Go whine somewhere else!
Posted on 06/12/2009 6:56:18 AM PDT by MNDude
You don’t need to be coy roy...tell her yer gay, Ray!
She is right. “Girls” makes the women sound inferior. You should never use the term when referring to women over 18. The only time you should use the term “girls” is when you are referring to their breasts as in “The girls are looking mighty perky today”.
Hope this helps.
Plus, she couldn’t just say it quietly in your presence? And she is your CONSULTANT? off with her head/ figuratively of course.
Reactions like this is why women don’t get ahead in the “boy’s club” of business. All she has done is cause you to be on tip-toes every time you deal with her (and subconciously you are probably going to avoid her—just human nature, people avoid what they percive to be trouble.)
This little dyslexic kid down the street from me called them ‘grils’...perhaps you could do that without offense?
Remember the nice thing about outside consultants: They Are A Dime A Dozen.
You can always find one who will do a comparable job for less money.
Inform this girl on your final meeting that her services are no longer required, and you’d be glad to offer her references to any position in the food service industry.
“or if I should show this PC woman the door.”
That.
As a conservative female on the down slide of the hill, I would welcome being called a girl - has never bothered me.
I would advise my son to NEVER refer to women as girls in the business world.
I would FIRE the consultant.
You want to complete this business with her? If so, shoot her an e-mail in response that says merely, “Sorry. I regret any offense.”
Then just act polite, formal, and businesslike around her till the transaction is over.
Then don’t do business there again.
I think this is just a case of letting today’s too-informal society get in the way of good business practices. In one way, she’s right. Referring to someone as a “gal” is certainly not good business speech, any more than referring to some man as a “guy.”
So the lesson is to never assume that a business colleague (unless you know him really well, including his political leanings) is your friend. In this case, you apparently should have known she was liberal, but you unwisely let your guard down.
Just be more careful from now on. That approach, by the way, is not a betrayal of your values. It’s just common sense and looking out for Number One.
You know, I sat here for a minute (after I posted my reply to you) and I came to realize something:
You guys can’t win. Nowhere to turn. No wonder you’re confused. These broads have handed you an impossible life.
No matter what, you’re damned if you do, and damned if you don’t. If you treat a gal like the “fairer sex” then you discriminate. If you fail to do so, then you are a mean barbarian, right out of the caveman days. What a flipping choice.
I feel so sorry for the male species, I can’t tell you.
These gals today expect them to treat them as men but when they fail to act in chivalry, they protest.
Nice work ..... if you can get it.
BINGO!!
Best to defuse the situation, before it gets worse.
Reply to her message that you had a discussion with the boys in the office and that you decided that her intolerance and thin skin wasn’t working out for your company.
Tell her she’s being replaced by a better looking broad with great hooters who is a lot smarter. And enjoys the smell of cigar smoke.
I would tell the “little girls” I’m doing business with them any more.
"Girl" suggests that you don't take the person seriously. "Young lady" or "young woman" would confer the same information in a more respectful way.
I don't know that the lady's response to you was all that helpful, but I see where she's coming from.
Show her the door, but hold it open for her.
As a consultant, she is almost certainly an independent contractor. Read the contract you have with her (or her company). If there is a notification required for termination, give it (without stating a reason other than "services no longer required") in writing. Follow the contract to the letter.
If she works for consultant company, call her boss and say you want a replacement. Again, don't give into the temptation to say why.
She will likely sue if she has any proof of sexism, so don't give her ammo through the termination.
When I advise my clients how to fire someone, I sometimes quote Tuco the Bandit from The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly, "If you're going to shoot, shoot. Don't talk."
“Sierra Tango Fox Uniform” - (STFU) - is the appropriate, if not the “proper”, answer.
Colonel, USAFR
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