sexual jokes in the workplace

Nurses General Nursing

Published

I'm all for having a few good laughs at work, but I'd like an opinion on this. We have a new male RN and he frequently makes comments that can be taken sexually. He has been there less than a month, so we don't even know him yet, and last Saturday he commented to one of our new grads who was about 15 min. late to work (car trouble), "Well I guess your husband detained you in the bedroom this morning, huh?" she laughed it off & seemed unoffended by it, but a couple of us found it inappropriate. Our charge nurse told us that unless the person he directed his comment to found it inappropriate that we should ignore it. ???? No matter how I look at this, it seems unprofessional to me!! comments??

Specializes in Public Health, DEI.
Well said, and probably what I was trying to say in the first place. It just kills me that you allways have that 5% that get offended about this or that and suck the life out of the place. What's funny is they go home and sit alone in a house full of cats and wonder what's wrong with my life? Your:welcome:

I would love to see some statistics that state that only 5% of people believe that sexual jokes at work are acceptable or amusing. I don't believe that's true at all, and if you believe the percentage is that low, it probably explains why you are defending this behavior even though, hello, it is against the law. You can't do it because guess what, you're not allowed. Whether everyone single person in your unit think that off-color belongs in a work environment or not makes no difference.

The cat comment makes no sense either. I don't suppose you care to offer documentation for that nifty litte statistic either?

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The sex joke is fairly harmless, but he is doing himself no favor at work. A man working in an overwhelmingly female environment can get labeled "creepy". As nurses we come across some of these guys as patients or family members, but a coworker can get himself an unwanted label and a chilly work environment.

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Specializes in Geriatrics/Med-Surg/ED.
I would love to see some statistics that state that only 5% of people believe that sexual jokes at work are acceptable or amusing. I don't believe that's true at all, and if you believe the percentage is that low, it probably explains why you are defending this behavior even though, hello, it is against the law. You can't do it because guess what, you're not allowed. Whether everyone single person in your unit think that off-color belongs in a work environment or not makes no difference.

The cat comment makes no sense either. I don't suppose you care to offer documentation for that nifty litte statistic either?

It might behoove LZRN to review the workplace sexual harassment policy for his/her own edification- you'd be surprised at what is considered improper. It only takes ONE person to feel offended- and it may not be the "5%" you imagine. (I think an attitude like LZRN is displaying "sucks the life out of a place" more than behaving professional AND mature-- and, guess what?? it's possible to be both AND have fun at work w/out offending people!!)

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Well said, and probably what I was trying to say in the first place. It just kills me that you allways have that 5% that get offended about this or that and suck the life out of the place. What's funny is they go home and sit alone in a house full of cats and wonder what's wrong with my life? Your:welcome:

You must have missed the thread about cats and how I'm the only one here on allnurses who doesn't like cats on my bed, furniture, etc. ;) Toss that cat outside.:monkeydance:

steph

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Specializes in RN, BSN, CHDN.

I believe most professional people use their discretion when discussing what can be considered inappropriate conversation in their working environment. Most intellegent people know when where and whom they can freely discuss these kind of topics in front off. I know in my place of work we can be border line on occasions, but we also know whom not to be like that in front of. I suggest some folk dont have this ability to work this out ahead of time and that is a mistake-I try not to make:monkeydance:

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Specializes in ICU, Research, Corrections.
If you were looking for a fun job, maybe you should have joined the circus.

I didn't realize there was a market for circus RNs

:trout:

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I can enjoy a good joke as much as the next person. Being female, I have zero humor where jokes contain the "p" word, or the "c" word...and if they make reference to my personal sexual behavior.

I have a really good male best friend (he's gay, so my husband doesn't care)...he came by my work when I was getting off, and he greeted me, and of course, my eyes lit up (he was visiting from out of town and I hadn't seen him in almost a year), he gave me a huge kiss on the lips (closed), and several tight hugs. I didn't work around clients, so the only person in the office were co-workers...whom I THOUGHT I had a good relationship with.

When I got back to work the next day...rumer was my husband and I were separated and that was my new "piece" on the side.

I was livid.

I worked in a state prison and one of the officers was having an affair with a fellow inmate who was on parole (this is a no no by the way) When the staff heard about this they jokingly kidded her about it. Well their "joking" cost them their job and the dept $40,000 dollars. The officer charged them with sexual harassment and the DOC for "letting it happen" which makes for a "hostile environment". I guess the joke was on them. This can happen anywhere, even a hospital. Hope administrators know this obviously the OP's staff and brass do not.

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Specializes in ER, ICU, L&D, OR.

I never tell any sexual jokes and I dont listen to them at work, I always walk away.

Now I do tell golf jokes, I know them all.

I also sing old rock and roll and country while working

They hate my singing

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I wouldn't enter the joke phase at a job until I got to know people pretty well, and even then I'd be careful about the types of jokes I'd tell (and to who). But I think sexual jokes can lead to all kinds of trouble. If someone is making a joke to the opposite sex, it can be perceived as flirting. Maybe the person telling the joke doesn't intend it to be, but the person listening might take it the wrong way. To assume that people will find a joke about race/politics/religion/sex funny is assuming too much. If you find someone who shares your sense of humor, great, but make sure it's just you and those people and nobody else is within earshot.

And I agree that just because someone doesn't speak up, it doesn't mean they aren't offended. I'd wind up doing what teeituptom does and walk away if I heard a joke I didn't like (and would also tell the person how I feel as I know it's not always as simple as "just walking away"). By sticking around or not speaking up, you're unintentionally giving the person permission to continue telling jokes in your presence that you might find offensive.

I wouldn't be upset if someone didn't like my brand of humor and would not hold it against them if they let me know. But like I said, I would definitely get to know people first by observing the reactions of others when they hear someone else in a group tell a joke. You can tell a lot by body language and if you see someone looking uncomfortable, you would learn which jokes you could and couldn't tell around certain people.

The best advice I can give is to avoid joking of a sexual nature altogether. Save it for off premise get-togethers among people with a similar sense of humor.

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I never tell any sexual jokes and I dont listen to them at work, I always walk away.

Now I do tell golf jokes, I know them all.

I also sing old rock and roll and country while working

They hate my singing

Good for you!

I asked an intubated patient if there was anything else I could do for him. He wrote, "Sing Melancholy Baby"

I did and he smiled broadly even though I don't have a great voice.

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Specializes in ICU/ER/TRANSPORT.

Well I guess I'm fortunate enough to work with just a handful of people most of the time in the units, and we are pretty close. On some shifts it's just us guys (no offense intended to any gals) and we tell some pretty good jokes amoung each other. But we have enough common sense to keep tight lipped when other people come around. Cause their are some folks out there who don't like hearing Richard Pryor type jokes. But for me personally, there is nothing better than a good ole gut buster when the day is dragging on.

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Specializes in Med/Surg, Geri, Ortho, Telemetry, Psych.
I didn't realize there was a market for circus RNs

:trout:

Maybe there should be. You know their has to be some injuries. I'm sure someone has fallen off the tightrope once or twice. And how about that guy who was washing the elephant from the back and the elephant sat on him which resulted in his head going into the elephants bum:imbar ? Maybe the guy with two heads has sinus problems. I bet the sword swallower could use a barium swallow. The fire eater may burn his mouth. And you know all those teeny tiny skinny little girls in those teeny tiny little skirts have to have eating disorders. At least that's what I tell my husband when he sees my fat butt:nono: . I hope you know I'm just playing with you.:lol2:

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