n=21 oh, I love working at an engineering firm

This is supposed to be a long post about the woe's of working for a firm that is rooted in the very masculine world of engineering. But, I hate thinking about inequality and differential treatment as a reality.

 

Today was one of those days where I thought "if I was a guy, this would not have happened"

 

Basically, one of my employees, a guy, came in my office and YELLED at me for a good 20 minutes about all the things that are "wrong" with me, the episode started with the phrase "I came in with the intension of quitting today..." and basically went from there with the last sentence being "...so then why don't you fire me?!"

and I sat here thinking.... I'm the only woman in my office with a position of management that affords me an office. All of the other project and division managers sitting in their offices, would their employees go in and say these things to them?

 

I made a conscious effort not to engage him.

I allowed him to just say everything he had to say.

and believe me, there was no room in there for a response if I had wanted to say something.... you know, when someone basically cuts off any options you have in their ranting.

 

I told a male friend about what had happened, and he said that if someone did that to him, he would have called security, and had the person escorted out of his office.

 

so - there's the difference between a man and a woman.

or is it the nature of the HR process at my company vs his?

 

for the record, said employee went back to their business thereafter and has been happily engaging people all over the office.

Is this a need for emotional catharsis and I was a handy target?

 

anyway you look at it, it is unacceptible.