Managing director inappropriate comments

[2020mumtobee]

Hi I'm wondering if any can offer me any advice. I felt I was being bullied in a situation by a senior HR exec at my work. I spoke to the MD and got extremely tearful. He then said to me that 'I'm emotional because I'm expecting' does anyone know if he's 'allowed' to say something like that?

I couldn’t get worked up about that comment at all.

I would say that's more crass or insensitive than inappropriate. Probably not grounds for a complaint in itself, but keep a record if you feel that comments like that are part of a wider problem.

I couldn’t get worked up about that comment at all.

I could!

Expecting what?

However it's also scientifically correct that pregnant women are more hormonal/emotional? Yes his comment is insensitive - I would only take it further if he refuses to address the bullying situation

I’d personally say that if the MD is saying you are only getting upset about bullying because you are pregnant, that’s very inappropriate. All bullying reports should be written down, investigated & taken seriously. We have a huge bullying policy in my company. My MD wouldn’t dream of dismissing concerns with such a statement. He’s be concerned. I personally think it was a pretty shitty thing to say to you under the circumstances.

Find your policy on bullying and make sure it’s followed.

Trivialising your concerns because you are pregnant I would argue could fall under the Equality Act

It depends on what made you feel bullied by your HR exec in the first place and whether crying was an understandable reaction or one you would consider an overreaction if you weren't pregnant. What did the HR exec do?