Manager hints that I'm big

yirara

Right. My manager has been hinting a few times that I look a bit chubby. And I don't know how to react to that. I know I don't look as thin as I am (see below), but.. it's just a wrong comment to make and I don't know how to react to it. I could tell her to shut up, but that's not me and we otherwise have a good relationship. Any idea other than ignoring it should she hint again?

I'm not fat. My BMI is 21 and I'm maintaining. There was a time, when I started this job where I was about 4-6kg lighter. I'm happy at my current weight as my blood pressure was so low at the lower weight that I could not stand up without nearly fainting. Plus I looked far too bony, and my face looked even unhealthier slim that now. However, I'm not very tall but have very wide shoulders and hips. I carry might weight on my thighs and bum but I have a very slim belly (I used to have a sixpack at the lower weight), which you don't see as it's always cold here and I tend to wear warm, wider clothes.

tinkerbellang83

yirara wrote: »

Right. My manager has been hinting a few times that I look a bit chubby. And I don't know how to react to that. I know I don't look as thin as I am (see below), but.. it's just a wrong comment to make and I don't know how to react to it. I could tell her to shut up, but that's not me and we otherwise have a good relationship. Any idea other than ignoring it should she hint again?

I'm not fat. My BMI is 21 and I'm maintaining. There was a time, when I started this job where I was about 4-6kg lighter. I'm happy at my current weight as my blood pressure was so low at the lower weight that I could not stand up without nearly fainting. Plus I looked far too bony, and my face looked even unhealthier slim that now. However, I'm not very tall but have very wide shoulders and hips. I carry might weight on my thighs and bum but I have a very slim belly (I used to have a sixpack at the lower weight), which you don't see as it's always cold here and I tend to wear warm, wider clothes.

It's fairly inappropriate for your manager to be commenting on your weight at all was there some reason that it came up in conversation? At BMI 21 you are far from chubby. Perhaps if she makes the comment again, you can tell her that her comment is making you uncomfortable and hope that an informal chat can resolve it.

TavistockToad

i would respond with 'its funny, i was thinking the same about you....' see how that works :laugh:

TorStar80

You don’t need to justify yourself. Unless you work somewhere that you are required to maintain a certain weight, it’s non of her business. I’d be up front, if she comments again, I’d say “ you’ve commented a few times about my weight, do you have a concern because my doctor tells me I’m perfectly healthy.”

sijomial

If it's happened "a few times" it will happen again.
Time to confront your manager (calmly) and tell her in a polite but assertive way to keep her beak out of things that don't concern her.

If she doesn't back off then tell your manager's manager and/or HR. In writing.

Don't be a door mat or people will wipe their feet on you!

callsitlikeiseeit

tell them your weight is none of her business (unless as someone else said, its a job where a certain look is required).

jennifer_417

I'm curious to know exactly what was said. It's hard to know how to respond without a bit more info, tbh.

Unknown

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AlienDuchess

Report it to hr as harassment

Unknown

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kbmnurse

Move on. Ignore.

RuNaRoUnDaFiEld

jennifer_417 wrote: »

I'm curious to know exactly what was said. It's hard to know how to respond without a bit more info, tbh.

This ^

Hinting you could be you misinterpreting her.

What did she say exactly?

tinkerbellang83

AlienDuchess wrote: »

Report it to hr as harassment

That's a bit of a stretch from "hinting at" to harassment, especially if OP and her manager have an otherwise good relationship per her post.

kdbulger

I would be pretty blunt:

"I'm uncomfortable with you commenting on my weight and appearance. I'm healthy and happy. That's enough for me."

WorkerDrone83

Hmm. Yeah, you could be reading into things that aren't really there if you tend to get defensive about your weight. Congrats on losing 4-6kg and maintaining, btw.

My other thought was that maybe she's feeling threatened by you and that's why she's taking digs.

RoxieDawn

Hinting? Are there words actually being said to you directly saying you are chubby, your title says she says you are big?

I personally would not stand for someone mocking my appearance to my face (this is just me) and this draws the line between a personal stab and what is acceptable in a business environment.

'Otherwise good relationship' you say you two have, means you can say something her.

TavistockToad

kdbulger wrote: »

I would be pretty blunt:

"I'm uncomfortable with you commenting on my weight and appearance. I'm healthy and happy. That's enough for me."

OP doesn't need to justify themselves or their weight. 'i'm uncomfortable with you commenting on my weight' is fine.

jemhh

I'm in the "what exactly has your manager said?" camp on this. Without knowing that, it is hard to respond. You may be correct that that is her intent or you may be misinterpreting what she is saying.

