Boss/president is a tyrant

[Mrs. Dinero]

Today will be day 8 of new job. I’ve worked in corporate America for the last 25 years. This position is such a 180 from previous positions. I’m not sure I’m built for daily berating. I’m direct but noticing his long tenured employees don’t utter a word when he’s running through plant yelling about whatever set him off to anyone he encounters. Anyone have any advice on how to deal? FYI, I won’t be able to look at this post until 12 hours from now.

[NomoreDramaQ1015]

I'm guessing a new job isn't an option?

Having been in this situation more times than I care to mention I would copy the long term employees.  Engaging makes you a target.   Come in, do your job, go home.

If there is an HR you can try going to HR but remember that they don't work for you they work for the company.  It's likely that if the long term employees are all quiet at some point somebody already complained and jack shit was done about it.  You may be the catalyst for change, you may not.   It's a risk.

It sucks when a company fosters this kind of culture

[raeoflyte]

I'd start job searching. I don't think you've been there long. Better to jump ship quickly and leave this off your resume all together.

[taz157]

Oct 13, 2021 7:51:02 GMT -5 raeoflyte said:

I'd start job searching. I don't think you've been there long. Better to jump ship quickly and leave this off your resume all together.

Yeah tha!

[Value Buy]

Anyway, start job hunting. Looks like over three million people quit there job in August, so you are not alone in a quest for a good job.

[andi9899]

Start looking now. Don't even list this job on your resume. Just call the gap in employment a time to rest and catch up with family now that we're out of lockdown.

[buystoys]

I agree with everyone saying to look for another job.  While you're looking, just keep your head down and take care of your business.

[billisonboard]

From the description in the OP I am picturing a "storm front". Boss bursts out of his office, moves through the plant making a lot of noise, and then is gone. People who understand it just hunker down until it passes and then continue doing their job. If that is the case, you should decide if the rest of the job is enough to compensate. If the "storm" lingers in place often, I agree just get out soon. 

[steph08]

Keep your head down and get out while you can.

[bean29]

I work for a place like that.  I have now been here 14 years.  It wasn't quite as bad when I started, but now with the current person in charge, the OP's description fits my workplace perfectly.  

I have decided the next time the President has a rage fit at me, I am walking.  I really plan to walk out the door very soon.  I just would prefer to finish certain tasks first.  

I agree with everyone else - you should find a different job ASAP.  I would even consider leaving now before you find something else.  This job sucks every bit of energy I have up, I have nothing left to look for other employment.  I also have been realizing that I let a lot of stuff go that either costs up $$, or I fail to follow through on things that could save us $$.  I think not working at all would not cause us to loose as much income as it might appear.  My big concern is and always has been health insurance.  My DD is eligible for health insurance at her current job, So I just have to worry about DH and myself.  Unfortunately we are 57 and 56.  We will just have to suck it up and buy insurance for DH's business in the marketplace.  

[Tiny]

Isn't this a good opportunity to practice one's manipulation skills? In a good sort of way??  

You know the old - people tend to mirror other people - so act, talk, calm and someone who is angry, flustered, whatever - will likely mirror your behavior? 

If the Boss is just doing a fly by "yell at everything and every one" pass thru... there's not much you can do - it's not directed at you (or probably anyone else).

If the Boss is ranting at you - there are ways to "take control" or to manipulate your boss's responses to you.

Sometimes one's job requires that one manage their manager. There are books (and probably youtube videos on this.... )


FWIW:  I grew up in a family that 'yelled' at one another.    I got a pretty sturdy "flame suit"  - as long as you don't do a direct personal attack to me (or someone else in my presence) I will "filter" to determine if the "yelling" is also coming with something useful and/or is more just generalized anger that the angry person hasn't learned how to channel productively (this would be my family).    If the angry person does a direct personal attack - then we have a problem.   

I don't care if you think I'm a "lazy son of a bitch"  or a "stupid woman" - just keep it to yourself - so I can continue to "filter" out your anger and hear what it is you want and to get my job done to what you want done.   If you share that personal attacke with me by SAYING it...  we're done.    If you are too stupid to figure out that it's a give and take and that there are two sides to the job - then why the heck am I working for such a stupid, incompetent boss?  Really.  Who wants to work for someone incompetent? 

[busymom]

Run Forrest run!  I unfortunately, had a branch manager who transferred in, who was sweet as pie the first couple of months, but then his horns grew in, and he was constantly screaming at people.  Life is too short to deal with someone like this.

[Tiny]

I'm curious... what does berate or screaming at look like/sound like?


(maybe I'm totally off base and too "go for it - yell all you want at me - I'll wait until you regain control over yourself and then we can discuss the problem like rational adults" 

During a screaming fit -- when my boss took a breath -- I have said "let me know when it's a better time for you - we can talk then", before walking away.        OK, this was the Bitch Manager from Hell.... She would scream about what footwear we wore in the office (walking shoes (or flats) versus heels for the ladies for example  - the guys could pretty much wear sandals with socks or running shoes with their dress pants - but the women had to wear dress shoes - pumps or something with heels.  no flats (as those were see as too casual. ) 

[andi9899]

Oct 13, 2021 11:36:08 GMT -5 Tiny said:

I'm curious... what does berate or screaming at look like/sound like?


