What should I do in this situation at work?

[Anonymous]

I had a boss play around and tell a guy that I liked him and that guy didn’t know it was a joke and now he’s starting to act off at work by being extra nice and he added me on social media. I’m very uncomfortable. I never showed any interest in him. Just the occasional hi and thanks.

it’s just triggering because when I was 18 at the workplace an older employee starting saying sexual things. Im just getting flashbacks and hope the situation doesn’t get like this. Im always reserved so I’m not sure how to go about the situation. I usually just ignore the problem and hope it goes away.

[Oliverlogan263]

Ugh girl, that is such an uncomfortable situation! I'm so sorry your boss messed with you like that. Some people really don't think before they speak.

Please don't just ignore this - that type of behavior can easily escalate if not addressed properly. Here's what I would suggest:

1. Talk to your boss privately and tell them straight up that their "joke" made you feel really anxious and you need them to clear the air with the other guy. They caused this issue, so they need to fix it.

2. If talking to the boss doesn't help, go to HR. Explain what happened and that you're nervous it could turn into harassment if not addressed. They should want to protect you.

3. As for the other guy, keep things strictly professional but polite. Don't accept his friend request or engage personally. If he keeps pushing, say you're very busy with work and maintain boundaries.

4. Document everything - times, dates, what was said. You want a record in case you need to escalate a complaint.

Don't be afraid to stand up for yourself! You don't deserve to feel uncomfortable at work. Hopefully nipping this in the bud now will stop anything worse from happening. Let me know if you need any other advice, kay? You've got this!

[Anonymous]

Report him to HR then he doesn't dare fire you.