Customer service is part of my job; I am being paid to be nice to you and cater to your every need within my power as an employee of the company I work for.

When I am hit on in the workplace, it puts me in an uncomfortable position, even if I am interested in you. Why is it uncomfortable? Because I am a professional, and discussing personal affairs in the workplace is NOT part of my job description, and it's frowned upon.

I will say no to any date offer, anyone asking for a number, or anyone trying to get me to “hang out” outside of work, while I am on the clock.

However, I run into another issue when I say no… men not just accepting “no” for an answer. I shouldn’t have to say, “I have a boyfriend” for you to back off and stop asking for my personal information. I had one man insist I needed to give my information to him because he was “a firefighter, so you know [he] can’t be a bad guy.”

You are not entitled to my number, you don’t deserve my last name, and no I will not tell you my Instagram.

Not only are women battling equality issues financially in the workforce, but anytime we step out of line in the professional field, a microscope is immediately on us to watch for another screw-up. This can easily lead to our termination no matter how small the screw up is.

For example, I almost got fired for a supervisor hitting on me when I didn't even hit on him.

Another time, I was literally followed around a store I worked at being asked repeatedly for my information. I had to go hide in the break room and the managers escorted him out until the managers could convince him to leave the facility… after I got off he was waiting near our cars, so I had to go home with another employee and call the police.

Employers don’t like dealing with that stuff, it takes away from the productivity of their employees and themselves.

So please, just refrain from hitting on us while we are working and if you do and we say no… accept defeat and don’t harass us for a “better” answer. We deal with enough as it is. Don’t add to the problems.