A Minor Shortcoming: Bob's Peculiar Habits

Bob's peculiar behavior in the office was a minor shortcoming that his team decided to overlook due to his exceptional performance. However, his actions did not go unnoticed, and the saleswomen eventually took a stand in a unique way.

Bob's Office Dynamics

Linda, a new employee at Max Factor, an American cosmetic company in Taiwan, was forewarned about Bob's peculiar behavior. "Overall, he's a good boss," she was told, "but he has a minor shortcoming—he likes to stare at women."

Linda was curious and asked, "What do you mean by that?"

"Well, he doesn't touch anyone, but he does stare," was the response.

Since Bob's transfer to Taiwan, Max Factor's cosmetic product sales had tripled. This success delighted not only the home office but also his four saleswomen, whose bonuses had also tripled. Despite his flaw, Bob was considered a great supervisor.

The Observations

Linda noticed that Bob, a tall man, would often look down at women wearing low-cut dresses. On two occasions during conferences, Linda had to discreetly inform him about his open fly. She also observed that during sales meetings, Bob frequently dropped his pencil and took his time picking it up, seemingly to appreciate the women's legs under their miniskirt uniforms.

"This is too much; we should report him," Linda complained.

"Let's not forget, he raised our salaries and gave us fat bonuses," was the consensus among the saleswomen.

The Breaking Point

The situation reached a breaking point when Linda overheard Bob telling a colleague that he had noticed three of his four saleswomen wore black panties the previous day. Outraged, Linda shared this with her colleagues, and they decided to take action.

Three days later, during another sales meeting, Bob 'accidentally' dropped his pencil again. When he bent down and looked up, he saw eight kneepads, each painted with a capital letter. Together, they spelled out: HELLO BOB.

Conclusion

Bob's behavior, while inappropriate, was tolerated by his team due to his significant contributions to the company's success. However, the saleswomen found a creative way to address the issue without escalating it to higher management.

Interesting Stats

• According to a 2018 study by the Workplace Bullying Institute, 19% of Americans have experienced workplace bullying, and 61% of bullies are bosses. Source
• A 2020 survey by the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) found that 49% of American workers have experienced or witnessed workplace harassment. Source

Additional Resources

• For more information on workplace harassment and how to handle it, visit the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC).
• To understand more about workplace dynamics and employee rights, check out the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).

By addressing Bob's behavior creatively, the saleswomen managed to maintain a positive work environment while ensuring their concerns were acknowledged.