Workplace bullying is a serious issue, and there are various strategies to tackle it. Sometimes, you might not even need to take the matter up with HR.
This story features an office worker who’s always been on the slimmer side and has had enough of her boss’s comments about her weight. Instead of escalating the situation, she found a creative way to respond and put him in his place.
Her approach was quite unconventional. She mentions that she works in an office dominated by male colleagues. Standing at 185 cm (about 6’1″) and weighing 70 kg (around 154 lbs), she describes herself as being pretty slim.
Importantly, she clarifies that she doesn’t struggle with eating disorders or any health issues—just a naturally high metabolism, it seems. And by the way, she feels perfectly healthy, which her doctor confirms.
Despite this, one of the higher-ups, whom we’ll call “High Septon,” has taken it upon himself to pass snide comments masked as jokes. For example, he nicknamed her “sparrow” in her native language, which can imply someone small and fragile. Although she generally doesn’t take it personally, it really annoys her. She wonders about her coworkers—after all, not everyone can brush off unkind remarks so easily.
Then, she decided to throw a curveball at him the next time he brought it up. Just yesterday, High Septon approached her desk and somehow turned the conversation toward food.
HS: “So, are you going to eat today, Sparrow?” (implying she doesn’t eat regularly).
Me: “Nah, I’m on a diet, trying to lose weight.”
HS: “W-what?!”
This is where she let him squirm for a moment.
Me: “Yeah, I’ve been feeling a bit bloated lately and I want to drop about 10 kg (around 22 lbs).”
HS: “B-but…you can’t be on a DIET, right?!”
I simply shrugged and returned to my work. He ended up staring blankly at me before scurrying back to his desk.
Now she feels like she’s turned the tables.
For context, my BMI is currently 20.5. The weight I jokingly mentioned as my goal would drop me to 17.5—far too low. Honestly, I have no intention of losing weight; if anything, I sometimes struggle to gain weight.
Since then, he has avoided me and hasn’t made any more comments about food or weight. If he brings it up again, I’m ready to call him out.
For now, I’m just going to enjoy the uncomfortable silence I’ve created.
This experience has sparked some interesting reactions on Reddit. People empathize with her situation, and it’s evident that many can relate to the struggle of being on the receiving end of comments about their bodies.
In conclusion, it’s clear that addressing workplace bullying doesn’t always require formal measures. Sometimes, a clever comeback can effectively restore the balance in a tense environment.
