Bad Boss Story: Bikini Fundraiser

Source: Submitted by Jen

"I worked for a large energy company, a pretty corporate environment in a senior role in resourcing and we used to joke that my boss was like ''David Brent'' thought he was smarter than he was and loved to play to the audience with his ''humour.''

He headed up Resourcing and one day we were brain storming with the wider HR team initiatives to raise money for a charity event coming up.

Our of blue he said ''okay got it, Jen comes to work in a bikini, I'll throw $1000 in'' the atmosphere in the room as ice cold. Afterwards, he still didn't get why that might not be appropriate!"

👀 Our Take:

“Humour” that objectifies staff isn’t harmless — it alienates, humiliates, and undermines any sense of inclusion. Leaders set the tone, and this one is completely wrong.

🧠 Could this have been avoided?

Yes. Awareness of workplace respect and inclusion could have stopped this before it was even voiced.

The Work Personality snapshot helps leaders spot risks in their own humour and communication style before it crosses the line.

→ Find out what kind of boss you’d be