Inappropriate joke at work

[Anonymous]

The correct response is to laugh and say "Lawyers are the most dangerous people to beat up, we get you eventually." And then mentally file this guy under insecure dorks.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So much fun having 20 somethings around the office.

I think OP is an older millennial/borderline Gen-X.

Gen Z doesn't waiver. They will straight up tell someone to their face "what you said was inappropriate because..." and they would never seek guidance on reporting the comment. Gen Z is the 'see something, say something' and 'receipts' generation. They've had both drilled into them since birth.

Oh no no no, I’m an older millennial (1981) and I would not feel the way OP does in a million years.

[Anonymous]

Why aren’t you working more to get this deal done to help generate revenue rather than crying on DCUM about comments that you didn’t like?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:In the words of the late, great, Pee Wee Herman, “Lighten up, Francis”

That wasn’t Pee Wee’s saying: https://digitalcultures.net/memes/lighten-up-francis/

[Anonymous]

So pathetic.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So much fun having 20 somethings around the office.

I think OP is an older millennial/borderline Gen-X.

Gen Z doesn't waiver. They will straight up tell someone to their face "what you said was inappropriate because..." and they would never seek guidance on reporting the comment. Gen Z is the 'see something, say something' and 'receipts' generation. They've had both drilled into them since birth.

Nope, I got money that says OP is between 25-30.
-signed, 44 year old lawyer who thinks OP is being completely ridiculous

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I work as an in-house commercial attorney and I support our sales team. A sales person reached out to me on Friday about a deal I will be working on with him, and he said that he told the counterparty that he is 6’6” and he will “beat up any lawyers as needed in order for this deal to go through.”

Clearly it was a joke but I feel like it was extremely inappropriate and I’m considering raising it with my boss. While it was a joke it was still a threat to not get in the way of his deal. I don’t want to make a formal complaint against him but I want it noted that he said this in case there are other issues going forward. Thoughts on how to best do this?

If you want it noted, then yes you need to make a formal report, if not a complaint.
You can pass it through proper channels. You have the same right to speak your mind in the office as the "joker" does.

So you want people like the commenters on this post taking over your office culture?

And you certainly don't need to go out of your way to help someone who disrespects your colleagues like that, and who represents your firm poorly to outsiders.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So much fun having 20 somethings around the office.

I think OP is an older millennial/borderline Gen-X.

Gen Z doesn't waiver. They will straight up tell someone to their face "what you said was inappropriate because..." and they would never seek guidance on reporting the comment. Gen Z is the 'see something, say something' and 'receipts' generation. They've had both drilled into them since birth.

Uh, no. Gen-X can take a joke. Or we just roll our eyes at lame attempts at humor.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So much fun having 20 somethings around the office.

I think OP is an older millennial/borderline Gen-X.

Gen Z doesn't waiver. They will straight up tell someone to their face "what you said was inappropriate because..." and they would never seek guidance on reporting the comment. Gen Z is the 'see something, say something' and 'receipts' generation. They've had both drilled into them since birth.

Uh, no. Gen-X can take a joke. Or we just roll our eyes at lame attempts at humor.

Agree 100%. This is not a GenX move at all.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So much fun having 20 somethings around the office.

I think OP is an older millennial/borderline Gen-X.

Gen Z doesn't waiver. They will straight up tell someone to their face "what you said was inappropriate because..." and they would never seek guidance on reporting the comment. Gen Z is the 'see something, say something' and 'receipts' generation. They've had both drilled into them since birth.

No way. I'm 37 and can't imagine anyone I know acting like OP. They are definitely in their 20s.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I work as an in-house commercial attorney and I support our sales team. A sales person reached out to me on Friday about a deal I will be working on with him, and he said that he told the counterparty that he is 6’6” and he will “beat up any lawyers as needed in order for this deal to go through.”

Clearly it was a joke but I feel like it was extremely inappropriate and I’m considering raising it with my boss. While it was a joke it was still a threat to not get in the way of his deal. I don’t want to make a formal complaint against him but I want it noted that he said this in case there are other issues going forward. Thoughts on how to best do this?

.

The sales person is a complete jerk. Inappropriate comment. Regardless of whether or not it was perceived as a threat, it is unprofessional. Comments like that might affect a deal. Needs to be raised with your boss because he said this to an opposing party / counter-party. Your boss needs to be aware so the sales person doesn't make any other inappropriate comments.

I wonder whether prior posters understand that the salesman said this to the other party--and not just to you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am a lawyer.

You were there - was a joke? Or a threat? If you can honestly say he made you feel unsafe, then raise it. But if it was a joke, then you’re going to look so stupid raising this. Lawyer isn’t a protected class, and we do get in the way of making money. It’s right that we should, of course, but frustration with us is commonplace and you need to be able to handle it.

I think that you misunderstand the original post in this thread. Or maybe I do.

[Anonymous]

I’m a female lawyer and don’t think this is inappropriate as a joke. No one likes lawyers. We tell them that they can’t do whatever they wanted to do. That’s our job. People make jokes about it. I make jokes about it. It is a way of dealing with the fact that we are the least favorite part of everyone’s day. If you can’t have some sense of humor about it, this career will wear on you even more than it inevitably will. Also, I’d rather have them make that joke to my face (indicating that ot os just a joke and I’m in on it) than behind my back (where it might suggest that they really do intent to just ignore me).

Appropriate response is probably something along the lines of “but if you beat up all the lawyers there will be no one to defend you in the deposition when you get sued after ignoring our advice!” Or “yeah, yeah, I get it—everyone loves a lawyer.”

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I work as an in-house commercial attorney and I support our sales team. A sales person reached out to me on Friday about a deal I will be working on with him, and he said that he told the counterparty that he is 6’6” and he will “beat up any lawyers as needed in order for this deal to go through.”

Clearly it was a joke but I feel like it was extremely inappropriate and I’m considering raising it with my boss. While it was a joke it was still a threat to not get in the way of his deal. I don’t want to make a formal complaint against him but I want it noted that he said this in case there are other issues going forward. Thoughts on how to best do this?

.

The sales person is a complete jerk. Inappropriate comment. Regardless of whether or not it was perceived as a threat, it is unprofessional. Comments like that might affect a deal. Needs to be raised with your boss because he said this to an opposing party / counter-party. Your boss needs to be aware so the sales person doesn't make any other inappropriate comments.

I wonder whether prior posters understand that the salesman said this to the other party--and not just to you.

it’s entirely possible the other party appreciated the comment … nobody likes lawyers slowing down deals! as a lawyer the ONLY way this would concern me is if a) the counterparty complained or b) it’s part of a larger pattern of serious legal compliance issues.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’m a female lawyer and don’t think this is inappropriate as a joke. No one likes lawyers. We tell them that they can’t do whatever they wanted to do. That’s our job. People make jokes about it. I make jokes about it. It is a way of dealing with the fact that we are the least favorite part of everyone’s day. If you can’t have some sense of humor about it, this career will wear on you even more than it inevitably will. Also, I’d rather have them make that joke to my face (indicating that ot os just a joke and I’m in on it) than behind my back (where it might suggest that they really do intent to just ignore me).

Appropriate response is probably something along the lines of “but if you beat up all the lawyers there will be no one to defend you in the deposition when you get sued after ignoring our advice!” Or “yeah, yeah, I get it—everyone loves a lawyer.”

yeah the deposition line is the perfect way to deal with a salesdude saying something obnoxious like that. have some social skills OP!