Daily Kitten Chat Forum » General Chat

1. 

   I have had a crappy day at work today. It started really good and then about 11:30am, I made the mistake of joining in on a conversation with two other coworkers only to have one of the coworkers use a phrase "put a cat on a stick". I said that I didn't like that comment as my cats were as important to me as his son was to him. He said does your cats provide tax deductions and I said no and I would look into that idea. He continued to say it wasn't the same, and I replied obviously you haven't ever had pets with his replying about how . Anyways, I was angry because his tone was condescending and rude and so I stupidly went back and said that he was f'ing SOB to have said the phrase so he replies with I am going to report you swore at me and take your cat and put is on a stick and serve it up. So I said I am going to report you for your horrible comment. I was crying really hard at this comment as it really upset me. It was a horrible thing to say to someone who loves their cats like they were her human children. I wrote an email to my group's HR Rep documenting the whole thing. I then went to my manager still crying at 12:15pm and said I have to go home but I will be in tomorrow. She asked if I was alright and could she help and I said I wasn't that I had to go home that I had received a nasty comment from coworker and gave her his name and said I would be in tomorrow but I had to go home. I cried the whole way home worrying that I would be fired because there has been one other incident where another coworker used foul language in a threatening manner to me. I was scared I would be labeled a trouble maker and that would count as a negative against my employee record. I felt that it would get out as everyone must have heard us since it the accoustics in the place with the low ceilings and cubicles make is so you could hear a mouse burp. I went home and promptly went to bed with shutting the window in my bedroom so I wouldn't be disturbed and get some rest. I slept for about 5 hours (briefly woke up at one point to both cats sleeping next to each other leaning against my legs which I found comforting).

   I am going to work tomorrow and we will see if I still have a job.

   Posted 2 years ago by SylMiaFelixMomma #

2. 

   sorry about the sob smm. {{{{{{{{{BIGHUGS}}}}}}}}}}}}
   you did good to send HR a message about the insident. I would say stay away from that person and when people make offensive comments about animals just excuse yourself and walk away. There is no reason to let them bait you and get you so upset. I know I have had similar problems with people behaving like that and have learned it is best to walk away from them cause all they want is a reason to jump on someone.

   Posted 2 years ago by TheKnittingNinja #

3. 

   I'm sorry you had such a difficult day, SMM. I'm glad you were able to get some much needed rest and quality snuggles with your cats when you got home. People can be so thoughtless with their remarks. It is hard in such a public setting to ignore them, but maybe you could grab a quick break when something like that happens and walk to another part of the building or outside to shake off your frustration without engaging in a testy confrontation.

   {{{hugs}}}

   Posted 2 years ago by Kitten Whisperer #

4. 

   *big hugs*

   Posted 2 years ago by owlwatcher_974 #

5. 

   (((SMM))) Wishing you a good nights rest and peace of mind tomorrow.
   Sadly , the world is full of insensitive people who have no respect for the life of animals. If I had one wish, it would be that no animal in the world would ever find themselves homeless, hungry or deprived of love .....a girl can dream...

   Posted 2 years ago by Tigerlilly #

6. 

   {{{SMM}}} Your co-worker just showed, yet again, why so many of us prefer animals to people!

   Posted 2 years ago by jcat #

7. 

   JCAT, you are so right. If a person will make that kind of remark, they are more than likely to be cruel to humans, too. I am sorry you had to go through that. {{Hugs}}

   Posted 2 years ago by corzak #

8. 

   I am sending HUGS to you, SMM! What a rude jerk that coworker is! I hate it when people talk like that...I agree with Corzak's comment. In my book, anyone who doesn't like animals is not worth knowing. I hope all goes well at work for you today!

   Posted 2 years ago by katthays #

9. 

   {{{SMM}}} I still haven't forgiven my former boss for not letting me take the day off to spend with Jiggs on what turned out to be his last day on Earth. He even gave me a hard time because I had to leave early to take him to the vet. I wound up rushing home, scooping him up in "our" favorite blanket (thank goodness hubby was home to drive us, so I could hold him instead of having to put him in a carrier) and rushing him to the vet. I feel as though I didn't have enough time to say goodbye. With Shaddo at least I had an entire weekend.
   I'm not a mom, and most of you know I still ache for the loss of the boys, and welcome each surprise Leela serves up each day, so I, like all TDKr's, will never understand the insensitivity of some people.

   Posted 2 years ago by JoanfromNewJersey #

10. 

    Oh SMM I'm so sorry you have to deal with this idiot. I am sending hugs and love to you. With the exception of a very few people in my life and of course this family of choice, there are not many people that I like more than an animal/pet/animal companion, whatever term you want to use.

    Posted 2 years ago by Jetta and Boo Boo's Mom #

11. 

    Sounds like your coworker isn't displaying sensitivity to others with different beliefs. That's a BIG THING in many work environments these days. OK to have your strong opinions, but not necessarily OK to vocalize in such a rude fashion among others you KNOW believe differently.

    Posted 2 years ago by Siobhan #

12. 

