Addressing sexual harassment rumours (which I started)
This and other damaging career moments from the week
If you’re chronically online and follow me on Instagram, you might have seen that I shared a bit of news this week.
Given my age you might be thinking I’m announcing a pregnancy, or an engagement, or any number of positive things which seem to be happening to my peers. But surprise! It’s actually that I’ve been made redundant from my job. My real job. The Podcast Content Director one which pays all my bills.
It sounds bad, but don’t feel too sorry for me: I was a somewhat willing sacrifice. I didn’t want to let go of producers I’d hired, so I made a clever restructure plan where I left the company instead. Some might say this makes me a noble martyr. A podcast Jesus, even.
I wouldn’t necessarily say they’re wrong.
Unfortunately, this doesn’t help pay the rent.
So I decided to use Instagram stories to get the word out that I was looking for a job. In hindsight, when trying to find professional work, it’s probably best to behave in a professional manner.
This is not what I did.
“Well, I never thought I would happen, but it has happened” I said looking into the camera. “There have been many years of sexual harassment complaints made against me and, well, it turns out HR does listen to those. Unfortunately as a result, I have been made redundant.”
I didn’t stop there.
“I’m redundant because of all the grotesque sexual harassment I’ve been doing for years. Three years! Who’d have thought I’d get away with it for that long.”
I then asked that people keep an eye out for any jobs or interesting adventures which might be suited to me, and listed my skills.
I thought this was both funny and very obviously a joke. To many people it was neither.
The messages started coming in almost immediately. Mostly they were sympathetic. ‘People are too sensitive these days,’ a few said. ‘I’m sorry that happened to you,’ wrote others.
Alarmingly, it became obvious many people now believed I was let go from my company for — and I’m quoting myself here — ‘grotesque sexual harassment’. Not only that, they were also seemingly unsurprised that I was happy to boast about my dismissal online.
When people who I’m currently working with started to ask about it, I realised I had to post a retraction.
Let me tell you, as soon as you’re forced to go online and say the words ‘I was not made redundant because of sexual harassment’ you’re already on the backfoot. The words sounded false even as I said them.
I never thought I would have to publicly defend myself against claims of impropriety, especially after writing scathingly about Christian Horner just last week. The fact I was addressing a rumour that I myself had started made this whole thing particularly stupid.
In light of my upcoming unemployment a few people have said that I should make the Car Pit a full time job. Perhaps this is because they don’t think I shouldn’t be allowed back in an office.
I’ll be honest, I have thought about it.
As a savvy business woman, I sat down and did the maths. It turns out that if every single subscriber sent me one dollar I would be able to afford nice stationary to write my landlord a letter asking that I’m not evicted. Then, with a couple more subscribers, I would be able to pay for an envelope and postage stamp. But we’re all in a cost of living crisis and you probably need all your dollar coins just as much as me.
Unfortunately, the Car Pit is distantly aspiring to break even at this point. It’s a looooooooooong way from being profitable.
But, assuming I’m not cancelled in the coming weeks, there are some plans to expand the Car Pit. When the dust settles from wrapping up my current job, I might be able to properly invest the time that this stupidly big project needs.
Hold tight in the meantime.
More than ever, thanks for reading. Have a great week and I hope you work just as hard as I’m planning to.
See you next Monday!
Steph
I love you!! My favourite Substack content creator