Just Venting

[barbc888]

I was eating a bagel in my office one day last week... I had tested my blood sugar and it was around 60 so I had to eat. My boss comes into my office, looks at me eating and says "that's unreasonable." So I said "what's unreasonable?" He says "eating while you're working at your computer." I said "well, I'm a diabetic, so I need to snack often throughout the day." And he says "well, you've never had to before, so please try not to and be reasonable about it."

I was so shocked and flabbergasted that I didn't know what to say. To make a long story short, we did communicate about this later in the day, and he says that snacking at my desk throughout the day is a "special condition of my employment" and he was not aware that I needed this "special condition of employment." What really gets me is that 1) he knows I snack throughout the day... I've been doing it for 2.5 years at this job and he sees the orange juice and snacks on my desk every day; and 2) he's a doctor... I would expect a little more compassion from this guy and a little less stupidity from him on the requirements that diabetes dictates. I did stress to him that eating at my desk has not affected the quantity or quality of my work, and that I'm not the only one in the office who snacks at their desk. This fell on deaf ears.

I've been tossing around complaining to the higher ups that this is harassment, but am hesitating because I hate to bring my health issues to the forefront. What would you do?

<img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-disgusted.gif" border="0">

 

[barbc888]

I was eating a bagel in my office one day last week... I had tested my blood sugar and it was around 60 so I had to eat. My boss comes into my office, looks at me eating and says "that's unreasonable." So I said "what's unreasonable?" He says "eating while you're working at your computer." I said "well, I'm a diabetic, so I need to snack often throughout the day." And he says "well, you've never had to before, so please try not to and be reasonable about it."

I was so shocked and flabbergasted that I didn't know what to say. To make a long story short, we did communicate about this later in the day, and he says that snacking at my desk throughout the day is a "special condition of my employment" and he was not aware that I needed this "special condition of employment." What really gets me is that 1) he knows I snack throughout the day... I've been doing it for 2.5 years at this job and he sees the orange juice and snacks on my desk every day; and 2) he's a doctor... I would expect a little more compassion from this guy and a little less stupidity from him on the requirements that diabetes dictates. I did stress to him that eating at my desk has not affected the quantity or quality of my work, and that I'm not the only one in the office who snacks at their desk. This fell on deaf ears.

I've been tossing around complaining to the higher ups that this is harassment, but am hesitating because I hate to bring my health issues to the forefront. What would you do?

<img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-disgusted.gif" border="0">

 

[barbc888]

I was eating a bagel in my office one day last week... I had tested my blood sugar and it was around 60 so I had to eat. My boss comes into my office, looks at me eating and says "that's unreasonable." So I said "what's unreasonable?" He says "eating while you're working at your computer." I said "well, I'm a diabetic, so I need to snack often throughout the day." And he says "well, you've never had to before, so please try not to and be reasonable about it."

I was so shocked and flabbergasted that I didn't know what to say. To make a long story short, we did communicate about this later in the day, and he says that snacking at my desk throughout the day is a "special condition of my employment" and he was not aware that I needed this "special condition of employment." What really gets me is that 1) he knows I snack throughout the day... I've been doing it for 2.5 years at this job and he sees the orange juice and snacks on my desk every day; and 2) he's a doctor... I would expect a little more compassion from this guy and a little less stupidity from him on the requirements that diabetes dictates. I did stress to him that eating at my desk has not affected the quantity or quality of my work, and that I'm not the only one in the office who snacks at their desk. This fell on deaf ears.

I've been tossing around complaining to the higher ups that this is harassment, but am hesitating because I hate to bring my health issues to the forefront. What would you do?

<img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-disgusted.gif" border="0">

 

[barbc888]

I was eating a bagel in my office one day last week... I had tested my blood sugar and it was around 60 so I had to eat. My boss comes into my office, looks at me eating and says "that's unreasonable." So I said "what's unreasonable?" He says "eating while you're working at your computer." I said "well, I'm a diabetic, so I need to snack often throughout the day." And he says "well, you've never had to before, so please try not to and be reasonable about it."

