Strangers rubbing my belly

I'mGonnaMarryYou · October 2011

I work in HR and interview new people on a daily basis. I am 24 weeks pregnant an it seems as though strangers are more prone to rubbing my belly-which I hate! I don't mind if it is a friend/family member doing it but now complete strangers are rubbing my belly without even asking. Does anyone know a polite way to stop this from happening?

allisonmarie22 · October 2011

Slap them in the face and tell them to get their damn hands off of you!!

Ewww!! I am obviously lurking, but I have to say that this is one of the only things I dread about pregnancy.

hewinked · October 2011

Rub their tummy back.

I honestly don't know. This only ever happened to me once. It was a special needs adult, and the adult that was with her immediately pulled her away. She didn't bother me cuz I'm guessing she didn't understand that it's not appropriate. I just nodded and smiled. I don't know what I'd say. Even when people say rude things, I just kinda smile and walk away.

candygirl29 · October 2011

I find that to be so rude. I would just pull away. They will get the picture.

I'mGonnaMarryYou · October 2011

Lol! I wish I could but it's in a professional setting. The last straw was when I was interviewing someone on Friday and within 1 minute of meeting me she started saying, "when! when!" and started rubbing my belly. It really caught me off guard.

jayleigh68 · October 2011

Interviewees are doing this?!?! WTF. I'd tell them right away that the interview is over. Who does that at a job interview????

Melzig76 · October 2011

I hate when people who I don't want to touch me do. I have started ninja chopping them. Seriously I swat their hands away, most people look at me offended, but they have no right to touch my belly.

gothgrrl · October 2011

Only my DH has that right...I'd let them know that the unwelcome advance is an excellent example of sexual harassment...then use it as a chance to explain the company's policy and disciplinary actions...then make sure to note it in their interview file...sorry, not polite but certainly makes a point.

Keri Marie · October 2011

Rub their belly too!

crogers19 · October 2011

LOL! You are in HR? Tell them touching a coworker or potential coworker without permission is harassment!

5bears · October 2011

I'mGonnaMarryYou:
Lol! I wish I could but it's in a professional setting. The last straw was when I was interviewing someone on Friday and within 1 minute of meeting me she started saying, "when! when!" and started rubbing my belly. It really caught me off guard.

OMG. How inappropriate is that? I would never ask an HR person if they were pregnant for fear that I was wrong...also asking something like that is way too personal to ask someone that is interviewing you!

I would probably give them a frosty "excuse me, I'd rather you didn't" with a raised eyebrow. I'd also make sure to keep this in mind when doing the hire. If they're acting like this with you on an interview, I'm sure that they'd be inappropriate with customers, clients, and coworkers.

BitsKD13 · October 2011

Knock their hand away and, should they dare to look offended, start rubbing their belly. If they still don't seem to get it respond with "You see this isn't appropriate for you to do to any woman, pregnant or not. Especially if you are on a job interview."

Temp915122062503143 · October 2011

When I see a hand coming towards my belly, I jump back and look at them awkwardly...this is just a normal reflex for me- but they always get the hint.

ashunt279 · October 2011

Melzig76:
I hate when people who I don't want to touch me do. I have started ninja chopping them. Seriously I swat their hands away, most people look at me offended, but they have no right to touch my belly.

Judo Chop! This was hilarious. Not the touching your belly but your ninja chop. I'll have to give that a try. So far no one that isn't a friend or family has touched my belly.

rawrandstuffx10 · October 2011

Once when H and were out, some random woman touched my belly. I touched her boob. She looked at me like, WTF?!?! And I said something along the lines of, "Not so appropriate, eh?" H was mortified

harmonicbabe26 · October 2011

Oh that would drive me NUTS!! I hope people won't start doing that to me when we fly home for Xmas... I would try to keep my distance, cross arms over belly and if you see them reaching, just be open and honest about it...

You could also put a note on your desk that says please do not touch my belly, thank you with a smiley face or something...

JayeWo · October 2011

rawrandstuffx10:
Once when H and were out, some random woman touched my belly. I touched her boob. She looked at me like, WTF?!?! And I said something along the lines of, "Not so appropriate, eh?" H was mortified

I LOL'ed so hard when I read this!

tqsbride · October 2011

gothgrrl:
Only my DH has that right...I'd let them know that the unwelcome advance is an excellent example of sexual harassment...then use it as a chance to explain the company's policy and disciplinary actions...then make sure to note it in their interview file...sorry, not polite but certainly makes a point.

This definitely. While the other posters mentioned touching the stranger back which would be fine in my book outside of the work environment, I agree with gothgrrl. What I also tend to do is make sure that I have the standard 3 feet of space between me and the person and also keep my arms crossed in front of my torso in order to prevent unwanted touching. This also keeps my hands ready to block the undesirable touching and step back. Good luck!

vanillacourage · October 2011

I cannot believe that people do this on a job interview. I would really consider a nice but distant "I'd prefer you not do that. Let's move on and talk about ____" and mark it as a big strike against them in the hiring process. Ditto PP that if they're like this with you when they're supposed to be on their best behavior, I would worry about how they'd act in the day-to-day.