Does the #MeToo movement include men who are harassed by women? My boss knows I need my job and for many reasons finding a different one isn’t easy for me, so she takes advantage by treating me badly, including making sexual comments and overtures. What about me, too?
Sorry to hear this, and while I think #MeToo started out as a rallying slogan for all of the women who felt they couldn’t speak up about inappropriate sexual conduct in the workplace, the sentiment wraps its arms around anyone regardless of gender. Your situation sounds like a small business or sole proprietorship and not a corporation, because then you’d have many options via human resources to try to remedy your situation. Even though you say your circumstances make it difficult, have you tried looking for a new job? What about talking to a lawyer? I’m generally not a fan of employers surreptitiously recording conduct in the workplace unless it is to help prove some serious offense, such as it is in this case. Don’t feel that you can’t do anything because your situation is not as common. No one should ever be mistreated — period. Do something.
Help us resolve a bet. My buddy thinks it is OK to go sockless with loafers at work on casual-dress summer Fridays. I say going sockless is strictly for weekend wear. What say you?
What was the wager? How much is at risk here so I understand what pressure I’m under? The topic of socks is as fiercely debated as what to wear in general on dress-down days. And trust me, many of you need a second opinion. I think the only consensus is that formal dress shoes or sandals should never be worn without socks unless a casting director is calling for an old-man part or a remake of “Miami Vice.” But, you shouldn’t wear either on dress down days. Personally, I believe it’s fine to wear a boat shoe such as Sperrys and they are difficult to pull off with socks. So there’s your answer. With the appropriate footwear, you can go without socks. Of course, if you work for a startup that’s inventing its own rules, you should follow its lead.
Gregory Giangrande is a chief human resources and communications officer in the media industry. E-mail your career questions to gotogreg@nypost.com. Follow Greg on Twitter: @greggiangrande. His Go to Greg podcast series is available on iTunes.
