[garden gal]

So, I've had a job the last few months that I mostly like. My depression and anxiety issues are still a day-to-day struggle, but I haven't needed hospitalization since February. But, I had a work issue come up last week that is sending me into a bit of a tailspin. I had a client complain to my boss about a personal attribute of mine that the client found to be annoying. My boss, in my supervision meeting, actually started a big conversation with me about how maybe I could make this personal attribute (the sound of my voice) less annoying. !!! I think I handled it well in the moment, but I later started to struggle with it more. It doesn't exactly make me feel great about myself, or about going to work tomorrow. I have a little bit of clarity that my boss was being unhelpful and inappropriate in our conversation. I've also been struggling a lot more with depression and anxiety symptoms since it happened. I've only missed one day of work in the last 5 months. I don't want to get started down the road of missing lots of work because of my depression (something that has been a struggle for me in the past), but I really feel like I need a break from them tomorrow for my own sanity. Ugh. I'd welcome any thoughts that people have about this. Thanks.

[jesusplay]

Get your boss alone and call him out on his **** in a respectful manner. You come across as being subservient from what I read. I highly doubt you can be fired for sounding different, this has to be against some law or regulation.

[Rohag]

Garden Gal, do you have an employee handbook given you by your employer? Does it have a "Standards of Conduct" section? Do you have access to a Human Resources representative within your workplace?

((((Garden Gal)))) not making light of your situation at all. I think your boss made a huge, unprofessional no-no. I have worked in environments such as you described and tried to nip it in the bud immediately...basically asking that if there are things I need to "work on" to improve my job performance, to please reserve these conversations for in private.

That said, I read this piece in The Onion and laughed outloud because it sounded so incredibly familiar! And I could totally relate. At least we know we arent alone!

Boss Has Deft Touch For Making Employees Feel Like **** | The Onion - America's Finest News Source

Ps, do your best to comminicate your requests ... best reserved for a scheduled meeting ... express the good things about the company and sandwich it with your request that critique and criticism be reserved for private discussion. Afterall. We all (or most of us) want to do our best to contribute to a successful workplace!

And if this person is simply a total a-hole and doesnt care at all - after trying to communicate in a professional, courteous manner, perhaps it is not the right environment for you. And be confident...IT IS NOT YOU! You have every reason to feel angry, hurt and fearful that it might happen again (who wouldnt. What a jerk!)

But that is why it is important to talk to your boss about it.

[Little Lulu]

Your boss was inappropriate, there is no doubt about that. But not going to work tomorrow won't make you feel any better. I've run from work situations that were stressful and even inappropriate and I got a temporary reprieve, but inside I knew I was hiding - and I still had an uncomfortable situation to face when I went back the next day.

I say, suck it up, and go to work tomorrow even if you feel angry or afraid. Even smile and ask your boss how his or her weekend was, you hope it was nice, blah, blah. And start looking for a new job if this stuff continues. You will grow stronger by facing adversity with your chin up. In the end, you win.