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March 21, 2005
King Boss
This morning started out ok, but after I got to work things turned worse. We had an incident today of abuse by our boss toward one of my female coworkers. He was yelling at the top of his lungs at her in a closed conference room and everyone within 20 feet of the room heard it. We could even hear our coworker crying and saying, "I didn't do anything."
After this went on for a few minutes I had to do something. I went and pounded on the door then opened it. I told my boss that this was unprofessional and that everyone could hear what he was doing. He basically told me to get out, that it was not my place and I didn't understand the circumstances. Then he forced the conference room door closed. I saw my coworkers face covered with tears, face and eyes reddened.
He calmed down after that, but continued to meet with this woman. One of my coworkers called our Human Resources department, who called my bosses supervisor, who came and talked to me about what was happening. I explained what I experienced and heard and told him who else heard it and expressed concern. He reassured me that he was going to talk to my boss after he was done with that meeting.
That's not the end of the story by far because now the union is involved and a report is being filed for workplace violence against my boss. I did not see my boss the rest of the afternoon, but everyone in our department was shook up about it and was having trouble concentrating. I tried to focus on my work but as the day went on, I developed a headache. Finally the day was over and I rode my bike home. Thank God it was nice outside and I was riding my bicycle because the fresh air really helped clear my mind from what happened today. What my boss did was inappropriate. Nothing we do at work is so critical that it's worth bringing an employee to tears over.
I had to step in and stop what was going on, and my coworker thanked me several times today for helping her. She told me she wouldn't have made it if it wasn't for me opening that door. She didn't know what she was going to do. But now as I'm going to bed I wonder how my working relationship with my boss is going to change. They won't fire him. They'll probably repremand him, and tell him not to do that again. Or something. I'm not sure what will happen actually, but I have a strong feeling that our whole department will have to continue to work with him.
So now with my headache, I'm going to bed to try to get some rest. Maybe that will help me think clearly tomorrow on how our team will carry on from this point forward.
On a lighter note, tonight I put two new tires on my old Schwinn 5-Speed bike and oiled up the chain for my retro-commute to work in the morning.
Posted by carl1236 at March 21, 2005 10:30 PM | Love your Neighbor
Comments
I applaud what you did. It took guts to walk in there and do that. It's amazing how much control a boss can have over someone and how the fear of losing a job can keep people from standing their ground or stepping in when needed. Stand up straight and tall when you see your boss again and let him know he can never push you (or anyone else) around like that. I've worked in too many places where bad behavior is not only tolerated, but rewarded. As if screaming at people and throwing temper tantrums are desirable traits! These kind of people need to know that their behavior is inappropriate and will absolutely NOT be tolerated. It takes a single action like yours to make that change happen, or at least start the ball rolling. I can't count the number of times I wish I would've done something about a situation and didn't. Let me also point out here that it is often quite intimidating for women to be put in that position as it can easily turn into something more sinister. There's safety (and courage) in numbers. It's often hard to find our courage until we witness it first hand. This world needs more people like you.
Rock Hard!!! (and congrats on your race/s) :)
Posted by: rr at March 21, 2005 11:36 PM
I've been yelled at like that by a couple bosses. Usually (I think) it had little to do with what I was doing wrong at work, but with other stressors in their lives. As you said, nothing you do at work is important enough to justify making someone cry. So it must be something else that triggers the meltdown.
Hopefully this boss will get his temper under control. Nobody likes working when constantly on the verge of having the boss go ballistic. I agree with RR that you showed some testicular fortitude in standing up for your coworker like that. I'd like to think that I would have done the same, but I'm really not sure. When I was under fire, I always stood up for myself, but that's because I'm not physically afraid of what might happen - i.e. if it got violent, I could handle myself - nor am I afraid of losing a job because I don't need the money that bad. I can see RR's point about women in such encounters being more powerless, however. It's a great inequity.
I guess it's probably a good thing that you're leaving that job in the near future. It's not good for you to work in such a toxic environment. Like AC/DC says, keep a stiff upper lip. Don't give the jerk an inch.
Posted by: Jim at March 22, 2005 8:58 AM
Wow. Nice work, John. Good luck at work in the coming days.
Posted by: nathan at March 22, 2005 2:54 PM