    ((big hugs for Karin))

    I'm sorry you had a rough day. I don't have human kids either, but you better believe my kittenfriends are just as important to me as most people's kids are to them. The people who don't understand that are people I just prefer not to deal with at all.

    Posted 2 years ago by HuddysMama #

13. 

    The phrase "hostile work environment" need to come out of your mouth if this issue is brought up. Your co-worker created a hostile work environment and provoked you into cussing. You asked him to not make remarks in that vein and he continued. He initieated a non-appropriate to work conversation and should be reprimanded for his comments and abusive attitude. By the same token, you should have walked away, but that moment has passed. Look in your employee handbook for back-up relating to his initial remarks.

    Posted 2 years ago by KYKAT 12 23 #

14. 

    aww im sorry. You can have as many big hugs as you want! That was just evil of them.

    Posted 2 years ago by MOMMAOFABBY!=) #

15. 

    I believe that KYKAT has given you very good advice. Should you be called on the carpet, remember that he created a hostile work environment and was asked to stop and he refused. Prayers of peace to you today.

    Posted 2 years ago by SoxsMom #

16. 

    ((Karin))

    Posted 2 years ago by cricketsmama #

17. 

    Thank you all for the hugs, advice and support. I know I should have walked away and just let it be but I was so angry that I let my emotions take over. I actually walked away when he compared his son to my cats but was so angry that I couldn't leave it well enough alone and walked back to let him know what he said was uncalled for. That is when he made it personal about my cats.

    I can say that this coworker is someone who I will steer away from when I see them in the hallway. He is obviously someone who doesn't love animals and has proven to me that he is still a child himself in that he has to make others feel bad. He actually came over to my cubicle after all that to say more to me but I said to him to go away twice and he said well you came over to my cubicle a second time and I said you could have told me to go away then and thankfully he walked away.

    Thanks Kykat, I have already notified HR about this and will speak to them on Monday. I will bring yours and others suggestions with me when I go to meet with my HR Rep. I am taking today off and if they fire me for this incident, I will consider getting legal advice. I cannot see them firing me but just the same, in this crummy economy and in the state of Calif, we have employment at will which means they can fire you and not have to give a reason.

    Thank you for all the hugs.

    Posted 2 years ago by SylMiaFelixMomma #

18. 

    I hope that today you can spend some time with your kittehs and relax. It will help your out look. Remember this man is nothing--he looks at his child as a tax deduction! He is truly a sorry individual that hasn't learned the joy of loving anyone with his whole heart. You know about that love because of your kittehs--you are the lucky one--he is just a miserable creature.

    Posted 2 years ago by SoxsMom #

19. 

    {{Karin}} He is just one evil person and miserable, too, as SOXMOM says. xx

    Posted 2 years ago by SammyandOliversmama #

20. 

    SMM...I'm just finding this thread. I'm so sorry you had to deal with that bafoon of a co-worker. And what he said to you could be taken as a threat to your animals. People w.that kind of mentality are much too immature to be having kids of their own. I never had the opportunity to have kids,but,I know that being the animal lover I am & spending time with other's kids I would be a great mom.
    I hope this inconsiderate co-worker is not passing his rude jokes onto his kids. You did the right thing in documenting the incident.
    {{{HUGS}}} to you & I hope your day is a purrfect one!

    BTW...I think you'd be a Great mom!

    Posted 2 years ago by feral #

21. 

    Sweetheart, avoid jerks. When you have someone making stupid remarks, say a quick prayer for them, and then get up and go.

    Don't let anyone suck you into a game you don't want to play.

    And remember you can't fix stupidity.

    And remember we love you.

    Posted 2 years ago by Emma #

22. 

    Hope you are having a good day today.

    Posted 2 years ago by Tigerlilly #

23. 

    I remember many years ago someone trying to tell me a story about pouring gasoline on a cat and setting it on fire and it ran in circles until it ran out of gas. It was intended to be a joke but I was so furious it ruined the joke. I think they were shocked because I am not the type of person to show anger but in this case I thought they had hurt a cat and I really told them what I thought about it

    Posted 2 years ago by Cat talk rules #

24. 

    We had something almost exactly the same happen here in our warehouse...Thankfully the president of the company is an animal lover and sat both down and explained to them, that one has children and no pets the other has pets and no children...but they both have dependants that they care for and that depend on them. Long story short, the one who made the first rude comment apologized and other accepted the apology and it worked out just fine.
    You have realized that you should have walked away..you're right but we all know that when someone starts pushing your buttons sometimes that is too hard to do. Maybe you should have walked away, but without his comments in the beginning you would have never been pushed to that point.

    Posted 2 years ago by 2bpurring #

25. 

    {{{SMM}}}

    Posted 2 years ago by kittymom #

26. 

    Sorry you're going through this SMM {{hugs}}

    Posted 2 years ago by MadcatwomanintheUK #

27. 

    {{hugs}}

    Posted 2 years ago by CSBM #

28. 

    I'm sorry, Karin! What a horrible situation - your coworker is a jerk!

    Hope everything works itself out on Monday! ((Hugs)))

    Posted 2 years ago by GreatDane #

29. 

    i could use a big hug too, just a couple of rough days lately...

    Posted 2 years ago by CSBM #

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