Table of contents:
- Great tips for dealing with a flirtatious boss
- 1. Ignore and pretend not to understand
- 2. Express discomfort directly
- 3. Don't want to spend time together
- 4. Devise a strategy to express discomfort
- 5. Take note of the boss's flirtatious behavior
Some bosses may try to break the ice at the office by familiarizing themselves with their employees. However, there are not a few individuals who try to use this opportunity to tease and harass their co-workers. So if your boss's "pretentious" attitude starts to smell flirty, you can't stay silent. Check out the following information to find out how to deal with a flirtatious boss at work.
Great tips for dealing with a flirtatious boss
The flirtatious attitude of a boss is not only disrespectful and ends up disrupting employee productivity. Quoting the Australian Human Rights Commission website, this attitude is classified as illegal sexual harassment in the workplace.
Here are some tips you can take to protect yourself:
1. Ignore and pretend not to understand
This is one of the safest ways to deal with a flirtatious boss. When your boss starts saying flirty things, don't respond.
Don't laugh for "polite" reasons, because your boss may think you are accepting the tease. Maintain eye contact and continue the conversation on the original topic as usual. Assume that the "temptation" doesn't exist.
You can also pretend that you don't understand the temptation. This is an indirect message that says you're tough and won't get caught up in the culprit's tricks.
2. Express discomfort directly
Sometimes, a flirtatious boss doesn't realize that the employee's ignorance is a sign of resentment.
In these situations, the solution is to state outright that you feel uncomfortable and want your boss to stop acting like this. Dealing with a flirtatious boss like this is difficult, but not impossible.
You can start by saying, "Sir / Ma'am, please don't act like that to me." This method allows you to reprimand your boss without making it appear rude.
3. Don't want to spend time together
If your boss often shows flirty gestures, try to reduce the opportunity to be alone with him, whether on purpose or not.
For example, if your boss asks you to meeting, ask to discuss in an open space or at the same time invite other team members.
You can still be friendly to the boss, but keep your distance from him. If you do have to talk to your boss in private, try to open the door to his room so that other people can see what you are doing.
4. Devise a strategy to express discomfort
You do need to deal with the flirty boss in an obvious way, but you still have to be careful.
Attitude that is too harsh can actually jeopardize your career even if you didn't do anything wrong. This is the importance of strategizing.
Tina Tessina, Ph.D., a psychotherapist and author, suggests asking questions about children and their wife / husband if your boss is married. Alternatively, you can pretend to ask your partner for a birthday gift.
This way, your boss will know that you already have a companion.
5. Take note of the boss's flirtatious behavior
Whenever your boss displays inappropriate behavior, record it in your daily journal. Record each date, time, location, and attitude of your boss in detail.
This record will serve as evidence if one day you have to make a complaint about your supervisor's behavior. That way, you can deal with the flirty boss in a legal and responsible way.
Forms of sexual harassment from a boss can be very diverse, one of which is flirtatious. This behavior may not be a big deal at first. Over time, you and your co-workers who get the same treatment will certainly feel uncomfortable.
The various methods above will help you deal with a flirtatious boss. However, your safety should always come first. Don't face your boss alone. Ask others for support so that you can resolve this issue safely.