I was so shocked and flabbergasted that I didn't know what to say. To make a long story short, we did communicate about this later in the day, and he says that snacking at my desk throughout the day is a "special condition of my employment" and he was not aware that I needed this "special condition of employment." What really gets me is that 1) he knows I snack throughout the day... I've been doing it for 2.5 years at this job and he sees the orange juice and snacks on my desk every day; and 2) he's a doctor... I would expect a little more compassion from this guy and a little less stupidity from him on the requirements that diabetes dictates. I did stress to him that eating at my desk has not affected the quantity or quality of my work, and that I'm not the only one in the office who snacks at their desk. This fell on deaf ears.

I've been tossing around complaining to the higher ups that this is harassment, but am hesitating because I hate to bring my health issues to the forefront. What would you do?

<img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-disgusted.gif" border="0">

 

[barbc888]

I was eating a bagel in my office one day last week... I had tested my blood sugar and it was around 60 so I had to eat. My boss comes into my office, looks at me eating and says "that's unreasonable." So I said "what's unreasonable?" He says "eating while you're working at your computer." I said "well, I'm a diabetic, so I need to snack often throughout the day." And he says "well, you've never had to before, so please try not to and be reasonable about it."
<br />
<br />I was so shocked and flabbergasted that I didn't know what to say. To make a long story short, we did communicate about this later in the day, and he says that snacking at my desk throughout the day is a "special condition of my employment" and he was not aware that I needed this "special condition of employment." What really gets me is that 1) he knows I snack throughout the day... I've been doing it for 2.5 years at this job and he sees the orange juice and snacks on my desk every day; and 2) he's a doctor... I would expect a little more compassion from this guy and a little less stupidity from him on the requirements that diabetes dictates. I did stress to him that eating at my desk has not affected the quantity or quality of my work, and that I'm not the only one in the office who snacks at their desk. This fell on deaf ears.
<br />
<br />I've been tossing around complaining to the higher ups that this is harassment, but am hesitating because I hate to bring my health issues to the forefront. What would you do?
<br />
<br /><img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-disgusted.gif" border="0">
<br />

 

[AnD]

Hmmmm...either your boss was having a bad day and decided to take it out on you (has his boss complained about people eating at their desks?) or something else is up, and I would get a log book and record what and when he says something to you and when others are snacking and go unspoken to.

Saying that it is "unreasonable" for a diabetic (or anyone???) to be snacking at their desk after doing it for years sounds...weird. Especially for a doctor. A casual mention of the Disability Act might be in order too, if he starts harassing you about it. And if he does continue, I would take my log book and go higher up.

Good luck. I hope he was just having a bad day, and apologizes to you.

 

[AnD]

Hmmmm...either your boss was having a bad day and decided to take it out on you (has his boss complained about people eating at their desks?) or something else is up, and I would get a log book and record what and when he says something to you and when others are snacking and go unspoken to.

Saying that it is "unreasonable" for a diabetic (or anyone???) to be snacking at their desk after doing it for years sounds...weird. Especially for a doctor. A casual mention of the Disability Act might be in order too, if he starts harassing you about it. And if he does continue, I would take my log book and go higher up.

Good luck. I hope he was just having a bad day, and apologizes to you.

 

[AnD]

Hmmmm...either your boss was having a bad day and decided to take it out on you (has his boss complained about people eating at their desks?) or something else is up, and I would get a log book and record what and when he says something to you and when others are snacking and go unspoken to.

Saying that it is "unreasonable" for a diabetic (or anyone???) to be snacking at their desk after doing it for years sounds...weird. Especially for a doctor. A casual mention of the Disability Act might be in order too, if he starts harassing you about it. And if he does continue, I would take my log book and go higher up.

Good luck. I hope he was just having a bad day, and apologizes to you.

 

[AnD]

Hmmmm...either your boss was having a bad day and decided to take it out on you (has his boss complained about people eating at their desks?) or something else is up, and I would get a log book and record what and when he says something to you and when others are snacking and go unspoken to.

Saying that it is "unreasonable" for a diabetic (or anyone???) to be snacking at their desk after doing it for years sounds...weird. Especially for a doctor. A casual mention of the Disability Act might be in order too, if he starts harassing you about it. And if he does continue, I would take my log book and go higher up.

