Boss asking if I was pregnant!

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footsteps

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Was out at a social doo at the weekend and my boss was there, and because I wasn't drinking alcohol came out and asked me if i was pregnant and when I said no - he just kinda said oh just wondering cause you know i'd be delighted if you were. . .!!
At the time i laughed it off but today I am just little peeved at him asking!
Out of complete curiosity :
Would this be against eqaulity legislation?
Or because it was not in work setting would be seen as 'friendly banter'?

Like I say I am just curious!
 
Seems like an odd thing to come out with (presumably?) out of the blue.

Was the social do funded or arranged by work? If so then it would constitute a workplace environment (there is legal precedent on this as far as I know) so the normal workplace rules would apply. If a manager asked the same question in work then I would imagine that it could easily be classified as objectionable and potentially discriminatory.

If you think that it was anything other than just personal/private banter/conversation then there may be grounds for taking it further. I am not recommending this but just outlining what I believe your rights to be.
 
Thanks.
Haven't a notion of taking further regardless, but am very curious as I wouldn't mind bringing it to his attention as I know he knows better.
It wasn't a work doo, just happened to be in the same place at the same time!
 
He may still have some responsibility and you some rights in such a situation. However if you just want to flag with him that you found it inappropriate or whatever then why not just have a quiet word with him?

Did you not think of telling him to mind his own business at the time?
 
Well I was so stunned to be honest that i answered and started giving an excuse as to why I wasn't drinking, before i actually realised what he had asked!
I feel he is knows it is only a matter of time (i'm 2 years married!) and was curious himself and knew that he couldn't ask me at work!

I will be having a quiet word for sure but would like to be clear on the position first.

Ta.
 
How big is the company? Maybe you should consider dealing with the issue via HR if applicable and if you don't feel comfortable dealing with it face to face. Again I am not recommending this and reckon that a quiet word face to face probably could well be the most appropriate way the way to deal with this. But a lot depends on the two parties dealing with this honestly and maturely which may not always be possible!
 
Why the need for anything? You have your rights and you don't need to go bending his ear to remind them. Are you being over sensitive, in that at the time it didn't seem inappropriate. I would just let it go, think of the times you have spoken to colleagues in an innocent fashion, but if put under the microscope could be construed as discriminatory etc. Curiosity killed the cat!
 
Hi, I think your boss was completely inappropriate and downright rude. He made use of the social occasion to take you off your gaurd. And whilst you may wish to haul him over the coals and I don't blame you, you need to ask yourself, "am I going to make matters better or worse?".

Rising above his complete ignorance may in the long run make things less stressful for you at work, especially if you are planning on having a baby.

So have a good think about it first and maybe just be happy with the fact, that everyone sees him as a total moron. How and ever, keep the details in a diary.
 
People who work for me ask me personal questions and I ask them personal questions and guess what; we answer each other.
We also socialise together and slag each other and we all manage to work together in a professional and friendly environment.
You met someone you know in a social setting away from work and they asked you if you were pregnant. What's the big deal?
Maybe the guy was just curious.
Jasus, I'm glad I don't work with you!
 
People who work for me ask me personal questions and I ask them personal questions and guess what; we answer each other.
We also socialise together and slag each other and we all manage to work together in a professional and friendly environment.

Any jobs going? :):p
 
Not if asking an innocent question results in people asking what their rights are!
We've all worked hard over the years to avoid a "Them and Us" mentality and maintain an atmosphere of mutual respect. It only takes one person with that sort of attitude to screw the whole thing up.
 
If it's a once off, I'd drop it. People can be over-sensitive and world is becoming just too PC, but I do know that this can be a sensitive area for various reasons (unable to conceive, may not want kids, relationship difficulties etc).

Abit of banter & craic is fine so long as someone doesn't overstep the mark and from what you say, this doesn't seem to be an on-going issue with your boss, so I reckon you should cut him some slack.

If you really feel put out, just a quiet word in his ear should do the trick.
 
Not if asking an innocent question results in people asking what their rights are!
We've all worked hard over the years to avoid a "Them and Us" mentality and maintain an atmosphere of mutual respect. It only takes one person with that sort of attitude to screw the whole thing up.

Damn inconvenient when the serfs actually have the cheek to query, understand and maybe enforce their statutory employment rights, don't you agree old bean? Sites such as this should obviously be banned:

[broken link removed]

If you really feel put out, just a quiet word in his ear should do the trick.
I agree - with emphasis on the bit in red.
 
Not if asking an innocent question results in people asking what their rights are!
We've all worked hard over the years to avoid a "Them and Us" mentality and maintain an atmosphere of mutual respect. It only takes one person with that sort of attitude to screw the whole thing up.

:eek: Purple, I'm joking with you.!!! Hence the smiley face and the stick out tongue face. You are not normally like this and I always think your answers are very well balanced and witty. I can only assume you are having a particulary bad Monday. Hope it gets better. And that its being genuine, so if it comes across as sarcastic cos I'm writing it, it isn't meant to.

You say you've all worked hard for years to achieve what you have in work. That's why I asked "any jobs?. Cos it must be genuinely terrific to have such a great working environment, and if as you say you've all worked hard to get there, then its not something that comes easy and hence not an environment that everyone works in. You are very fortunate.
 
My boss asked me how my kids were doing and when I said they were great, and so was my partner, he said "so it must be time for another one?" - is this against equality legislation?
 
:eek: Purple, I'm joking with you.!!! Hence the smiley face and the stick out tongue face. You are not normally like this and I always think your answers are very well balanced and witty. I can only assume you are having a particulary bad Monday. Hope it gets better. And that its being genuine, so if it comes across as sarcastic cos I'm writing it, it isn't meant to.

You say you've all worked hard for years to achieve what you have in work. That's why I asked "any jobs?. Cos it must be genuinely terrific to have such a great working environment, and if as you say you've all worked hard to get there, then its not something that comes easy and hence not an environment that everyone works in. You are very fortunate.
Apologies, but I would hate to think that an employee would get all legal on me because I offended them with an innocent question.
 
My boss asked me how my kids were doing and when I said they were great, and so was my partner, he said "so it must be time for another one?" - is this against equality legislation?

Yea, it must be. Sue his ass off!!!
 
My boss asked me how my kids were doing and when I said they were great, and so was my partner, he said "so it must be time for another one?" - is this against equality legislation?
Did he mean another child or another partner? :)
 
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