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Bullied Employee Nitpicked By Boss Daily, Suddenly Wants To Be Besties After Learning Her Ethnicity
Young employee with confident smile working on a laptop, representing bullied employee nitpicked by boss scenario

Bullied Employee Nitpicked By Boss Daily, Suddenly Wants To Be Besties After Learning Her Ethnicity

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Fishermen used to say that a fish rots from the head down, and this statement actually applies to anything and any company in business. Indeed, no matter how great the office team is, a toxic boss can ruin any atmosphere. And here’s further proof.

Today, we present a story from the user u/Physical_Buyer_7311, who was literally on the verge of tears from her obnoxious boss’s regular nagging when just a single revelation about her ethnic roots one day caused the manager to do a complete 180. However, let’s not get ahead of ourselves and go on reading.

More info: Reddit

RELATED:

    In fact, any nice atmosphere in the workplace could be ruined by an obnoxious boss, so this story is more proof of this fact

    Young employee with South Asian ethnicity working on laptop in modern office, showing confident and hopeful expression.

    Image credits: DC Studio / Freepik (not the actual photo)

    The author of the post works in the hospitality industry, and her boss had been nitpicking at her from the very first working day

    Text excerpt showing a bullied employee nitpicked by boss daily who later changes attitude after learning her ethnicity.

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    Excerpt describing a bullied employee nitpicked daily by boss over trivial things, including attire and hairstyle.

    Bullying at work and nitpicking by boss leads to sudden change after learning employee’s ethnicity revealed in text.

    Woman in purple dress holding white shirt on hanger in bright room, symbolizing bullied employee nitpicked by boss.

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    Image credits: teksomolika / Freepik (not the actual photo)

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    The boss used to berate her for wearing “inappropriate” clothes, shoes, and whatnot

    Text discussing a bullied employee dealing with nitpicking boss and issues related to ethnicity and workplace treatment.

    Text excerpt about coworker and boss from different ethnic backgrounds discussing cultural upbringing after daily nitpicking by boss.

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    Text excerpt discussing an employee clarifying ethnic background after boss’s mistaken use of the word Arabic.

    Text about bullied employee nitpicked by boss daily, now treated with respect after learning her ethnicity and changes in her appearance.

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    Alt text: Bullied employee nitpicked daily by boss, facing assumptions after ethnicity revealed, leading to changed treatment at work.

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    Bullied employee and boss sitting at cafe table, sharing a moment with phone and tablet, building unexpected rapport.

    Image credits: freepik / Freepik (not the actual photo)

    Then one day, the boss found out that the author has Syrian roots and did a complete 180 in her attitude toward her

    Text about bullied employee nitpicked by boss daily, highlighting ethnicity and workplace cultural identity issues.

    Text describing a bullied employee nitpicked by her boss daily, reacting with disbelief when the boss changes behavior.

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    Text on a white background about not quitting a job until a new one is lined up, seeking advice on a boss's nitpicking behavior.

    Text image stating a clarification about working in America’s hospitality industry from a bullied employee nitpicked by her boss.

    Text update about bullied employee nitpicked by boss daily, revealing discomfort after learning about ethnicity at work.

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    Apparently, the boss wrongly assumed that the author was Muslim, but anyway, she kept behaving inappropriately towards other employees

    The original poster (OP) recounts how she recently started a job in the hospitality industry and encountered some bizarre behavior from her boss. That woman regularly criticized our heroine’s clothing – for example, for wearing black slacks. Not a day went by without her receiving a reprimand from the boss.

    And then, one day, everything changed. The author was talking to a colleague of hers, who was originally from India (like her boss), and revealed her ethnicity. The original poster’s parents came to America from Syria, and apparently, the colleague later told the boss about this conversation.

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    Literally at the next meeting, she approached the OP and declared that she hadn’t even known she was Arab, and that now she understood why our heroine wore the clothes she did. Apparently, the boss was implying that the OP was Muslim, even though in fact she wasn’t. However, from then on, the woman began receiving nothing but praise from the boss – even when she once wore those “hapless” black slacks…

    Meanwhile, the boss continued to behave completely inappropriately toward other employees. For example, she even made provocative advances toward another female employee. The woman, however, didn’t show up for work the next day. “Apparently, it was due to a no-call-no-show,” the OP says.

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    The author contacted the ex-colleague, who honestly admitted that after that, she just felt uncomfortable working at that company. Well, our heroine also feels quite uneasy, despite the manager’s changed attitude toward her. But at the moment, the author has no further job options, and so she simply decided to ask netizens for advice on what to do.

    Confident businesswoman in a black blazer standing with arms crossed by office windows, depicting bullied employee concept.

    Image credits: pressfoto / Freepik (not the actual photo)

    Apparently, the so-called availability heuristic was at play in this situation – when people lack detailed information on a matter, they tend to draw conclusions and generalizations based on what they know or assume. For example, given that most people in the Middle East are Muslim, the boss could’ve made an incorrect assumption.

    At the same time, in Syria, for example, there is a significant Druze community, who are ethnically Arab but practice their own religion. Incidentally, a large number of Druze, approximately 50,000 people, currently live in the United States. Also, around 10% of Syria’s population is actually Christian, and many also emigrated to the U.S. in recent decades.

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    In any case, regardless of the original poster’s ethnicity or religion, any discrimination against employees is completely unacceptable. Especially cases of outright harassment, which, according to the author, occurred with the employee who resigned soon after.

