Twice a week we publish problems that will feature in a forthcoming Dear Jeremy advice column in the Saturday Guardian so that readers can offer their own advice and suggestions. We then print the best of your comments alongside Jeremy’s own insights. Here is the latest dilemma – what are your thoughts?
I have worked in my current position since April 2014 when I moved from the public to the private sector. My new line manager is four years younger (I’m in my mid-30s) and has never managed a team before.
In our open-plan office he likes to have a culture of what he calls “healthy office banter”. For him that includes racist impersonations, casual homophobia and veiled jokey threats that he’ll sack people if they don’t join in.
I think he just wants to be friends with everyone ahead of his responsibilities as a line manager.
I’ve never had a one-to-one meeting in my time working for him. I’ve had no targets set to achieve beyond barked instructions across the office for tasks that urgently need completing, or if he wants something brought across the office from the printer. I have tried directly pointing out to him that his behaviour is completely inappropriate and have endured it as long as I can.
I’ve reached a point now where I have no respect for him and would like to find another job. How can I proceed with my dignity intact?
Do you need advice on a work issue? For Jeremy’s and readers’ help, send a brief email to dear.jeremy@theguardian.com. Please note that he is unable to answer questions of a legal nature or to reply personally.
