Employee apologizes for rescheduling a meeting. Her boss' unapologetic response changed her outlook forever

The definition of professionalism has changed quite a lot over the years, all thanks to societal shifts. In the modern era, a more nuanced version has emerged, bringing a lot of fresh perspectives to the workplace. For instance, it has become way more common for people to ask for flexible work hours now, which was unthinkable for professionals in the past. Having said that, it will take a lot more time for people to let go of the rigid rules instilled in us for decades. Similarly, when Georgina Barker—who goes by @.ggeorgina on TikTok—received a reply about professionalism from her boss, she was astonished, to say the least. 

In the video, which had garnered over 1.5 million views, Barker was seen standing inside an elevator, pointing her phone camera at a mirrored wall. The text overlay on the video read, "My Roman Empire is when I rescheduled a meeting and apologized for the 'unprofessionalism' in my email. She replied, 'Don't apologize. Professionalism is a product of the patriarchy.' I think she shaped who I am today." She received the email in November 2022, when she was only 17. It left a profound mark on Barker. The video further revealed the screenshot of the email that read, "Hi. No need to apologize. A later start works fine for me. Changes are normal. The term unprofessional is a product of the patriarchy. Don't worry about it."

In an interview with Newsweek, the now 19-year-old Barker from Scotland, UK, said, "I refer to that response as my 'Roman Empire,' which is like a Gen Z term for something that is really random, but it's something you think about all the time." For Barker, her boss's inspiring email had stayed with her, and she often thought about it.

She was quite "naive" when she entered the professional industry and had yet to understand its 'dynamics', and how to advocate for herself. "When you're just starting out in a particular field, for me, politics, you feel the need to say 'yes' to everything, and that if you're not constantly available or being helpful, you might not be good enough," she added, per the outlet. "So, receiving her response was really nice to hear such reassuring words. She could've easily just dismissed me, but she was kind enough to give me that consolation," Barker said, expressing her appreciation for her boss.

Many in the comment section expressed their opinions on strict working hours and the boss' wholesome reaction.

"I feel the same about strict working hours and devoting your life to work. That's super easy when you have someone taking care of everything at home," wrote @mysmallself. "Never apologize for being sick or having an emergency anymore and I don't accept them either. You taking care of yourself is the most professional and respectable thing to do," said @cjay_tea.

"Girl, that email is a slay, but why would rescheduling a meeting be unprofessional? Why would you willingly call yourself unprofessional to someone?" added @oliwia. @anna shared, "This is exactly what I think whenever someone starts talking about looking 'professional.' Why would heels or make-up add to someone's value as a person?"

You can follow Georgina Barker (@.ggeorgina) on TikTok for more content on politics.