Good luck. I hope he was just having a bad day, and apologizes to you.

 

[AnD]

Hmmmm...either your boss was having a bad day and decided to take it out on you (has his boss complained about people eating at their desks?) or something else is up, and I would get a log book and record what and when he says something to you and when others are snacking and go unspoken to.
<br />
<br />Saying that it is "unreasonable" for a diabetic (or anyone???) to be snacking at their desk after doing it for years sounds...weird. Especially for a doctor. A casual mention of the Disability Act might be in order too, if he starts harassing you about it. And if he does continue, I would take my log book and go higher up.
<br />
<br /> Good luck. I hope he was just having a bad day, and apologizes to you.

 

[Sevenstars]

I would have been flabberghasted too. I mean that goes beyond rude. It sounds like he was mentally reading from his HR manual or something "special condition for employment"... come on. I'd kind of be worried about that to be honest, it sounds like he's getting ammo to make some bigger complaint about you (in my pessimistic view).

I'm not sure if I would bring it to the attention of higher ups or not. On one hand, I think you are totally in the right: the snack was necessary, it was not interfering with your work, and it certainly wasn't a "special condition" since it required no action on their part. You simply did what you needed to do and it shouldn't have concerned your boss. On the other hand, it's never a good thing to make waves, especially bringing your health to the forefront like you said. You want to downplay it, not make them think it's a big deal.

I hope someone else has a good suggestion, I'm not really good at dealing with people like that, myself. <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-disgusted.gif" border="0">

 

[Sevenstars]

I would have been flabberghasted too. I mean that goes beyond rude. It sounds like he was mentally reading from his HR manual or something "special condition for employment"... come on. I'd kind of be worried about that to be honest, it sounds like he's getting ammo to make some bigger complaint about you (in my pessimistic view).

I'm not sure if I would bring it to the attention of higher ups or not. On one hand, I think you are totally in the right: the snack was necessary, it was not interfering with your work, and it certainly wasn't a "special condition" since it required no action on their part. You simply did what you needed to do and it shouldn't have concerned your boss. On the other hand, it's never a good thing to make waves, especially bringing your health to the forefront like you said. You want to downplay it, not make them think it's a big deal.

I hope someone else has a good suggestion, I'm not really good at dealing with people like that, myself. <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-disgusted.gif" border="0">

 

[Sevenstars]

I would have been flabberghasted too. I mean that goes beyond rude. It sounds like he was mentally reading from his HR manual or something "special condition for employment"... come on. I'd kind of be worried about that to be honest, it sounds like he's getting ammo to make some bigger complaint about you (in my pessimistic view).

I'm not sure if I would bring it to the attention of higher ups or not. On one hand, I think you are totally in the right: the snack was necessary, it was not interfering with your work, and it certainly wasn't a "special condition" since it required no action on their part. You simply did what you needed to do and it shouldn't have concerned your boss. On the other hand, it's never a good thing to make waves, especially bringing your health to the forefront like you said. You want to downplay it, not make them think it's a big deal.

I hope someone else has a good suggestion, I'm not really good at dealing with people like that, myself. <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-disgusted.gif" border="0">

 

[Sevenstars]

I would have been flabberghasted too. I mean that goes beyond rude. It sounds like he was mentally reading from his HR manual or something "special condition for employment"... come on. I'd kind of be worried about that to be honest, it sounds like he's getting ammo to make some bigger complaint about you (in my pessimistic view).

I'm not sure if I would bring it to the attention of higher ups or not. On one hand, I think you are totally in the right: the snack was necessary, it was not interfering with your work, and it certainly wasn't a "special condition" since it required no action on their part. You simply did what you needed to do and it shouldn't have concerned your boss. On the other hand, it's never a good thing to make waves, especially bringing your health to the forefront like you said. You want to downplay it, not make them think it's a big deal.

