Kristen Press, who heads up HR for the Boston University College of Business, has a simple message for anyone who feels they are being harassed: Take your selfie with someone you really like.
“I don’t know if it’s because of my ethnicity or my gender, but when I was in HR I noticed there were a lot of people who weren’t comfortable taking a selfie in my office,” Press told CNNMoney.
“When you get on the phone with your boss, you’re not going to want to make eye contact with someone who doesn’t feel comfortable with your body.”
Press said she had experienced some “embarrassing” interactions when she was a college student and a professional athlete, and her experience was shared by others who work in HR.
“It’s really important to recognize that when you’re at work you’re actually being an important part of your company, so it’s really hard to ignore people who aren’t comfortable with that,” she said.
If you’re feeling uncomfortable in a situation, you should: Don’t go looking for a selfie or snap with someone to be your boss’s personal photographer.
Don’t take a selfie if you’re worried someone might notice.
If someone else does, don’t respond.
If they notice, politely decline.
And if you do, let them know it was a mistake.
If it’s not a mistake, take a photo of the person you’re chatting with and post it on your personal Facebook page.
Be respectful to coworkers and coworkers-to-be.
“If you’re a female, you probably shouldn’t be using the restroom,” Press said.
“Don’t use the bathroom with someone, especially someone who is a male,” she added. And, “Don�t look at your own photo on social media.
It’s not good for your mental health.”
She added, “If people feel uncomfortable with someone in the workplace, they are entitled to ask if that person feels comfortable.
If that person doesn’t, they should take a picture with someone else.”
If you can’t stand to take a facial, take one with your eyes closed.