Married man uncomfortable sharing office with female

[CourtClerk]

I have to wonder what in the heck he does in his office that is so incredibly private....

EEEEEEWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW

 

[seniorjudge]

My husband was offered a position in VA and we relocated from CA. He was told initially that he would have his own office. On his first day of work the boss stated that he would have to share an office with a junior associate who happens to be a young unmarried female. My husband spoke to his boss about being uncomfortable as a married man working in such close proximity as a young female and asked to be placed in a cubicle or to share an office with a male. His boss looked at him like he was crazy. My husband then went to HR and they blew off his concern as well. We are from California where this matter would be treated a little more delicately I believe. As a professional woman, I can't imagine my employer forcing me to work in the same room with a male if I was uncomfortable for any reason. My husband is going to approach his boss one more time to ask what can be done, but our options currently are to have him quit or stay and deal with being uncomfortable all day. Is there anything that can be done from a legal perspective? I worked with people that were given reasonable fixes to their working situation for being easily distracted, (moving cube away from hallway) or scheduling changes. We would have to pay back our relocation which is another detail that makes this so complicated. Thank you.

Is The Stupidest Post contest still active?

 

[mlane58]

Is The Stupidest Post contest still active?

If not, this is certainly one for the books.

 

[ecmst12]

I think he's just cranky about having to share his office, period, and he thought if he brought gender into it, the company would have to accommodate his crankyness. I would think that after his many years of office and life experience, he would have learned the level of professionalism required to relate to a single female coworker EXACTLY THE SAME as he would relate to any other coworker. Even if she's hot. He should know that he shouldn't be looking at her as a young hot woman, but only as a coworker. If he isn't capable of doing so, then he has no business in an office in the first place. Not wanting to share an office is at least a defensible complaint (though still not one they are obligated to accomodate). But saying he doesn't want to share the office with a WOMAN just makes him look like an immature sexist pig.

 

[fairisfair]

oh...but apparently it's not HER that is so hott....it is him...

Sooooooo incredibly hott that the new young attractive female office person simply won't be able to resist him, keep her hands off of him, stop staring at him. blah blah blah blah him....

 

[seniorjudge]

oh...but apparently it's not HER that is so hott....it is him...

Sooooooo incredibly hott that the new young attractive female office person simply won't be able to resist him, keep her hands off of him, stop staring at him. blah blah blah blah him....

Yeah...I have that problem all the time.

 

[mlane58]

Yeah...I have that problem all the time.

What? that you are a young attractive female?

 

[ecmst12]

Of course, if the coworker DID start behaving inappropriately, that would be a valid complaint. But one can't expect HR to ASSUME all young single women are going to flirt with their older married office mates, that's just absurd.

 

[seniorjudge]

Of course, if the coworker DID start behaving inappropriately, that would be a valid complaint. But one can't expect HR to ASSUME all young single women are going to flirt with their older married office mates, that's just absurd.

Well...dang!

Another cherished misconception down the drain!

 

[calysto999]

We don't know what she looks like as she has not yet started and that isn't the issue. The fact that he was promised one thing and then they turned everything around on him is the issue. I have also worked in close proximity with men but have never been asked to share my office. Maybe I have worked for really fantastic companies, but I have seen my colleagues complain about sitting next to someone they "don't like" and were moved. Another one didn't want to sit next to an aisle. She was moved. If someone is uncomfortable, someone is uncomfortable. He is just a really conservative guy, what can I say? I'd rather have him question the issue and be honest about his feelings than not.

I really didn't post this to hear a bunch of people judging my situation and making nasty comments but for objective advice. Perhaps people would like to share if they are happily married or divorced and that would shed some light on the negativity. Just because a guy has really traditional views doesn't make him nuts, just someone that can maintain a good situation for his family.

 

[fairisfair]

We don't know what she looks like as she has not yet started and that isn't the issue. The fact that he was promised one thing and then they turned everything around on him is the issue. I have also worked in close proximity with men but have never been asked to share my office. Maybe I have worked for really fantastic companies, but I have seen my colleagues complain about sitting next to someone they "don't like" and were moved. Another one didn't want to sit next to an aisle. She was moved. If someone is uncomfortable, someone is uncomfortable. He is just a really conservative guy, what can I say? I'd rather have him question the issue and be honest about his feelings than not.

I really didn't post this to hear a bunch of people judging my situation and making nasty comments but for objective advice. Perhaps people would like to share if they are happily married or divorced and that would shed some light on the negativity. Just because a guy has really traditional views doesn't make him nuts, just someone that can maintain a good situation for his family.

what are you like 12 frigging years old???

I haven't asked to be moved cause I didn't like somebody since the 4th grade.

 

[fairisfair]

Well...dang!

Another cherished misconception down the drain!

what's next huh???? Santa Claus???? that darned old ecmst12. she is just one big ole meanie.....

signed...

the office hottie

 

[calysto999]

Sad people.

 

[seniorjudge]

...
He is just a really conservative guy, what can I say? I'd rather have him question the issue and be honest about his feelings than not.
...
Just because a guy has really traditional views doesn't make him nuts, just someone that can maintain a good situation for his family.
,,,

He's giving traditional conservatives a bad name.

 

[seniorjudge]

What? that you are a young attractive female?

No.

Young attractive females say to me, "Get away."

But I know what they REALLY mean.