I hope someone else has a good suggestion, I'm not really good at dealing with people like that, myself. <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-disgusted.gif" border="0">

 

[Sevenstars]

I would have been flabberghasted too. I mean that goes beyond rude. It sounds like he was mentally reading from his HR manual or something "special condition for employment"... come on. I'd kind of be worried about that to be honest, it sounds like he's getting ammo to make some bigger complaint about you (in my pessimistic view).
<br />
<br />I'm not sure if I would bring it to the attention of higher ups or not. On one hand, I think you are totally in the right: the snack was necessary, it was not interfering with your work, and it certainly wasn't a "special condition" since it required no action on their part. You simply did what you needed to do and it shouldn't have concerned your boss. On the other hand, it's never a good thing to make waves, especially bringing your health to the forefront like you said. You want to downplay it, not make them think it's a big deal.
<br />
<br />I hope someone else has a good suggestion, I'm not really good at dealing with people like that, myself. <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-disgusted.gif" border="0">

 

[CowTown]

That's so ridiculous! I wouldn't think you'd have to say anything else other than you are diabetic. From what you've mentioned, I don't really see how CF even has to be a part of the conversation, since eating at your desk is to help manage your diabetes, period...and he's a doctor? Geez. If you don't eat, like what he's asking of you, then that will potentially effect your productivity, so he needs to focus on the company's needs. And what is so wrong with 'special condition for employment' anyways? I don't know, but I just wonder where that comes in to play for other employees, is it a bad thing? Maybe it's there for a good reason, of course not for eating at your desk though. <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0"> Weird.

I hope that guy gets a grip and doesn't gripe about it again to you.

 

[CowTown]

That's so ridiculous! I wouldn't think you'd have to say anything else other than you are diabetic. From what you've mentioned, I don't really see how CF even has to be a part of the conversation, since eating at your desk is to help manage your diabetes, period...and he's a doctor? Geez. If you don't eat, like what he's asking of you, then that will potentially effect your productivity, so he needs to focus on the company's needs. And what is so wrong with 'special condition for employment' anyways? I don't know, but I just wonder where that comes in to play for other employees, is it a bad thing? Maybe it's there for a good reason, of course not for eating at your desk though. <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0"> Weird.

I hope that guy gets a grip and doesn't gripe about it again to you.

 

[CowTown]

That's so ridiculous! I wouldn't think you'd have to say anything else other than you are diabetic. From what you've mentioned, I don't really see how CF even has to be a part of the conversation, since eating at your desk is to help manage your diabetes, period...and he's a doctor? Geez. If you don't eat, like what he's asking of you, then that will potentially effect your productivity, so he needs to focus on the company's needs. And what is so wrong with 'special condition for employment' anyways? I don't know, but I just wonder where that comes in to play for other employees, is it a bad thing? Maybe it's there for a good reason, of course not for eating at your desk though. <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0"> Weird.

I hope that guy gets a grip and doesn't gripe about it again to you.

 

[CowTown]

That's so ridiculous! I wouldn't think you'd have to say anything else other than you are diabetic. From what you've mentioned, I don't really see how CF even has to be a part of the conversation, since eating at your desk is to help manage your diabetes, period...and he's a doctor? Geez. If you don't eat, like what he's asking of you, then that will potentially effect your productivity, so he needs to focus on the company's needs. And what is so wrong with 'special condition for employment' anyways? I don't know, but I just wonder where that comes in to play for other employees, is it a bad thing? Maybe it's there for a good reason, of course not for eating at your desk though. <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0"> Weird.

I hope that guy gets a grip and doesn't gripe about it again to you.

 

[CowTown]

That's so ridiculous! I wouldn't think you'd have to say anything else other than you are diabetic. From what you've mentioned, I don't really see how CF even has to be a part of the conversation, since eating at your desk is to help manage your diabetes, period...and he's a doctor? Geez. If you don't eat, like what he's asking of you, then that will potentially effect your productivity, so he needs to focus on the company's needs. And what is so wrong with 'special condition for employment' anyways? I don't know, but I just wonder where that comes in to play for other employees, is it a bad thing? Maybe it's there for a good reason, of course not for eating at your desk though. <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0"> Weird.
<br />
<br />I hope that guy gets a grip and doesn't gripe about it again to you.