Was this weird of me at work?

[Handsomesquidward]

I'm a straight woman, I work in a semi-formal office environment. We have a young girl there who has beautiful long, blonde Rapunzel hair and who is just beautiful in general.
I haven't really spoken to her as she's in another department. I saw this girl and I just said 'Hi I hope you don't mind me saying, just wanted to say I really love your hair, you look beautiful!'
She seemed really happy I'd said it and appreciated it.
My other colleague was in the toilets too and had heard, she told me it was really weird and creepy id said that.
I feel so embarrassed now and wonder if I shouldn't have said anything. I was just trying to be nice, I imagine some women would be very jealous of her and she gets some cattiness, I don't think I said anything inappropriate.
Just wondered what others think? Surely it's a sad world where you can't compliment people.

Oh if only you knew the irony. 🥰. No not jealous at all. Because I want in a professional setting to be noted for my ability to deliver results. My capability to develop a productive innovative team.

I can advise that it is not welcome nor appropriate in a professional setting to refer to a person's physical attributes. I can say this because I am the person in receipt of them , which kind of dispells your rather school yard attempt of being mean girl. Honey, leave that to the Lynsey Lohan's of the world.

LOL. Only mean girl here is the one trying to cast doubt in the mind of anyone recognising beauty in the workplace as some sort of professionalism issue. What do you do when a stunning woman joins your team? I can imagine you're a total cow to them. Also should you ever pull anyone aside for passing a compliment in the work place they will think you're a total bitter, bully so do he careful with that. I'd roll my eyes so hard if someone like you said 'it's not professional' and know that it was the jealousy talking.

Compliments about clothes, whether to or from complete strangers or work colleagues are fine. I give and receive them.

I would never make the compliment tied to physical appearance. I'm with OP's colleague here.

@ByNavyOtter the bitterness is strong with you it would seem.

HR would provide the training which as mentioned is actually in the early years curriculum so most people who join actually don't have to advised how to be professional. Oh and no I have never had one HR complaint against me throughout my career so far, which is what you seem to inadvertently referring to.

I work with wonderfully gifted, talented individuals and my greatest achievement is seeing my development work produce future leaders. I don't recognize your viewpoint it must be rather uncomfortable where you are stuck in what really is an outdated point of view.

I would recommend caution should you attempt promotion or moving to a development role as most organisations offer EDI training in line with what I have detailed.

What?
Now you should not compliment clothes people wear and you cannot complimemt the way they look?

Why are you so desperate to prove you are "more than just your body"? Insicure in your brain much?
Or did you never received compliment about your look and you are complaining now?

You could befriend women from my workplace who made a drama when I described hipo as fat.
Because "we don't call anyone fat".
They were all fat women offended on a behalf of a fucking animal.

By assuming it's jealousy you assume anyone who disagrees wants to be objectified in the work place. We don't. It can be really hard in some (mostly male dominated) industry/sector for women, especially younger ones with less of a track record, to be taken seriously. It's worse when instead of being respected equally to a man you get a compliment on your hair and told you're beautiful.

Agreed Marblessolveeverything

I don't want people recognising my beauty in the workplace. That's not what I'm there for. I'm there to kickass at my job

This thread is really sad. I can’t imagine being offended by someone complimenting me. We really have to censor an off the cuff compliment to another woman now ? Women really get offended by this ?
sad as fuck
you did nothing wrong OP

I naturally compliment people too and someone commented on it recently that I always compliment people but it's never disingenous and if I notice something lovely or if someone does something lovely I always acknowledge it.

It's not creepy. What is creepy is your colleague hanging around in staff toilets eavesdropping on other peoples conversations!

Are you for real, this is the response to someone complimenting you?!

I swear, people just have to be contrary for no reason

Presumably they would treat them exactly the same as anyone else regardless of their looks. What they would (I hope) NOT do is approach them in the women's toilets and tell them they are beautiful.

Sighhhhh. It is jealousy, you harping on makes it even more obvious😂'I'm not jealous I'm insert some sort of irrelevant view here.

I think it was a really unprofessional thing to do.

Not at all weird or creepy. I think it’s nice to have women supporting other women and whenever I have had compliments from colleagues it has made my day!

Or. I'm someone who's had to work very hard in a male dominated world to be taken as seriously just because I am a woman who people are jealous of

In a professional setting I am not there to be pretty. It isn't professional and is part of EDI training in state companies in my jurisdiction. Do you think I should ignore the law.

And it may strike you as unusual but not all women want compliments from strangers in toilets!

I can’t imagine being offended by someone complimenting me

You can't imagine it because it doesn't happen. The people moaning probably don't get many compliments.

I'm not even trying to get mean, but it's like complaining about fresh air - nobody does that.

I've been complimented in the work bathroom and it made my morning. We also had really similar hair so I noticed hers before. It's nice, it's friendly, we want to feel good about ourselves!

Yes its many people's. There's a place and a time. The workplace isn't one of them

You can be both! One of my senior leadership team is gorgeous and successful.

What do you do when a stunning woman joins your team?

What a bizarre question.

Not creepy or weird at all. I very rarely get a random compliment from a stranger but when I do I love it.

Your coworker is acting as though you've told her she's got a nice backside or something!

I much prefer the people who give compliments freely than those who never do! Good for you, OP.

In a professional setting I am not there to be pretty. It isn't professional and is part of EDI training in state companies in my jurisdiction. Do you think I should ignore the law.

Report to HR and log with 111 with good measure. Nice lady said I have beautiful hair, outrageous

@Sweedey now your getting it, fair play!