hearts because of your office crush. Don't be that person who gets caught up in an idle flirtation and hurts the people they should be protecting.

MrsElsa · 09/07/2023 21:09

Noooo no no no. Ignore ignore. Shut that down! You do not have to participate in non work conversations, change the topic back to work! And you don't have to let him touch you at all 🤮

You are at risk here, you must understand that on some level ?

Hotcuppatea · 09/07/2023 21:11

Leave. Well. Alone.

ThePoetsWife · 09/07/2023 21:14

Cringe!!!!!

Just no.

Stop this silly fantasy.

GrannyAchingsShepherdsHut · 09/07/2023 21:15

Good god, I'm cringing inside out at the thought of that conversation! You can't. Just no.

noglow · 09/07/2023 21:16

Imtense eye contact. - stop returning it
text messages outside of work days/ hours. cool it with the replies
Just a feeling. What?!
sparks when touching. what like static?!
awkwardness maybe he things you're flirting with him and wants it to stop

Comedycook · 09/07/2023 21:16

Worst idea ever

countvoncount · 09/07/2023 21:17

Singlikeyourebinning · 09/07/2023 20:44

The thought of you bringing this up is making me cringe... either shag him or shut this shit down but for the love of God don't have a meeting about it 😂

Best advice I've ever read on this site, 100% this. With bells on.

Backstreets · 09/07/2023 21:19

Singlikeyourebinning · 09/07/2023 20:44

The thought of you bringing this up is making me cringe... either shag him or shut this shit down but for the love of God don't have a meeting about it 😂

😂 am starting to wonder at this point in my career if some people get off on unnecessary meetings!!

op if you want some tips on how to repel a man:
eyebrows down, give yourself a suspicious Neanderthal sort of look
pursed mouth like you’re trying to work out a maths problem - or why he’s trying to talk to you
when you meet his eye do an impatient What?? shrug
Answer friendly questions evasively, like you’re in a witness protection program

good luck!

keepmovingon · 09/07/2023 21:19

Start writing for mills and boon as a side hustle. OP your thread took me back a few years when I read all my Mums mills and boon instead of revising.

FromNowOn23 · 09/07/2023 21:20

Singlikeyourebinning · 09/07/2023 20:44

The thought of you bringing this up is making me cringe... either shag him or shut this shit down but for the love of God don't have a meeting about it 😂

Haha love it!

I don’t even think you think it’s a good idea op. You have other motives.

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