Anybody experience sexism at work and what to do about it?!

[Pombliboo123]

I'm a fairly young female, work in a male dominated office environment. Not senior enough to really stand up for myself without getting into trouble.

Absolutely pig sick of the men in my office treating me like I'm worthless.

Just a small example...

Pombliboo... we need read and coffees in the board room.

Erm that's not actually my responsibility anymore (worked hard from receptionist to get to where I am now).

Well you booked the training course so you have to make the lunch and coffees.

I didn't book the course.... male colleague (same level as me) did

Well he's far to busy you need to do it.

And then instructed to clean up the meeting room after they had all finished.

Spoke to my (amazing) line manager (female) Who spoke with the CEO and he completely shut her down and said that the women need to be doing it as then mens time is more valuable.

Same man who told me after I requested a deserved pay rise that I was paid average "for a woman".

This happens EVERY DAY.

Pombliboo can you go and get me a notebook? (Wtf I work in HR...)

Erm no you can find them in the cupboard downstairs

Straight into the CEO office complaint about I'm not doing my job?!?!?!? CEO agrees and tells me to get the notebook?!?!

How can I put my foot down without getting fired?!?!

To be honest, the whole company sounds a bit of a mess, and if I were you I would be dusting off my CV to find something better...

No denying that.... I often wonder how they ever make any money!!!

I think I'm maybe just too comfortable there.... the thought of being the "New girl" again fills me with dread. And is the grass greener?!

God yes! The grass is greener. Find another job. Do you really want to work there another 5-10-15 years?

The 2 male admin assistants were not invited to this meeting. One of the females pointed this out and the CEO said that they shouldn't even be in admin roles they should be engineering roles... And subsequently promoted them and increased their pay

If employees are capable of and are qualified to do engineering roles there is no reason why they should not be moved into that role. What would be ridiculous is moving them to engineering if they aren't capable of doing the work. What is also problematic is it is another example of not being clear about why they are hiring people and what they are supposed to do. Why are they hiring engineers to do admin?

I also don't understand why an organisation which isn't large enough to have a finance team (which can mean basically one person who understands accounts) and a facilities team (aka the office manager) yet has someone sporting the vainglorious title of "CEO"

Grievance!

I often wonder how they ever make any money!!!

Do they make any money? Depending on the size of the company you can have a look at the annual accounts via Companies House's website.

Money often talks... The fines for sex discrimination are unlimited - so keep on with your notebook:

www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/jobs/8288800/Average-discrimination-tribunal-payouts.html

TBH if your boss is the HR manager she should be raising these points with them - it's her job to warn so as to protect the company against the ignorant dinosaurs who run it. I doubt the people who own it would be pleased to have a sex discrimination payout - so if the CEO doesn't listen she should raise her concerns with the owners. Then something might get done. In the meantime it's an awful situation - all you can do is keep evidence.

Pom - the notebook idea is a good one to copy - oh and from now on until you leave (and find somewhere much better) your new way of making coffee is to add a splodge of washing up liquid to it. When they complain, be offended about it!!!

I've done the washing up liquid trick once. Never needed to make coffee for that person again