Am I too conservative?

Published

I started a new contract a week ago. This has got to be the strangest ED I have ever worked in because it is not very busy, leaving me with time when the ED is empty, so I have been using the time to study for a variety of exams.

ast night I worked with another staffer who was constantly on the internet, reading me snippets and pieces of email from her fiance. These were graphic emails regarding what sort of sexual acts he would like to perform with her.

I am so not interested in this, and it actually makes me uncomfrtable to hear it in the workplace setting.

I'm used to working in very high stress atmospheres where double entendre and many jokes of sexual humor are passed around with no problems, but somehow having to listen to another co-worker discuss her own sex life really just made me absoloutely ill....:imbar

I try to walk away but since there were no patients she just kept following me. at one point, I said, "This is waaay too much information for me, I don't want to hear this" and she kept on....:uhoh21: After that I gave no response.

Am I just too conservative, or what....

It really made me uncomfortable. I'm not really a prude, but I find her sex life sort of disgusting and I don;t need to know that information, especially since I had just met her that day.

Keeping in mind that I am not regular staff, I am a contracted employee, what would you do? Am I overreacting???

Up Vote Up Vote ×

No, the fact that you told her that you didn't want to hear about it and she kept on telling you shows that it is not your problem -- she is not sensitive to other people's comfort. I'm not prudish, but I don't want to hear that stuff at work, and I certainly don't want someone to keep on telling me things I've said I don't care to hear. If she does this again I suggest you be more forceful in your refusal to hear about it. Technically speaking, she's engaging in sexual harassment. She'll probably go off and tell everyone what a prude you are, but I'm sure you're not the only one put off by her trashy talk. Good luck.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Oncology/Haemetology/HIV.

You are not too conservative.

If you have told her that you do not want to hear it, and walk away, and she follows you with this crap, she has issues or is trying to get a reaction. This is harassment, pure and simple.

Sit her down and tell her loudly and clearly, that you do not want to hear about her sexcapades, that it is inappropriate and unprofessional. That if it continues, you will notify management.

And follow through, if necessary.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Emergency & Trauma/Adult ICU.

Sounds like your new co-worker is an exhibitionist.

Which might work out fine for her ... OUT of the workplace. She actually followed you after you walked away? Unreal ... I probably would have been very blunt at that point, something like, "What part of 'I don't want to hear this' did you not get ... ?"

This has nothing to do with being "conservative" IMO.

Hope your next shift is better. :)

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I'm very liberal, and I would find this behavior very distasteful..and would tell her so.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

The behavior is wrong. If you asked her to stop and she continued it could then be considered sexual harrassment. Follow your chain of command and report this.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Ick.

She's got the problem, not you.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I'm with hyperstudent. I think this type of thing is actually sexual harrassment - which means it's ILLEGAL. I'm thinking if you tell her the next time she pulls a stunt like this that "excuse me, but I do not want to hear details of your personal life - and furthermore, it's sexual harrassment and illegal", she'll can it.

I swear - this is the worst "sharing email" story I've heard.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Not to take away from the problem with your co-worker....but Where is this ER thats not busy....I would like to find it. It has been so busy at the one I work in its getting way past ridiculous....

Up Vote Up Vote ×
I started a new contract a week ago. This has got to be the strangest ED I have ever worked in because it is not very busy, leaving me with time when the ED is empty, so I have been using the time to study for a variety of exams.

ast night I worked with another staffer who was constantly on the internet, reading me snippets and pieces of email from her fiance. These were graphic emails regarding what sort of sexual acts he would like to perform with her.

I am so not interested in this, and it actually makes me uncomfrtable to hear it in the workplace setting.

If you're a prude I'm even more of one. I work with someone just like you describe, and it's downright embarrassing when I have to listen to the smut that comes out of her mouth. I don't know how to handle it, other than I try to change the subject and I'm relieved when I get away from her.

Some people just have no class.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Wow, I'm surprised that she's getting away with this, considering that people are getting fired from office jobs after looking at Media sites, even accidentally.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in LTC, ER.
Wow, I'm surprised that she's getting away with this, considering that people are getting fired from office jobs after looking at Media sites, even accidentally.

that's what i was thinking.perhaps this info should be shared with the offensive co worker. does she not know that her job could be in jeopardy? her behavior is very dusgusting. report her to the charge nurse if she doesn't stop.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion