I need to vent. I want to say I'm sorry if I offend any women here, but I'm pretty pissed off.

I was fired a few weeks ago (after only 2.5 weeks) from an awesome job because "I didn't fit in." There were a couple of coworkers (female) that I had a feeling didn't like me, but I was always nice and basically tried to stay out of their way.

Today I was hanging out with one of my old coworkers (male) and I find out that the boss didn't want to fire me at all, but his wife (they run the business together) apparently felt that by commenting on my intelligence, he was deriding hers. I was told the other female coworkers were "threatened" by me because the guys/customers thought I was cute.

I was good at my job. I needed the money (we all do). I'm trying to save up to move out of my house because my husband and I are splitting up. That sucks no matter how "cute" someone is.

But I got screwed because of someone else's insecurity.

Dammit ladies! What the fuck? I was not a threat to anyone's job, relationship (coworkers all thought I was happily married), whatever. I was just showing up every day and doing my damn job.

Why can't we support each other instead of throwing each other under the bus?

I get that we all have issues. I get that we all have insecurities. But don't assume that because someone is "cute" that they don't have real life problems too.

Can we please stop taking out our insecurities on each other?

Edit: I have no desire or intention to sue. It's a small business in a small town and I hold no ill will against the owner. He did what he had to do to keep his staff/wife happy. I was super new and the most expendable. I am, however, disappointed in the women who put him in that position.

I am convinced there are people out there who wake up every day, get dressed, grab a cup of coffee, and drive to work while contemplating how to make everyone else's lives as miserable as theirs.

Sorry that happened to you, people suck. There are a surprising amount of them out there reliving high school drama via their workplace.

My wife used to work a job where maybe once a week I could swing by on my way home and bring her a coffee or something. This one girl used to get pissed because no one did this for her. One day even tried telling me I'm not allowed to be bringing her stuff at work (she's a coworker not supervisor). When I asked why she did that thing where people talk will talk really loud in the hope a boss will it. Well the boss heard it, came over asked what's wrong then basically told the girl to mind her own business. One day my wife called out, that girl answered and said she'd tell someone but never did so it looked like my wife just didn't show. Months after my wife quit I went there to have a key made, that girl made the key and screwed it up. Had to go back 3 more times because she wasn't putting in the effort to do it right. I finally went in asked a manager for a key made when he tried called her over I told him she's fucked up 3 times already

I left my last job because my female co-workers workers ganged up on me, talked badly about me to everyone, and eventually refused to speak to me. I don't even know why. I'm a conscientious person and asked them repeatedly if we could talk. They refused. I maintained that I didn't have a problem with any of them and actually had a good deal of respect for their professional talents. I brought the bizarre treatment up to four different managers and they refused to help me, citing, "people gossip at any job, just let it go". So after months of trying to just deal with, becoming more and more ostracized, I quit. I feel I was bullied out of my own job. In retrospect, I think one of the women wanted my shift and they pegged me as the scapegoat for managerial problems.

Now I work somewhere new with other women who lift each other up and support one another. It's so refreshing.

I remember a similar situation where I worked several years ago. We had an admin who handled sample inventory, logs and authentication of sampling results. She held that job for over 25 years (this is important), and when she would walk down the halls she would do the "Blanche Deveroux Sway" and make sure all the male workers said hello to her. The company grew, and she couldn't handle the job by herself anymore, so she got an assistant. Her assistant was a 22 year old drop dead gorgeous Latina female, "Jane". After the first day of walking the halls with Jane, and seeing she was getting more attention, Blanche hated her. She would talk crap all the time about her: how she was lazy (she was in training, she's not going to work as fast as a 25 year vet), how she couldn't speak English (because she had a Spanish accent), she dressed inappropriate for job (slacks and a long sleeve shirt! That hussy!), and we should fire her. She kept this up for months until the girl finally left. Blanche was refusing to train her, and Jane had to share an office with a woman who hated her. No amount of petition to management would help, as Blanche had been there 25 years, and all of HR were her "coffee buddies". After she left we hired another assistant, a young man, and Blanche loooooooved him. Well, at least until he showed up on drugs and started swinging a knife at people.

Sorry you got screwed OP. Hope you find a better job soon.

I was put in a similar situation, but I resigned. I enjoyed my job at a small medical office, one of the ladies who had worked there the longest just had a flip switched after a few months; no matter what I did, I didn't do it correctly.

It didn't matter if other nurses asked me questions before asking her and I was right, she'd have to correct me - every time, and then belittle me somehow with menial work. Therefore, I found a better paying job with a much better atmosphere.

Fast forward two months later, had dinner with a former co-worker and she told me she over heard the other woman tell someone she felt threatened by me. They wound up hiring two people to replace me.

There are better opportunities out there, don't let someone's cattiness win. You're awesome!

I work in a male dominated field. I got pulled into hr because a guy said "thats what she said" and another female said sexual harassment. The hr lady only asked me if any of the men were causing me issues. She never asked if the women were aggressive or threatening. The same woman that told on the male told me she would beat my ass if we weren't in uniform because I said I like her Minnie mouse voice.

The women in the department are way more of an issue to other women than any male is. I was actually harassed by a male coworker that kept touching me and I still felt less violated than how the women treat me.

This is very similar to what happened to me!

I had a really good job working as a junior jewelry designer (I'm 22) and my design team was only 3 other women all 25 and my manager who was a 55 year old woman. I was the lowest on todempole being the newest employee and also working underneath the "senior" designers and no reason to be a threat to anyone there. I did my work everyday, stayed after and tried my best to humor the two other designers egos. What I received throughout my six months there was constant anxiety that I had done something to displease these ladies, obvious talking behind my back and crude jokes being thrown my way. I spoke with them calmly and casually about it and I gathered after awhile that they were intimidated about my looks. Which had absolutely nothing to do with the job at hand. Finally my manager pulled me aside and said that there was 'cloud of negativity surrounding me and I needed to find a way to fix it'. I asked her upfront if it was because the other girls did not like me. She skirted around the answer but eventually said 'it's part of your job to figure how to work with them, not them to work with you.' This was on a Friday and I was fired on a Tuesday for 'interpersonal issues'.

I have never received more cruelty and mistreatment then at the hands of my female peers not just in this situation either. I have some girlfriends whom I love and trust but the majority of the time I see other women and feel very guarded. I wish I didn't have to feel that way and I don't understand it most of the time. It's extremely disappointing.

(TL;DR) Got fired for interpersonal reasons because my 25 year old superiors thought my looks were a threat to them. We worked in jewelry design.

This sounds like a tv show. When you watch the bachelor and everyone tries to warn the bachelor(ette) that one girl/guy is crazy and everyone knows it, but they're sweet as pie to the star of the show. The isolated person never understands why everyone is against them.

I've worked for two family businesses and read about many others and they are to be avoided at all costs. Personal baggage warps the work environment. I will never work for one again unless the only other option is living in box under a bridge.

When you wake up in the morning, tell yourself: The people I deal with today will be meddling, ungrateful, arrogant, dishonest, jealous, and surly. They are like this because they can’t tell good from evil.
--Marcus Aurelius

I am a recently retired male people leader in a large multinational, living the freedom 55 dream. I have lead male dominated field teams, female dominated office teams and mixed male/female office/field teams. I would like to add that most of the anecdotes I have read in this thread are the direct result of crappy leadership. In my experience, men and women are equally effective but differ only in how and what they communicate, and what feedback they need from the boss. All of the bad behaviour that I have read here seems to be the direct result of the leader not providing the members of the team what they need. My first attempts at making the transition from leading a mainly male field team to an office based female team, were a near total disaster. Fortunately I had a mentor on the west coast who helped me. After listening to my sad story of how dis functional these women were becoming, the constant parade to my office to complain about colleagues and petty bickering, my mentor gave me some of the best leadership advice I have ever gotten. She told me all of the angst was caused by ME, not making myself available to the team. Because these women did not know what I was all about, what made me happy, what made me irritated, my priorities, my goals or my outlook on how to hit our goals, this high performing team was reduced to working against each other as they tried to figure me out and figure out their own place on the hierarchy of the team. The lesson I learned in leadership then is very powerful and applies equally to men and women staff members. The leader has to be able to open up emotionally and be ready to provide whatever support each report needs, man or woman, within the boundaries of the workplace of course. A leader can't do this sitting on their butts in their office, they have to get up and walk around to understand what the hell is going on. The boss has to be part of the team they lead. Too many managers become part of the management team and stop being members of the team they are leading. The single biggest thing I tried to do was honour the old "platinum rule". Treat everyone how THEY want to be treated. The one regret I have about early retirement is parting with my staff of 15. Together we did some amazing things and made a boatload of money for the organization. I miss them all fiercely.

Happened to me too. Female GM thought I was sleeping with her boyfriend (a lower level manager) because we had a conversation once about the housing market and I was smiling. I was given the worst shifts starting the next week. I didn't know why until we both quit and I ran into him a year later.

We are living in the world of insecurities where we dont know what is gonna happen next hour or minute, damn these type of people exists where one is expandable for his/her cuteness. Get a life suckers

I once got a job because the wife of the boss though I wasn't pretty and therefore not a "threat". 😅

The most anti-women people I've seen were all women.

I'll never understand why women don't have each others backs and are so quick to throw each other under the bus. I work with an older lady who HATES me. Why? Because I'm attractive and friendly. That's it. She goes out of her way to belittle me and make me feel like shit. She did the same thing to the previous girl that worked here until she quit. Sucks to be her though, because every morning I grab my coffee and I cheerily say good morning to her and ignore anything she says that's nasty to me. If she wants to make her day miserable by trying to find ways to make me upset, then that's her problem, not mine. I really hope that you get another job and don't ave to deal with this bullshit again. We should be helping each other, not trying to tear each other down.

If you aren't going to sue, a glitter bomb may make you feel better. <3

Hey, I worked in a place that was like that. It was a seriously toxic environment I should have left far sooner. I needed the job, and worked there during the recession when getting another job was next to impossible where I live.

I saw women tear each other to shreds. The shit rolled downhill, as the saying goes. The boss was a woman about the same age as me- in our 30s at the time. She acted like a high school "mean girl" and she cultivated a workplace populated with a lot of younger women who would back-stab and gossip and compete to win her favor. I got the sense that she kept me around because I could get the work done regardless of if she was having one of her shit days and staying home; if she was having a real shit day and came in and heaped abuse on everyone; or if she decided to spend two years not coming to work (that happened- it was my best two years there.)

I watched her have explosive tirades and fire people for the tiniest infractions. I saw people cry all the time. I saw people quit and scream about the toxicity on their way out the door. There were little intrigues between the younger workers- one was fucking the biggest client and talking shit about the company and the boss to him and several other clients. She'd have another of the young women drive her to the city to meet up with this old toad at a hotel and they'd party all night and come in looking like shit and pretending they were loyal little ass-kissers. Then they'd betray each other and sabotage each other's work.

I stuck with that job for a decade, paid off a lot of bills, and got fired in the end when the boss was at her lowest point and fired the only three remaining employees in a moment of anger. It was supposed to be a team-building meeting wherein the other two who had put in notice were going to be convinced to stay. We all got up and left when we thought the boss was about to assault one of them. She fired us for leaving the meeting.

Anyway, I just want you to know you most likely dodged a really shitty long-term experience. There's likely to be a lot more going on in that place then you even noticed in the short time you were there. These places can bring out the worst in people. Toxic work culture is a thing to avoid. It's been about 4 years and I've never looked back- had two great jobs since then. The one I'm at now is pretty awesome. I wish I'd just quit that one the first week I was there- after witnessing the boss publicly humiliate a great worker. That should have been my clue to get out fast. I stayed for the money and wish I hadn't. I could have gotten a different job then, but within a couple of years, the recession hit and leaving seemed risky for a long time.

In two different jobs ive been pulled aside by my boss to ask what the issue was between me and another girl. First time she wanted my boyfriend second time I was the only other staff member that didn't think the sun shone out of her ass so she hated me. I luckily had good bosses who believed my version and now I work mostly with guys. Guys can still be bitchy and I still have worked with people I don't like but at least they don't try and get you fired. Sorry you had to deal with that and I'm sorry so many people have had similar issues

Sorry that happened to you OP. When my girlfriend was interviewing for jobs she said she basically gave up the moment she saw she had a female interviewer, they were always more aggressive and patronising than male interviewers and seemed to dismiss her the moment she made the slightest mistake. She did end up with a really good job, where she'd only had two male interviewers.

So the wife of the boss was threatened by your superior intellect and your co-workers were threatened by your good looks?

I read this in my HR voice. Things like this bother me to NO end. It is unfortunate that some women continue w/the "mean girl" routine years after high school and some for the rest of their lives.

Chin up, buttercup! If that was were you were meant to be, you'd still be there.

That sucks, and there is zero recourse...people will figure you're 'cute' enough to get another job, and fuck it, maybe they're right, but it takes zero account of your skills, what you bring and perhaps how your life might be just as fucked up as there's is. Worse, if their worst problem is workplace insecurity. That said...businesses match owner(s's) personalities, and those two are probably hell with the drama, maybe this will open up a new opportunity for you that will expedite your life changes. Good luck.

It's really awful what happened to you. I don't have some big bright idea on what you should do but I support you.

Better off in the end. Place sounds toxic as fuck. My ex had a similar work environment where her higher level of skill in her job compared to others created an environment where people would offer coffee to people infront of her and not her for example. Was misery. Thankfully she left and found a job that as far as I'm aware she's still at and doing well!

Guy here, i read a very well researched study the other day that is about this exact situation - http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-36969103

more often than not it is women that hold other women back in life, thats why the feminist movement is so misguided... guys have no problem with women in the work place, other women on the other hand..

Unfortunately someone who does stupid shit like this isn't capable of or doesn't care about being reasonable or empathetic. Anyone with a shred of decency doesn't go out of their way to hurt someone because of their own insecurities, and those who do probably always will. I mean really almost everyone has these insecurities, it's how they're handled that is different. There are too many people all to willing to throw someone under a bus to get sick satisfaction that you always run into just by trying to go about existing. Jeez, I just wish it didn't cost you your job, especially with what you're already dealing with. This is nuts and I'm sorry. I wish you luck, not that that's much help.

I hate to bring it to you, but in our times women are the enemies of women, not men. It was proven by several studies, that female bosses treat women worse, than men do. Same goes for coworkers

What you have here is a good sentiment, but in reality we are all in competition with each other, and being thought as attractive brings with it certain favors, but also envy, jealousy and rage. This will not end until you are no longer attractive yourself.

Women get extremeley jealous of girls that are prettier than them.

Men are jealous of those with more money than them.

Basically, petty people are jealous of things that can help other people like us more. I'm sorry you went through this bias, I was also dumped from a job recently due to other employees saying I didn't do a good job behind my back.

My wife has said this for decades - "The biggest threat and problem to women in the workplace isn't men, it's other women"

I've never really gotten along with other women, the majority of them are overly catty and petty, willing to torch me and whoever else they don't like for insignificant reasons.

Sorry that you're feeling a similar thing cause it truly sucks, but it will likely be a problem in your life for a very long time. My recommendation is try to find a job with as few other women as possible and avoid any job where there is a woman in power above you, who you know you're smarter, prettier and more capable then, cause they will not allow you to dethrone them as the matriarch of the workplace and will make things difficult or impossible for you.

There is definitely a toxic type of woman out there, that will protect her position in ways you cant fight against without coming across as psychotic, as a man I don't know how to deal with this without "smackin a hoe" so I avoid those situations, and hang out with nice women who know how to communicate.

They fired this cute Latina at my job because all the guys wanted to fuck her. Pretty much convinced me to switch jobs especially since I was so close to actually fucking her.

As a guy, I find it odd that you are pissed at the women.

You should be pissed at him.

30 years have taught me that what you encountered with coworkers has nothing to do with male/female or "being related to the boss" or not.

It has to do with bad managers letting staff rule the nest with bullshit.

I get that fitting in is part of the job, but fitting in is a team responsibility.

I've always thought the only reason women don't run the world is because they cut each other down rather than supporting each other.

I'm not sure if this is the whole story.

If it was really for that reason then you likely have a case against them and can lawyer up, but in A LOT of cases like this, the person who was fired is not telling the whole story.

My job won't even hire young women to prevent this issue.. sad.

This is the problem women face all the time. Feminist like to complain that men keep them down (many do) but they fail to realize that other women will pull the other one from the top, so they can be on top. You are prettier than me, F you! I am the pretty one here. You are smarter than me, F you! You are not taking my job/carrer/husband.

Maybe because it's a small town, and they know you are getting separated, one of their husbands/boyfriends will try to make a move on you. Like you said, insecure women.

There is a special place in hell for women who don't help other women.

Firing or laying off an asset because he/she is competent makes no business sense... lady boss is incompetent in a business sense.

I as a male worked in an office with a bunch of woman once (ratio was maybe 3:1). The gossip was palpable.

Depending on where you live, you can sue for that. It's not a legit reason to get fired, it has a fancy name that I can't remember. Maybe something to look into? Seriously that sucks. I'm sorry, OP.

Unfortunately that is not a new story, I have seen similar things many times in my work life. That doesn't help you though.

Taking legal here; get an ombudsman to help you out. They bang out stuff like this like nothing. You were fired for illegal terms (aka they fired you illegally)

Now emotional: If someone feels THAT insecure, there's more layers to the onion than you think. Not in a good way for them. More of "if you feel insecure because of this (insert minor act that is actually beneficial)" stupidity that there's problems at the core of the business, and for all you know could have crashed the next month.

Tl;dr could have lost your job next month anyway

You're better off out of there. My wife had the same thing, she was running a distribution company, joined when it started, helped get it up and running. The boss said well done etc, bosses wife was given a job there, got jealous, freaked out at my wife until she quit.

im sorry this happened to you I have a similar story. I worked for a large retail chain and we hired a female employee to make the displays in store and make them look nice. I have to admit she was gorgeous and a very nice and pleasant person as well as good at her job. the female managers didn't receive her well because of it and started being generally nasty towards her to the point of pulling other coworkers away from her if she needed help lifting something or someone to hold a ladder etc. eventually she was fired because of some made up claim all because of some other women's insecurities. people need to get their shit together and put their fragile egos aside in the work place

I work in a field in which the resume will get you the interview and your personality (aka are you a team player no matter what and do we think you'll get along with most everyone here) will get you the job. I wish other fields did this because it's far more honest and leads to less office politics. Who the fuck's got time for that?

This happened to me once in a small store i helped run. We hired a new girl who was in cahoots with the owner. I messed up once and got on his bad side but they kept me in board for another month and a half before giving me the boot. By that point I had become extremely irritated with the new girl but i tried to do the same as you, and just mind my own and stay away as best i could.

When i was let go, i was furious. I wanted to slash that new girls tires or something. But i found a new job. Every now and again i think about how mad i was at her.

My dad, when he heard the story, told me "if you put 100 random people in a room, one of them WILL commit murder"... And then my mom chimed in and told me shes happy I'm not in retail anymore :)

I was fired from my job as a receptionist a couple years ago after working there for three weeks. I worked for a psychologist who specialized with children. She fired me without any notice, I didn't know until I was mysteriously not on the work schedule for the next month. I always did my best at my job, and from what I could tell everyone else (coworkers and clients) seemed to love me.

I emailed her about it, and she sent me an angry email back (half of it was written in capital, bold letters) about how terrible I was. She said I was completely incompetent, needed psychiatric evaluation. BUT at least she said that I was "very beautiful", and needed to find a job that "suited my attributes".