Weird behavior at work?

[Ally_17]

I was watching a coworker's kid while I was at work the other day and so today as a thank you he bought me a shirt and brought it to me. And it is pretty, but it feels kind of weird to me. I don't know though. Is that normal behavior?

Updates

1 y

Thank everyone for the opinions/advice. I really appreciate it. 💖

[_Maya_]

I would not call that normal. I'm still finishing up school and haven't been in a workplace environment like you are probably used to. I bartend and that is totally different type of vibe than say an office type. No matter... it is not hard to put myself in your shoes and think of how I would feel about it. I would be weirded out. Especially if he got my size right. Doesn't that seem creepy to you at all? Does to me. I would be more inclined to think a person would buy their coworker lunch or something as a thank you. Clothing is just plain weird. I also don't find it appropriate type of "gift" as much as I would jewerly. I think there are implications behind it even if they are unintentional.

[Ally_17]

I definitely feel weirded out about it. I didn't feel comfortable allowing him to pay me or buy me lunch as a thank you and I hoped he'd just let it go. I just accepted the shirt because it is pretty and I didn't know how to politely say no. And it doesn't feel like sexual harassment so I just didn't know what to do or if I should be alarmed by this.

[_Maya_]

I don't blame you one bit. For some reason it made my skin crawl thinking about if it were me. I'm sure you feel the same. I don't know that you could have handled it better, especially because I am sure you were blindsided by it. I'd be worried he'd do it again if you did a favor.

[Ally_17]

He's also not from the United States so I wondered if it was a cultural thing. I always make sure I'm not alone with him just in case though. I already had to deal with sexual harassment that was terrifying so I was really hoping it wasn't creepy behavior. I asked one of my guy friends and he told me it seemed like just a really nice thing for the guy to do.

[_Maya_]

What culture if I might ask?

[Ally_17]

He told me he's Persian.

[_Maya_]

Possessive perhaps.

[Ally_17]

I hope I'm just reading into it too much because ew.

[CupcakeTheDestroyer]

It was probably cheaper than paying you like he does his sitter

[Ally_17]

I told him he didn't have to though. I didn't want anything from him. I just couldn't figure out how to politely tell him that.

[CupcakeTheDestroyer]

Then you don’t have to do anything. Whether the debt existed to you or not, it existed to him. So he paid it back to soothe his own mind. Nbd

[spartan55]

What kind of shirt? T-shirt? Booby top?

[Ally_17]

It was a long sleeve corduroy button down that I think he got from Nordstrom. It's not like a $5 t-shirt.

[spartan55]

Yeah, I definitely wouldn't do that. I think I'd buy you lunch or something.