Girlie calendars in the workplace AIBU

As a point of principle I agree with you entirely; from a management point of view I would probably turn a blind eye.

Not very helpful but here are my first thoughts.

1) They objectify women, and make you feel intimidated. You have a right not to feel intimidated in your place of work. You can ask them to get rid

2) How often do you have to see them? If they don't really impact on you, wait until you get a female apprentice and act then.

3) No, do it now, so that if you DO get a female apprentice it isn't even an issue.

4) Meh. You might never get a female apprentice.

5) But they make YOU, a manager, feel intimidated. Ask them to get rid.

I'm not helping, am I?

Thanks Sophie and Lilly. Lilly you HAVE helped because that's exactly the confusion that's going through my head. I have a 22 year old graduate trainee, what if she walks in there. They're an intimidating bunch when they want to be without her having to feel even more uncomfortable. But why should I change what they've been doing for the last 36 years without interference. Hmmm, maybe I'll pretend I haven't noticed them yet.

I think if they were going to intimidate her by making offensive comments etc, they'd do so regardless of the calendar (and that would be an offence, regardless). TBH I think it's likely that they've forgotten it's even there. You could slip the cleaner a fiver to remove it, and see what happens?

I think this is a battle-picking moment. If it doesn't *really* bother you, and you your trainee hasn't mentioned it, I would probably turn a blind eye. If it does seem to bother her, or you get a female apprentice that might be the time to make an issue of it.

Thanks Sophie, think if I'm going to remove them I'll do it myself as I love our cleaner and would hate her to be involved. Thanks for your help :-)

Do you manage the workshop? If so, I'd have a tidy up over Christmas and bung them in the recycling - its the end of the year so they're out of date. I think if you let on you're offended then they might kick off. Not that this is right or acceptable, but it would give people something to moan about.

No, I'm the manager's manager's manager if that makes sense. I rarely even go into the workshop. Yup, you're right it would give them something to moan about.

Thanks FTG too for your comments. I suppose I'm probably too anxious to keep everyone happy- probably no one else cares about the silly old me with their girlie pictures ?

Could you make a point with naked male calendars? I know it's not professional, and not at all the point you were making, but if there are any objections then that could open up reasoned discussion.

It's what I would do, but then I am a SAHM and when I was a manager I only had women under me who out up half naked pictures of Asher, which I objected to on the grounds of he's an idiot..