How to influence the boss from hell

to become a better boss?

[hairycoo]

My mother works at a factory where the boss is literally from hell. He insults the staff all the time in the most horrendous ways you can imagine, makes them work overtime without pay, sets unrealistic production goals and cuts their pay by 30% almost every month.

He's paranoid and thinks everyone is out to undermine his authority. This affects the staff and productivity, needless to say.

Although there's not much anyone can do (anyone who dares to speak out is sacked instantly), I thought there just might be something I could try.

If anyone read "How to make friends and influence people" you know that it's ideal for managers like him. I bought a copy for him but how do I give it to him so that it arouses his interest to read it.

I'm sure that once he does read it, he will at least have doubts about his own methods. But he's a paranoid freak and quite unpredictible and he might toss it to the bin as soon as he gets his hands on it.

Any ideas how I could proceed?

Thanks.

[phidentity]

Surely some of these actions are illegal under employee laws. Most of these laws are very pro-employee, in the UK anyway.

Jon

[phidentity]

Re-read and my reply wasn't what you wanted at all, but still, it's probably true.

Jon

[hairycoo]

This factory is not the UK. The legistlation does very little to protect employees in European countries outside of the EU.

[Essex_boy]

Used to work for a guy not as bad as that but pretty bad anyway, you cant change them.

Just change jobs or better still all of you change jobs together and put him out of business.

[AAnnAArchy]

It sounds like he's mentally ill and without help for that, there's nothing a book will do for him.

[pendanticist]

Strike!

[encyclo]

"Self-help" books are only an option if the person themselves makes the choice to go and read them. The initiative has got to come from the person, so I can't see any way of persuading him to read and appreciate a book that you have bought.

Most tyrannical bosses behave in the way they do due to the need to cover for their incompetence. He knows he's bad, his employees do to, but the power trip boosts his ego and gives the impression of control over the situation.

I would recommend you look at different solutions which would have a better chance of success. In particular: are the factory employees unionized? If not, they probably should be: he may be able to sack individuals, but collective action is harder to sweep under the table. If the employees form an association, get accredited and associated with a large nationwide union, then their rights will have a much better chance of being respected.

<added>pendanticist posted while was writing, but yes I agree completely. Going on strike is a last resort, but it must be one of the weapons in your arsenal. Just phone one of the big unions and get a rep down and explain the situation. You'll get guidance about how best to proceed.</added>

[pendanticist]

Since we do not know what the Country in question is, I felt a broader context of the term and it's meanings was in order. Not all Countries of the World have organized their labor forces to the extent we Americans (and Canadians as far as I am aware ) have...historically.

If there were any governing body to enforce work place procedures within the poster's Country, one would think they have already been brought on board. I do not think that is the case.

Think organized work place slow-downs.

Stay away from sabotage or other counter-productive measures. Keep what you do above board. Even if there are repercussions, they are more likely to be of the helpful variety.

Once can strike without a legal binding contract or Union affiliation.

Then again, one has to ask what the existing available labor pool has in reserve. How many 'new hires' could be available to take those jobs where an employee has walked ( or run ) off the job? The smaller the labor pool available, the better chances you might have. What are the local unemployment figures?

Let me say that I am NOT an advocate of Unions. In fact, it is just the opposite. Forty years ago, they were the best things since tin-cans.

[pmkpmk]

Make him believe his biggest competitor read it and tripled his sales in consequence.

[snowman]

Drop a lit firecracker under his desk. Put pepper in his coffee. Spread some glue on the seat of his chair.

;)

[Essex_boy]

Where in the world are you?

[hairycoo]

The country in question is Romania. There used to be a union but because he's holding most of the shares he's basically owning it.

The employees have families to support and finding another job in a small town is difficult. That's why they put up with it.

There's no other competitor I could play against him. I must add I'm just an observer in all of this. I no longer live there anyway.

[balam]

Garotte the ***... That'll get his attention that folks aren't happy with his management methods.

[edited by: eelixduppy at 9:51 pm (utc) on Feb. 18, 2009]

[encyclo]

hairycoo, is the Romanian factory owned by a multinational? If not, is it producing branded goods for a multinational?

[lgn1]

Start dropping self help books, and training courses on his desk anonymously

ie. (Anger Management, Becoming a more effective manager, etc)

The purpose of this is to drive up his blood preasure and trigger a heart attack :)

Good Luck

[lawman]

hairycoo asked how he could get the man to read a book. Let's stay on topic and stop suggesting everything from explosives to choking.

[Essex_boy]

I once had a neighbour who was petty in the extreme, so I order a course prospectus in 'child personality developement' to be sent to him.

Made me laugh every time I saw him after that.

Which wasnt as messy as garotting him. Hmmmm.

[bcolflesh]

[ilo.org...]

[grandpa]

I bought a copy for him but how do I give it to him so that it arouses his interest to read it.

Send it by post or courier. Enclose a note explaining why he should read and heed. It's no guarantee, but it's what I might do.

[Automan Empire]

Grandpa has one of the best suggestions.

If said boss makes even a passing effort to implement this information, there is hope for him, but i will be an uphill battle.

If he openly scoffs at it, he is hopeless, and people best get themselves away if possible.

I wish I had known to interpret these responses with my last service manager. Instead I gave him the benefit of the doubt, and by the time I caught him being openly rude to clients and fired him summarily, the business was in a tailspin and it took months and a home refinance to put it right again! If I wasn't one of the top providers in the local niche with a base of faithful customers, it would have tanked me. When there is little competition in a field (factory your Mother works at?) incompetent people can remain at their level of incompetence indefinately.