Originally Posted by
bundabergdevil
Heh. I'm two weeks into a new job and trying to figure out how I'm going to handle my next interaction with a guy (not about assault issues) assuming a trend emerges. For context, I manage/lead environmental and social programs, often somewhere between required by law and voluntary, in large global companies. I've found over the years that most folks, even if they personally might not be big fans in their personal life, keep their opinions to themselves and understand the business reason but that there are always a few who can't help but be snide or let their personal opinion be known. As sort of a funny example, I once was in a meeting trying to bring on a rock star as a brand ambassador for $$$ reasons (hi, Ymo) and to position the company's "green" solutions and the senior executive in the room made a comment about climate change being a hoax. (Forehead slap.) Anyway...
I've had something like twenty 30 minute Team intros, 19 of them very normal meet and greets. The 20th, with a level or two up but not a SVP+, just filled his entire intro with snide little remarks. "We're not going to start making decisions based on gender are we...?" "The guys on my team...(puts hands up in a mocking way)...whoa, sorry, guys and girl. Don't want to get in trouble." I asked him if he'd talked to my new manager about the program we're starting and laughed in a pretty mocking way, "No, no I haven't. Sorry, don't want to piss her (my boss) off."
It was an intro meeting and I didn't say anything, though I did engage in a way by discussing business issues that made clear my opinion. Been trying to figure out if I start my third week by commenting to HR or address it directly if it continues to be an issue. Really pissed me off and got me stewing about what the right move is.