"What do I have to do to get you to go on a date with me?" he asked. I was terrified. I didn't know what he was going to do in that empty office, and I was pretty sure I would lose my job afterwards.
As it happened, I managed to bolt past him and out of the door. He didn't fire me, I got a new job, where one of the managers took my phone number from my CV and started texting me flirty messages during my shift. He didn't fire me either, but he did start withholding my commission when I didn't play along.
This isn't unusual. Most women I know have been on the receiving end of advances from a boss at least once. So, as surprised as I am at the attention Phillip Schofield is getting, and as much as I think it's highly unlikely the same reaction would have been provoked if a younger woman had been involved, I can't dismiss it as "just" a workplace affair... or a "witch hunt" as Jeremy Clarkson has suggested.
When someone senior at work makes it clear that they're interested in you, it's not just another flirtation. This person can influence your career. They have control over your growth and development. They can end your employment and leave you without the income to pay your rent and bills. The balance of power can never be equal. And how can you have a truly caring, consensual relationship without equality?
This story is from the June 06, 2023 edition of The Independent.
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This story is from the June 06, 2023 edition of The Independent.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
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