AIBU to feel humiliated after a senior manager left mid-presentation?

[Kelkelsho]

Today I had to attend (virtually) a sort of governance meeting which my senior manager was also attending. I was told before by my own manager he is quite ‘eccentric’. I had a 5 minute section which was last on the agenda and talked over a slide I had prepared. The manager had made reference half way through the meeting to being ahead of schedule and ‘getting time back’. I was about 3 minutes in to my part and he interrupted and said he was ‘touching cloth’ and was going to have to leave the meeting, he just exited the call. Most of the others on there laughed and I wrapped up my section.

I felt quite humiliated after that he left when I was mid sentence and didn’t even say sorry for leaving early. My manager afterwards said not to worry and that is just his personality and I shouldn’t over think it.

It’s still on my mind though. Do I just need to accept that he’s the senior manager and can do what he wants?

Nah that’s totally unprofessional and he sounds like a dick. I’d also feel the same as you. Did every one else just laugh because he’s the boss?

I only really know my manager well in terms of the attendees, but it wouldn’t surprise me if that was the reason.

What does that even mean?

Unprofessional and rude of him. We don't need to know about his toilet issues.

He basically said he needed to poo and YOU feel humiliated? He and his employers should be embarrassed, not you.

I wouldn’t feel humiliated or insulted. What he said was weird as fuck but that is not a reflection on you at all.

honestly I don’t think it reflects on you.

He’s either no filter odd or has IBS/crohns or similar. Dh has and he quite often has to excuse himself randomly. Often with a similar sort of crude phrase- is it ruder to admit why you need to leave or to make up some lie? Everyone is used to him now and just rolls their eyes.

He has a shit hanging out of his arsehole touching the cloth of his pants. Classy right

So …. An ‘eccentric’ senior manager said in a meeting that you were presenting in, that he needed a 💩 and exited the meeting ?????

what industry do you work in ??
how is he getting away with such dickhead behaviour ???

His behaviour was unpleasant and rude. Not your fault, not your problem. Well done with the presentation!

Oh my life! In a business meeting?! That’s awful, just disgusting. How unprofessional 😳

It’s finance related so it is a corporate/regulated industry.

Wow … well, rest assured that the humiliation is NOT on you … !!

Unfortunately lack of basic manners is not something a regulator gets involved in.

Why are you worried or humiliated? He left to go to the loo it has nothing to do with you

So he artlessly told you he really needed a poo so had to leave. It isn't a reflection on the quality of your presentation. If you need to go there really isn't anything else you can think about, IME.

Why do you feel humiliated?
Do you think he was lying about needing the loo and it was actually a snub?

Hes the one who should feel some way. Fancy saying that in a meeting!

I’ve never heard of the saying touching cloth, that’s unbelievably grim.

i didn’t think it was awful he left the meeting to be really honest- it happens for more legitimate reasons, and wouldn’t be any reflection on you at all.

its grim and unprofessional but when you need the loo then you need the loo

If the other people on the call knew what that meant (I didn't before reading it here) that would have been awkward, uncomfortable laughter rather than anyone finding it funny. Definitely on him and nothing to do with you.

It’s a very crude expression and not something I’d expect anyone to use in a meeting. If he needed to go, he needed to go, but an ‘excuse me, but I really need to jump off the call’ would have sufficed. It doesn’t reflect on you at all OP.

Why are you humiliated? He obviously needed the loo and couldn't wait, it isn't a relection of your presentation. His choice of words though WTF? Some people have no shame.

I've never heard that phrase but surely anyone who needs to leave urgently either mutes their mic and camera, or just hangs up? No announcement needed, and you explain later if you need to.

Please don’t think this is anything to do with you. The senior boss is an unprofessional dickhead. If anyone absolutely had to use the toilet/answer the door/put the kettle on because they’re bored in an online meeting then they just put “brb” in the chat. If they come back then they might remember to comment “back”. At no point does anyone mention poo or toilets or touching the cloth 🤢

This is on him, not you. Hold your head high.

Ugh!

Pathetic - mute/camera off 'BRB' or 'sorry, need to leave' in meeting chat.