They say
“You’re being too sensitive.”
Your response
“You don’t have to agree with their reaction. I do need you to change the behavior I’ve described. Tell me what you understand needs to be different next time.”
First, check this
Are you correcting observable conduct against a clear standard, or simply taking another employee’s side in a personal dispute?
Why this works
The affected person’s sensitivity is not the decision the manager needs to make. The manager must decide whether the behavior met a reasonable workplace standard and whether a change is required. The response prevents the employee from putting the other person on trial while still requiring a clear understanding of what must change. Unlike ‘I was only joking,’ this defense blames the recipient rather than explaining the speaker’s intent.
Don’t say
“Maybe they are sensitive, but you still need to apologize.”