What bugs me most about "... it's make it sweeter" is the grammar. Sounds like Golllum from Lord of the Rings.
Seriously though, what a weird thing to say. But I agree with previous posters who said to just cut him some slack. We all slip up and say odd things with poorly chosen wording sometimes. Using the word "credentialized", for example.
Like someone else said, I think we are confusing the word "sexual" with the word "sexist".
Unless "adding some sugar to the mix" is some new sexual euphemism I'm unaware of, I think this falls squarely into the sexist, rather than sexual category.
(And if it *is* some new sexual euphemism, I'm not sure I want to know what it means.)
Your New Male Boss: states, "It's interesting, when you add a little sugar to the mix, it's makes it sweeter." Sounds to me like your boss might have been trying to be funny and/or is a socially awkward dweeb. However, check in with us or a trusted colleague if he gets stranger or if things escalate. As it stands, you might be projecting and misinterpreting what he said, which is easy to do b/c what he said was a little vague.
We used to have a (female) manager that would slap certain (female) nurses on the backside, and even that was considered /seen as playful and a part of her banter depending on who you asked... And those particular nurses would smack her butt right back, but by today's standards it's considered sexual harassment and it's a slippery slope. This all reminds me of the Terry Tate commercial r/t sensitivity training, see link below:
"It's interesting, when you add a little sugar to the mix, it's makes it sweeter.
....."And equally as interesting is how I am to respond to such a comment. Borders on creepy, and I am a spiriva kind of girl, myself..."
In all seriousness, it sounds as if he was stating that you are a breath of fresh air as far as being nice and positive.
What would make me take pause is HOW is this an appropriate comment for a manager to make to an employee? Sounds gossipy, inappropriate in CONTENT, and more than likely a road you do not want to travel down.
He made a positive decision when he hired you, as apparently your professional demeanor is positive and refreshing. That he needs to deal with the employees on the opposite end of the spectrum is his issue to deal with. Don't get into it with him.
That comment is pretty innocuous, taken out of context by itself. But, because you asked for interpretation, here's mine. Since you said there's a general hate-on going for the manager, he probably just meant that you aren't a harpy like the rest of the people he works with and hopes you'll make life there less miserable.
If you're looking to get offended already, you may as well find another job. If you keep looking for reasons to be upset at the manager, you will undoubtedly find them.
Like someone else said, I think we are confusing the word "sexual" with the word "sexist".
Unless "adding some sugar to the mix" is some new sexual euphemism I'm unaware of, I think this falls squarely into the sexist, rather than sexual category.
(And if it *is* some new sexual euphemism, I'm not sure I want to know what it means.)
This is what I thought too. I stared at the OP long and hard trying to determine if I am that​ out of the loop these days.
Specializes in Psych, Corrections, Med-Surg, Ambulatory.
A remark like that deserves a "Why? What do you mean?" That would give the manager the opportunity to explain that he sees you as a positive force in the workplace, or dig himself a deeper hole. Any time a remark is open to interpretation, you can pleasantly ask the person to clarify before you decide what to do next.
In this instance? That ship has sailed. I wouldn't risk making a big deal after the fact of something that might have been innocuous. Like a previous poster said, if he is a creep, he'll give you lots of opportunities to deal with his creepiness.
sjalv
897 Posts
I don't find this to be sexual at all. A dumb comment? Sure. Sexual and worth being offended over? Absolutely not.