Issue with a new client

[Drakescoffeecake]

So I have a problem. I have been assigned a new client who I had a meeting with this morning. Turns out he is a rude, offensive fat arseh*le and I was extremely unsettled throughout the whole meeting. I wont go into detail, but I was offended by a lot of what he said, and was close to walking out because I became just so damn uncomfortable.

I am seeing him again Friday, plus another 2 meetings the following week. My question is, should I suck it up and just focus on the client and his needs, or do I tell work that I refuse to work with him? - this would mean palming him off to another staff member, or losing him as a client all together.

Has anyone been in a similar situation? I'm unsure what to do, but I already hate him.

 

[Blackout]

How offensive are we talking here?

 

[HARKER]

O.K. O.K. I'll be a little nicer next time around.

 

[Igloo]

Yeah, we need to know the offensiveness.

 

[Caesar]

I guess it depends on why you are in the job. Do you do it because you like the work or you like the clients? If you don't like the work and you don't like the client then it's going to be hard for you to do your job well.

For me, when I worked in a client service industry, the clients were just a means to an end. I didn't care if the client was an arseh*le because I was doing the work for its own sake and took pride in a job well done. It was when I started to get disillusioned with the work itself that I had to get out of the industry.

 

[Bunk Moreland]

Kinda depends what line of business you're in.

If you're a prostitute, that sounds like a shit experience.

 

[JuddsABlue]

ummmmmm theres only 1 relevant question here

How bigs the bill?

 

[Drakescoffeecake]

How offensive are we talking here?

Enough to make me probably the most uncomfortable I've ever been with a client. Sexist, homophobic, racist. And the meeting was only 30 minutes.

 

[poweredup]

I think if anyone is truly offending you in a work environment, client, colleague, boss, regardless of their position, you have the absolute right to explain to them that you are offended by whatever behaviour it is that is offending you.

Just don't make it personal and tell him he is an arseh*le, stick to the behaviour and be specific, he might even respect you for it.

 

[JuddsABlue]

I think if anyone is truly offending you in a work environment, client, colleague, boss, regardless of their position, you have the absolute right to explain to them that you are offended by whatever behaviour it is that is offending you.

Just don't make it personal and tell him he is an arseh*le, stick to the behaviour and be specific, he might even respect you for it.

sounds like he'll call him a homo and walk out tbh

I'm pretty impressed that someone could get off so many offensive remarks in what seems to be a pretty standard professional meeting

 

[Messenger]

You want his money, not his friendship.

 

[Brad Goodman]

Kerry Packer re-incarnated.

Get him a ****ing pie!

 

[Blackout]

Kinda depends what line of business you're in.

If you're a prostitute, that sounds like a shit experience.

Just re-read the OP and imagining the OP as a prostitute.

 

[poweredup]

sounds like he'll call him a homo and walk out tbh

Yeah maybe, on second thoughts just tell him that you used to be a woman before you came to Australia and that you think he's hot !

 

[Impunity!]

I was in a client meeting in London with a colleague who was Jamaican. When client referred to a particular thorny issue as being "the ****** in the woodpile", he was none too impressed, though said nothing at the time. Our managing partner took the step of calling the client to express his dissatisfaction with his words, and the client contacted our bloke personally too apologise. Not sure what field you're in OP

 

[Impunity!]

Also: LOL at ****** not being in the swear filter when other far less offensive words are

 

[JuddsABlue]

It's their word now

 

[Piss Poor]

 

[Poseidon]

Show him this thread.

 

[Messenger]

Also: LOL at ****** not being in the swear filter when other far less offensive words are

A flaw revealed....

 

[robstewart23]

OP - been in your shoes many times mate.

As a rep many years ago I had to call monthly on some very obnoxious blokes who would call me everything under the sun because the company I worked for were terrible and had continually stuffed them around. Problem was I couldn't not go and see them. I was the only rep in that territory, it was my first job and I didn't know what to do. I asked my boss and he told me either go and see these blokes or quit! I remember one day walking in to see a bloke in the northern suburbs of Melbourne. He had just had a blue on the phone with our service manager in head office. Anyway he sees me and throws a pen at me and tells me to "f**k *** you little p****, which was strange because even though I was young, I was taller than him. I walked out, took a few deep breaths and then stormed back in there and told him to calm the F*** down and give me a chance to turn his opinions around. Surprisingly he relented and ended up being a good supporter of our business over the years.

 

[TheFreshBanana]

Depends how important he is financially and to your job security.

If minimal then get rid of him, if there are a few setbacks, but nothing to get you fired then it's probably worth looking to

 

[Tiff]

So I have a problem. I have been assigned a new client who I had a meeting with this morning. Turns out he is a rude, offensive fat arseh*le and I was extremely unsettled throughout the whole meeting. I wont go into detail, but I was offended by a lot of what he said, and was close to walking out because I became just so damn uncomfortable.

I am seeing him again Friday, plus another 2 meetings the following week. My question is, should I suck it up and just focus on the client and his needs, or do I tell work that I refuse to work with him? - this would mean palming him off to another staff member, or losing him as a client all together.

Has anyone been in a similar situation? I'm unsure what to do, but I already hate him.

Being a professional working lady, it's your job to service the fat and lazy.

Can't be picky with your 'clients'.

 

[Silent Alarm]

Kill him and post it in that thread where people write about their murders before they edit their posts.

 

[Stratton_Gun]

what do you do exactly?
and what did he do?