Her dad called a male candidate ‘perfect’ for the job — then colleagues revealed how he treated women. His response changed how she saw him
A person's skills may help them stand out during a job interview, but their behavior can matter just as much when joining a team. Fitness coach Catherine McClure was reminded of this when she overheard her father discussing a recent candidate during a work call. The man had performed so well in his interview that her father was eager to offer him the position. However, the conversation took a different turn when her father received further feedback about the candidate. Catherine later shared the experience in a video on Instagram under the username @cathmcclurefit, explaining why the conversation left her feeling proud of her father and the values he stood for.
The feedback revealed that her father had a reason to reconsider the candidate despite his strong interview performance: the man had a pattern of treating women disrespectfully. He reportedly ignored women in positions of authority and behaved arrogantly towards female colleagues. Her father decided that his professional skills could not make up for such behavior. Catherine explained that he cared more about team culture than an individual's abilities, saying he would not hire someone who disrespected women. His decision showed that professional ability should not excuse poor treatment of others. She was moved to hear him defend women even when none were present, explaining, "I've honestly never been prouder to be his daughter."
For Catherine, the incident also highlighted what equality at work should look like in practice. She explained that her father had always encouraged fair treatment and equal pay for women, and his actions reflected those beliefs. Respect should not depend on whether someone is watching or whether the person being defended is present. Catherine said hearing her father speak up left her close to tears because she knew how much it meant to see a man challenge behavior that women face in professional settings. She also shared that he had seen his daughters deal with such experiences, making his response especially meaningful to her. She encouraged men to follow his example, saying, "Be more like my dad."
Sexist and rude behavior should not be ignored and should be called out right away. This is what another man chose to do when his wife told him about an uncomfortable moment at their gym sauna. A man sitting nearby tapped his leg and asked her, "Want to sit on my lap?" Although others laughed, she calmly turned him down and informed her husband after leaving. He decided to address the situation himself and went to speak to the man, hoping to make it clear that such comments were not acceptable.
When confronted, the man brushed off his remark, claiming, "It was just a joke." He also admitted making similar comments to other women, which made the behavior more concerning. The husband explained why the remark was disrespectful, while the man's wife defended him. He later reported the incident to gym staff, who took the complaint seriously. Speaking up against such behavior helps remind people that a joke is not harmless when it makes others uncomfortable.
For more interesting stories, follow @cathmcclurefit on her Instagram account.