Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Work

Chat with other users about all things related to working life on our Work forum.

Senior colleague making jokes and comments about how many children a colleaugue has

4 replies

Whatevernext9 · 24/03/2025 23:32

long story short, I work in a small and fairly toxic organisation, mostly remote. Have posted elsewhere that I’m being made redundant and, financial impact aside, it’s a huge relief.

Due to poor leadership, a female colleague has been left running things, without additional pay or recognition. She will be promoted in the new financial year and join the senior leadership team. Have just learned that a male member of leadership routinely jokes about how many children she has, that she ‘pops another one out every couple of years’, that kind of thing. For context, she hasn’t ever taken maternity leave in this job. He also makes jokes about her weight and her discomfort at photos that have been used on our website.

She wants to make sure this stops when she is in a similarly senior role and I’ve advised her to set out everything he’s said in writing, so he can see how bad it looks and that she’s not forgotten it, and tell him it stops now. But the more I think about it, the more mad I feel on her behalf.

Just wondering what others think.

OP posts:
pickywatermelon · 24/03/2025 23:39

Well done for supporting her. I am curious why she wants to stay.

Is it too small to have a HR lead or policies?

To be honest that would likely be a warning / misconduct case at mine - I can’t imagine anyone being so stupid tbh.

Has he ever said it to her face?

Has no-one else in the leadership team pulled him up? Toxic (pathetic) indeed if not

Be prepared for whatever next step if you lay it out to the guy and get “but it was just banter can’t you take it” immaturity - what does she want to do then?

TeapotTitties · 24/03/2025 23:41

She wants to make sure this stops when she is in a similarly senior role

Why not now?

Maitri108 · 25/03/2025 01:39

Your workplace sounds like a cesspit if he's making these comments to colleagues and hasn't been pulled up on it. It's highly unprofessional, I hope people aren't encouraging him.

If I were her, I'd document all inappropriate behaviour and seek professional advice eg her union or ACAS.

VivX · 25/03/2025 21:18

Those comments would trigger a disciplinary process where I am.

New posts on this thread. Refresh page