    At the same time, unfortunately, statistical data by HR Acuity shows that, for example, in 2023, over half of all employees countrywide were in fact exposed to workplace harassment or misconduct. Bosses continue to exploit the fact that many employees have to tolerate injustice and a toxic work environment just to keep their jobs.

    Many people in the comments couldn’t believe that such a thing was even possible in the modern world and expressed outrage at this inappropriate behavior by the author’s manager. “Your boss has tons of issues,” someone wrote reasonably. So what do you, our dear readers, think about this case? Should the author report the boss to HR, or let it go as is? Please feel free to drop your thoughts in the comments.

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    Most commenters were just bewildered by this case, urging the author to report the manager to HR anyway

    Comment discussing documenting changes in a boss’s behavior toward a bullied employee nitpicked daily at work.

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    Online conversation showing bullied employee nitpicked by boss daily and reaction after learning her ethnicity.

    Online chat showing employee bullied by boss, nitpicked daily, then boss seeks friendship after learning employee ethnicity.

    Screenshot of a forum discussion about a bullied employee nitpicked by her boss, highlighting ethnicity-related workplace conflict.

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    Online comments showing a bullied employee nitpicked by boss daily sharing her experience in the hospitality industry in America.

    Chat conversation discussing a boss nitpicking an employee daily and the employee’s ethnicity revealed.

    Screenshot of a social media discussion about ethnicity terms and why calling a person Arabic is incorrect.

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    Online conversation about a bullied employee nitpicked daily by boss, discussing workplace issues and clothing concerns.

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    Oleg Tarasenko

    Oleg Tarasenko

    Writer, BoredPanda staff

    Read more »

    After many years of working as sports journalist and trivia game author and host in Ukraine I joined Bored Panda as a content creator. I do love writing stories and I sincerely believe - there's no dull plots at all. Like a great Italian composer Joaquino Rossini once told: "Give me a police protocol - and I'll make an opera out of it!"

    Read less »
    Oleg Tarasenko

    Oleg Tarasenko

    Writer, BoredPanda staff

    After many years of working as sports journalist and trivia game author and host in Ukraine I joined Bored Panda as a content creator. I do love writing stories and I sincerely believe - there's no dull plots at all. Like a great Italian composer Joaquino Rossini once told: "Give me a police protocol - and I'll make an opera out of it!"

    Monika Pašukonytė

    Monika Pašukonytė

    Author, BoredPanda staff

    Read more »

    I am a visual editor here. In my free time I enjoy the vibrant worlds of art galleries, exhibitions, and soulful concerts. Yet, amidst life's hustle and bustle, I find solace in nature's embrace, cherishing tranquil moments with beloved friends. Deep within, I hold a dream close - to embark on a global journey in an RV, accompanied by my faithful canine companion. Together, we'll wander through diverse cultures, weaving precious memories under the starry night sky, fulfilling the wanderlust that stirs my soul.

    Read less »

    Monika Pašukonytė

    Monika Pašukonytė

    Author, BoredPanda staff

    I am a visual editor here. In my free time I enjoy the vibrant worlds of art galleries, exhibitions, and soulful concerts. Yet, amidst life's hustle and bustle, I find solace in nature's embrace, cherishing tranquil moments with beloved friends. Deep within, I hold a dream close - to embark on a global journey in an RV, accompanied by my faithful canine companion. Together, we'll wander through diverse cultures, weaving precious memories under the starry night sky, fulfilling the wanderlust that stirs my soul.

    What do you think ?
    Christine welsh
    Community Member
    1 hour ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I have worked in hotels for 12 plus years. I know exactly what you are talking about. It doesn't change much with franchized hotels. Look for corporate or really into the management company who runs it.

    Sparky Hughes
    Community Member
    Premium
    10 minutes ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I had a boss who was raised in America but her parents were each from India and Pakistan. She is also Muslim. It was absolutely incredible how ostracized she was because those two groups hate each other. I think western countries are more “owning” about their countries racism and such. The racism and misogyny from other countries is seriously covered up in the name of tolerance in western countries. I worked with a lot of men from India in my last job. Depending on where they are from in India, I got treated differently. An Indian guy explained how some parts of India, women in general are looked down on. And that American women are worse than dogs. It taught me every country has race and gender issues. Stereotypes and prejudices are truly horrible because it diminishes who the person is inside.

    Apatheist
    Community Member
    1 hour ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Many people have become paranoid about upsetting Muslims, to the point of the police not investigating criminal behaviour such as paedophile/grooming gangs. Virtue signalling doesn't help.

    Christine welsh
    Community Member
    1 hour ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I have worked in hotels for 12 plus years. I know exactly what you are talking about. It doesn't change much with franchized hotels. Look for corporate or really into the management company who runs it.

    Sparky Hughes
    Community Member
    Premium
    10 minutes ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I had a boss who was raised in America but her parents were each from India and Pakistan. She is also Muslim. It was absolutely incredible how ostracized she was because those two groups hate each other. I think western countries are more “owning” about their countries racism and such. The racism and misogyny from other countries is seriously covered up in the name of tolerance in western countries. I worked with a lot of men from India in my last job. Depending on where they are from in India, I got treated differently. An Indian guy explained how some parts of India, women in general are looked down on. And that American women are worse than dogs. It taught me every country has race and gender issues. Stereotypes and prejudices are truly horrible because it diminishes who the person is inside.

    Apatheist
    Community Member
    1 hour ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Many people have become paranoid about upsetting Muslims, to the point of the police not investigating criminal behaviour such as paedophile/grooming gangs. Virtue signalling doesn't help.

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