AITA for not giving a woman a promotion at work because I saw her clap after every word when telling someone how to do something?

A Reddit user faces backlash after deciding not to promote a candidate to a supervisor role due to her condescending behavior toward a new hire.

After witnessing her clap between words to belittle a coworker, the user directly informed her why she was no longer being considered, sparking a workplace complaint. Read the full story below to decide if they were right!

‘ AITA for not giving a woman a promotion at work because I saw her clap after every word when telling someone how to do something?’

At my company we’ve recently had a position come up for for a supervisor in our warehouse. I wanted to promote from within so put a notice up then anyone is welcome to apply and I’ll consider everyone. It’s an extra £5 an hour so I had a lot of people apply.

I’ve also been recruiting in the warehouse as it’s got busy and took on another 10 members of staff. I always try and pay £5 an hour above market average to make sure I get better applicants but it also means I get a hell of a lot of applicants.

Hiring these ten people meant sifting through over 1000 applicants. Eventually I got the ten I wanted and i want to keep them as they are great. One of the new starters is quite a timid woman in her early 20s.

On her second day she asked one of the other women who works there named Heather where to put a certain item once it had been unpacked. I was walking past when I heard Heather let out a big sigh and say “I told you this yesterday you to f**king learn” I was fuming.

I hate it when people type like that on social media but to hear one of my more senior employees talk to a young new starter like that on her second day really pissed me off. I told Heather I wanted to see her in my office straight away.

I was honest with her and said that out of all the applicants for the supervisor role she was in my top three I was considering but I will now not be considering her at all. She asked why and I told her. I said after what I just saw i believe she will be the type who would let and sort of power and authority get to her head and treat people cruelly.

I said she was just asked a simple question by a new starter and she proceeded to embarrass her and belittle her in front of other coworkers and that is not the sort of person I want supervising a team of 20.

She was so angry and has since lodged a complaint saying it’s unfair she’s no longer being considered for the job and she feels she’s being victimised for the way she communicates.

I don’t think im an a**hole for not giving her the job but am I the a**hole for telling her why she’s not getting it now rather than just dealing with the applications and telling her afterwards she’s not been successful?

I suppose it can be seen as a bit petty of me. TLDR: saw a worker of mine being cruel to a new starter for no reason and told her that’s why she isn’t getting promoted. Aita?

Check out how the community responded:

whiteOzzzy −  NTA – temperaments like that are cancer to an organization, especially at senior levels. Management is a physical embodiment of the company culture that will be perpetuated. If you wouldn’t like her to be your manager and that’s not the culture you’re trying to build, the choice is self-evident.

Cybermagetx −  Nta. She would cause people to leave. Shes not leadership material. At all.

naeviie_ −  NTA – It wasn’t petty, it was direct. Her inability to communicate in a professional and respectful manner is the exact reason she’s being passed up, and if she has any brains at all she’ll take that to heart.

Imagine complaining that you’re not getting a promotion because you’re incapable of not being an a**hole to your coworkers lmfao, hopefully she’ll get laughed out of any HR meeting

Proper_Fun_977 −  NTA. Unfortunately, you gave good clear feedback and now the employee is making a complaint. It might be worth mentioning during this complaint that what she did could be considered b**lying.

PrideofCapetown −  NTA. There is a *yuuuuuuuge* difference between “communicating” and “creating a toxic work environment”
Sounds like ol’ Heather hasn’t figured that out yet

Exotic_Ideal_8255 −  NTA – HR would tell you that you should never tell a candidate why they aren’t getting a job, but if you don’t they’ll never have the opportunity to improve. You did the right thing. That’s not a “communication style” that’s s**tty behavior.

Queasy-Trash8292 −  NTA. You’re great. Thank you for protecting your employees like that. You didn’t do anything wrong except for the timing of your delivery. You could have waited to make the supervisor announcement and talked up the qualities you promoted the person for (positive coaching, employee development, kindness, empathy, etc).

Then when Heather asked why she wasn’t chosen, you could again highlight those qualities, ask her how she thinks she does on those, gather feedback from other employees, then calmly explain why what you overheard did not demonstrate empathy.

And that you’d be happy to work with her on communication style so she can be considered for the next time a role opens up. Did you also apologize and talk to the employee who was scolded to explain your lack of tolerance for that behavior?

DankyMcJangles −  Note to self, next time have a write up and someone from HR present when having that type of conversation. On top of your valid concerns

She further validated your perspective by not accepting valid criticism and instead going on the attack toward you. That’s someone who doesn’t deserve their job, let alone a promotion.. NTA, whatsoever

[Reddit User] −  Idk if you had to tell her she lost consideration for the job but its good you told her that s**t is unacceptable. And her behavior after is horrible. If she acts out any more I’d give her a full time demotion. She should not have the job she has if she demeans people like a 12yo.

MintJulepTestosteron −  Heather you are not getting the promotion because you are a b**ch.

Was the Redditor fair in addressing the candidate’s behavior and disqualifying her for the promotion, or should they have handled the situation differently? How should leadership address workplace conduct without causing further conflict? Share your thoughts below!