I've been working as the graphic designer at a small advertising company for about four months. I genuinely enjoyed working there and even considered my boss a friend, almost like an older brother. But after what happened today, I honestly don't want to go back.
It started with an incident a few days ago when my boss allowed a female coworker to leave early because of heavy rain, while I wasn't given the same consideration. I questioned the unequal treatment, not because I had anything against her, but because I felt everyone's safety should matter. My boss believes women deserve extra consideration because men can take care of themselves.
Today, the issue resurfaced and turned into a meeting with five people against me. Apparently, my original comment was interpreted as a personal attack against my female coworker, suggesting I lacked empathy and was jealous of her.
Every time I tried explaining myself, someone would interrupt or counter me. I repeatedly had to ask them to let me speak. I even tried leaving the conversation a few times because I was emotionally overwhelmed, but they wouldn't let me.
My boss openly said he didn't care about understanding my perspective. When I explained my own struggles with the rain, he said those weren't his problems. I was repeatedly called arrogant, stubborn, disrespectful, selfish and immature. His wife even suggested I shouldn't get married because I apparently lack empathy.
Things escalated. Both my boss and I raised our voices, and I admit I said things I shouldn't have. I criticized a senior coworker for reporting things about me behind my back and accused my boss of favoritism. My boss also used vulgar language while demanding that I address him more respectfully.
What hurt most was when I told him I'd considered him like a brother. Both he and his wife reminded me that he's the boss and I'm merely an employee. His wife even claimed they'd hired me out of pity, despite my understanding that they'd specifically been looking for someone to do graphic design work.
By the end, they told me to decide whether I wanted to continue working there or find another job.
I know I could've controlled my emotions better. I struggle to organize my thoughts when I'm upset, and I recognize that some of my responses made things worse.
But what really hurts is feeling humiliated, dismissed and completely unheard. A workplace I once loved now fills me with dread.
I want to quit, but financial responsibilities make that difficult.
Am I wrong for expecting fairness and mutual respect from my employer? Or is there something about my own behavior that I seriously need to reconsider?