Lounmoun

yirara wrote: »

Right. My manager has been hinting a few times that I look a bit chubby. And I don't know how to react to that. I know I don't look as thin as I am (see below), but.. it's just a wrong comment to make and I don't know how to react to it. I could tell her to shut up, but that's not me and we otherwise have a good relationship. Any idea other than ignoring it should she hint again?

I'm not fat. My BMI is 21 and I'm maintaining. There was a time, when I started this job where I was about 4-6kg lighter. I'm happy at my current weight as my blood pressure was so low at the lower weight that I could not stand up without nearly fainting. Plus I looked far too bony, and my face looked even unhealthier slim that now. However, I'm not very tall but have very wide shoulders and hips. I carry might weight on my thighs and bum but I have a very slim belly (I used to have a sixpack at the lower weight), which you don't see as it's always cold here and I tend to wear warm, wider clothes.

What are these hints?
If you were really overweight do you think it would be okay for your manager to make comments about your weight then?
Does your weight have anything to do with your job?

You might say, "Are you commenting on my weight? That is pretty inappropriate of none of your business."
You might say, "Yes, I gained some weight and am maintaining it. I am happy with my body and feeling healthier than ever."

Sunnybrooke99

My guess is that your manager thinks you look nice and healthy, and probably meant it as a complement. I see this all of the time at work ( but I’m a dancer), and it’s almost always truly a complement. If you are in a similar job, where your looks matter, I’d just ask. If you aren’t in that kind of job, I’d let it go this time. You can’t teach everyone how to behave. If it happens again, or continues to haunt you, talk to HR.

stanmann571

Add me to the list of "what exactly was said" votes.

jasummers76

As a department head overseeing 13 managers and 200 employees this is unacceptable. But it is hard to do more than talk with the manager for hints. This may make your situation worse going over their head. You need to say something to them, calmly and respectfully. Which I know is hard, considering this should not even be a issue if you were 200 lbs over weight. But I would start there. Also it would make my job easier if people would download a app on their phone and record the conversation. Seems extreme I know but otherwise it's a he said she said thing. HR comes to me often with employee complaints and it is not as cut and dry as some make it appear. Without a witness or them harassing you through email I usually just switch them to report to a new supervisor. I have to protect my company from lawsuits from both parties. Good luck

DX2JX2

Unless this is a repeated behavior, I'm guessing it was just a misinterpretation on your part. Trust me when I say that those of us concerned about our weight tend to have a one-track mind such that it's easy for us to assume that everybody else cares about how we look.

Don't do anything for now, see if it happens again. If it does, then either ask her not to make those comments (if her intent was not malicious), or call her out on it and go straight to HR (if her intent was malicious).

MegaMooseEsq

I'm in the: be polite but straightforward about it. Since you have a good relationship otherwise, one would hope she would be receptive to a calm request not to make comments about your appearance. Even if she's been really vague about it, you could always say something like "I've been feeling uncomfortable with some of your comments that seem to reference my weight. Could you please avoid making those kinds of comments in the future?" Or bring it up when she makes a comment you're uncomfortable about. Most people dance around things that bother them so much that the other person (who might not even be acting maliciously) never realizes there's a problem. You can certainly bring it up without making it a big deal, but you need to be clear about what you want.

NorthCascades

I think my reaction would be to ask if she's drunk.

Need2Exerc1se

tinkerbellang83 wrote: »

AlienDuchess wrote: »

Report it to hr as harassment

That's a bit of a stretch from "hinting at" to harassment, especially if OP and her manager have an otherwise good relationship per her post.

It depends on where you live and/or work. We have to attend 'sensitivity training' yearly at my job and they tell us that mentioning someone's weight at all, in a positive, neutral or negative way can be considered harassment. Actually even telling then they are pretty can be harassment. Any mention of a person's appearance can be harassment. People still do it, though.

jemhh

I am reminded of a time when I was starting a job and as my supervisor introduced me around, she said "the people in the next department have all worked together for a long time and know each other really well. Some of them are huggers. If you don't want to be hugged, it's okay. But you're a big girl and I'm sure you can handle it yourself without me saying so." Was that a dig about my weight? No. It was her saying she expected an adult to speak up when necessary. So once again, I am still wondering what exactly the OP's manager is saying.

lorrpb

Does your job have appearance requirements?

lorrpb

Bring in some 25 lb dumbbells and challenge her to a squat-off.

HeidiCooksSupper

Here's a thought. Smile and confidently say, "Thank you. My doctor and I are both happy that this new, more normal weight has me feeling better but I'd really rather you don't mention it at work." That oughtta fix her wagon.

yirara

TavistockToad wrote: »

i would respond with 'its funny, i was thinking the same about you....' see how that works :laugh:

Noooo, that's not me. Plus she knows it