Creepy MD - what do I do?

Female monkey here. Started a few months back as an analyst at a mid-tier BB (think UBS/Citi/DB). Have gotten a slightly weird feeling from one of the MDs in the group since I started. Nothing too crazy but I always catch him staring at me and looking away like he didn't want me to notice. Last week, he left a comment in a cell on one of the models that I've been working on: "let me take you out to dinner cutie, lol". Not sure how I should approach this situation given that I would prefer to keep my job and like everyone else in the group. Should I tell HR? Speak to the MD directly? Any advice appreciated

 

Since he left a written trail, you could use that to follow up with him and say you're not interested (I'm assuming you're not interested in going out with him) If he asks you out again that'll be considered harassment and you could go to HR then, but keep that file where he left the comment as proof. Also, better to talk to lawyer about this than this forum. 

 

What kind of incel logic is this? It is absolutely inappropriate behavior on the MDs part. He sounds like a major loser. The OP is not his “cutie” she is a professional in a work setting. He is playing with fire. 
 

OP - save that file and that comment. Reply no thanks in the file, time stamped and tell him to please call you by name in future.  
 

If he is dumb enough to continue - talk to a senior you trust and take it to HR. 
 

so many weirdos in finance, it amazes me daily

 
Most Helpful

I think this behavior is 100% unacceptable. An MD pulling this shit on an analyst is really offside IMO. I don't think I need to go into the creepiness given the power dynamic.

Couple of paths you could take but think a straight up "hey, not interested" private convo with MD is the way to go. But highly highly recommend holding on to that note in some way just in case the behavior escalates. Post convo, try to be vigilant about changes in behavior, staffing, reviews etc. A quick look at some of these comments should tell you why. I swear we need to stop filling seats with virgin finance club hardos.

 

Above is the way to go. A discreet but direct "not interested". But prior to that, backup the evidence. Also inform a trustworthy colleague in case you need corroboration later. If the MD doesn't get the message, be prepared to report him. Plenty of people here will want to be the MD. They think it's a workplace perk. Women like you are needed to make them rethink. Good luck and do discuss this with a close friend/family member since this can be a stressful period.

 

I disagree on discreet. Put it in the excel comments time stamped as simple as “‘no thanks, not interested” done, now it’s not a he said she said convo. 
 

also - if you are in nyc it’s legal to record a convo with someone with only one side consent (yours), if you do talk to them over the phone or in person consider using your iPhone to record the audio. 

 

Yeah ngl, it’s quite odd behavior to send your coworkers little notes like that 

Would definitely be very uncomfortable for anyone to be receiving those, especially if it’s numerous ones 

Agree with one of the posters above that a quick “hey, not interested in you” convo would be a helpful start. 

 

"let me take you out to dinner cutie, lol"??

this has got to be satire.

 
Funniest

If he looked like Ryan Gosling the response from OP would be

"OMG, this MD asked me out.  Look how cute/awkward he is lol.   should I say yes"

Chads can be weird/awkward and its "cute" and endearing.  But be a balding/skinny fat MD and he's "creepy"

Its a chad's world

 

Yeah only a fucking virgin would say that. No, not all girls want to be approached by a man 10-15 years their senior in a power-position. Aside from that being potentially romantically undesirable in itself (it is inherently awkward and attention-drawing being that analyst dating the MD), any ambitious young woman is going to be cognizant of the risks of getting involved with a man who can in very meaningful ways make or break her position at the firm.

 

This is harsh but you need to hear it.

This will NOT be the last time you get asked out by a coworker or client (across all ranks above, below, and equal to you).  You need to figure out how you plan to navigate these situations because your success in a male dominated workplace such as IB/PE depends on it.

Do you politely but firmly tell them you are not interested and move on/ignore it?

Do you decide to immediately involve HR?

Ask any senior woman that made it in wallstreet/corporate america that is remotely attractive.  They had to develop thick skin and learn to firmly reject men without it causing drama and issues.  

I am not telling you to overlook actual harassment.  That's wrong and you don't need to be subjected to that.  But interested men (even those who may be higher ranking than you) asking you out WILL happen in the future and you can either make it an HR issue each time(which you have EVERY right to do so), or simply learn to be a professional badass female who learns to handle it herself.

It's not fair, but this is the cross you will have to bear (consider it a tradeoff for not having to register for the selective service and worry about getting your face blown off in a foreign war).

 

Obviously the only thing to do is send him an e-mail saying "comments attached, thx" with a scanned PDF of the latest deck with "NO" written across the title in lipstick

 
808WSO

What exactly would be this fanfiction of?

A MD actually hitting on someone who works for them. It definitely has happened and it definitely does happen, but this story is also definitely bullshit. 
 

This story is also bullshit: https://www.wallstreetoasis.com/forum/off-topic/what-happened-to-chival…


This story is also bullshit: https://www.wallstreetoasis.com/forum/off-topic/hired-just-for-diversity

People are using the off topic forum for made up rage bait stories. 

Commercial Real Estate Developer
 

Woman here- and many many years more experience. You have 2 options- and IMO going to the MD and saying not interested as an analyst isn’t really the one I would expect you to chose- too fraught. I would do this 1) take a snippet and save it/email to your personal email 2) delete it and say nothing. If something happens again- now you have a pattern- you go to HR. It’s not on you to confront this loser who certainly should know better and is in the position of power from a seniority and age perspective. 

Like the unadjusted- only with a little bit extra.
 

Didn’t get enough attention on TikTok and IG?

1. Why would an MD be in the model?

2. If you hit on an analyst as an MD, you’ve definitely hit on multiple people before. Why would an MD leave a paper trail visible to everyone if he wanted to hit on a junior?

Intolerable behavior if it’s real, but it’s not even well thought out.

 

Firstly, I feel bad for you for having this experience. The odd but good news as others have noted is that he foolishly documented his attempt in a way that is visible. Do yourself a massive favor, save that version down in a folder on your local desktop and make sure you have it saved somewhere else just in case. The next thing I would do, assuming you don’t want to be involved with this MD over dinner in any romantic way is to politely let him know that you are not interested. You can reply to his email saying that you recieved his message and if he wants to discuss the model or other work related details with you over coffee then you are open to that idea but are uncomfortable with getting dinner. This will document a polite way of basically saying no to his advance while also protecting you from any blowback on his part. I would also send an email to HR asking what to do after an employee has asked you out and you have said no. Act like a clueless person, so HR doesn’t research this, but enough that it is documented in case you need to complain later on.

 

The scariest part is that he might have done this to other women. Also, rejecting him might backfire into making your work life miserable. If there is another woman in the IB group (maybe not an MD) but an associate or a VP that are not necessarily close to the MD, tell them and ask them what to do about it. They might know of other instances of the MD doing this and probably have a good solution. 
 

It shouldn’t be like this and you should be able to report to HR and have him fired, but we are not in that world, so here’s another solution: 

another way of hinting the MD to stop is joking about it but letting them know it’s a no from you so nothing happens to your career:

“haha I can’t do dinner, my boyfriend is waiting for me” 

“Aren’t you married with kids? Hahaha” 

“Sorry, I have an age limit” 

“I saw your note! How funny, you shouldn’t leave stuff that’s connected to the server and anyone can see. You might get in a lot of trouble” 

“I saw your note but I’m young enough to be your daughter, so let’s not forget that” 

 

I wouldn't tell another person (even if female) on the team about it unless OP has collected solid evidence and patterns of this occurring, and knows the confidante is someone she can trust. Given that OP has only been at this firm for a few months, this could backfire, and the MD could easily make up an excuse to cover this up or backtrack if he finds out OP does not reciprocate.

 

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