(maybe I'm totally off base and too "go for it - yell all you want at me - I'll wait until you regain control over yourself and then we can discuss the problem like rational adults" 

During a screaming fit -- when my boss took a breath -- I have said "let me know when it's a better time for you - we can talk then", before walking away.        OK, this was the Bitch Manager from Hell.... She would scream about what footwear we wore in the office (walking shoes (or flats) versus heels for the ladies for example  - the guys could pretty much wear sandals with socks or running shoes with their dress pants - but the women had to wear dress shoes - pumps or something with heels.  no flats (as those were see as too casual. ) 

I have a pretty hard candy shell on the outside as well. Things that would be appalling to some are funny to me, so I don't get offended often and have to be careful around other people because my mouth gets me in trouble. That said, I will not be screamed at by anyone. I don't care if you do sign my paycheck. We can disagree about something and that's fine, but we need to behave as adults.

[Cookies Galore]

If it's not for you then peace the fuck out. The past 18 months should teach anyone to not waste their time with a shitty job.

[Tiny]

Oct 13, 2021 12:45:08 GMT -5 andi9899 said:

Oct 13, 2021 11:36:08 GMT -5 Tiny said:

I'm curious... what does berate or screaming at look like/sound like?


(maybe I'm totally off base and too "go for it - yell all you want at me - I'll wait until you regain control over yourself and then we can discuss the problem like rational adults" 

During a screaming fit -- when my boss took a breath -- I have said "let me know when it's a better time for you - we can talk then", before walking away.        OK, this was the Bitch Manager from Hell.... She would scream about what footwear we wore in the office (walking shoes (or flats) versus heels for the ladies for example  - the guys could pretty much wear sandals with socks or running shoes with their dress pants - but the women had to wear dress shoes - pumps or something with heels.  no flats (as those were see as too casual. ) 

I have a pretty hard candy shell on the outside as well. Things that would be appalling to some are funny to me, so I don't get offended often and have to be careful around other people because my mouth gets me in trouble. That said, I will not be screamed at by anyone. I don't care if you do sign my paycheck. We can disagree about something and that's fine, but we need to behave as adults.

Being funny here:   some people just talk loud (aka yell, scream).    

[andi9899]

Oct 13, 2021 15:53:54 GMT -5 Tiny said:

Oct 13, 2021 12:45:08 GMT -5 andi9899 said:

I have a pretty hard candy shell on the outside as well. Things that would be appalling to some are funny to me, so I don't get offended often and have to be careful around other people because my mouth gets me in trouble. That said, I will not be screamed at by anyone. I don't care if you do sign my paycheck. We can disagree about something and that's fine, but we need to behave as adults.

Being funny here:   some people just talk loud (aka yell, scream).    

I am one of them. I warn people that I'm loud when I start a new job. I assure them that I'm not yelling and that I will not be offended if they tell me to bring it down a notch. Berating can be done at all decibels. I won't put up with that.

[apple 2]

Weigh out the pros and cons.

If you have certain freedoms and benefits AND you won't let the outburst get to you then stay.

If you cannot handle the outbursts and it eats away at you and makes you unhappy, quit.

[apple 2]

Oct 13, 2021 17:43:29 GMT -5 andi9899 said:

Oct 13, 2021 15:53:54 GMT -5 Tiny said:

Being funny here:   some people just talk loud (aka yell, scream).    

I am one of them. I warn people that I'm loud when I start a new job. I assure them that I'm not yelling and that I will not be offended if they tell me to bring it down a notch. Berating can be done at all decibels. I won't put up with that.

I worked for an Eastern European man that was louder than loud. Thing is, he was a cat. Some people can't handle loud.

[swamp]

Loud is fine. Berating me? No. Just no.

[thyme4change]

I have found the most powerful statements are when an employee is hired by a nightmare boss, and they walk out within a couple of weeks. Nothing says "you got a problem" more than a reasonable, qualified person calling bullshit.

It also makes long time employees jealous.

[happyhoix]

Oct 13, 2021 7:04:28 GMT -5 Mrs. Dinero said:

Today will be day 8 of new job. I’ve worked in corporate America for the last 25 years. This position is such a 180 from previous positions. I’m not sure I’m built for daily berating. I’m direct but noticing his long tenured employees don’t utter a word when he’s running through plant yelling about whatever set him off to anyone he encounters. Anyone have any advice on how to deal? FYI, I won’t be able to look at this post until 12 hours from now.

If he is the owner/president of the company, I would look for a new job.

If he’s a manager in a big company and you have an HR, and if you otherwise like your job, you could document his outbursts and keep a hard copy file at your desk. Print off and save emails (if he also tends to go off in emails). See if you can get a feel for how your co-workers feel about the boss - is he a tin tiger who roars but means nothing, or is he truly an ogre? 

I had the misfortune of working for a true asshat boss about 20 years ago. We worked in a remote branch, and he excelled at blaming other people for his screw ups, so it took a few years before his behavior got the attention of corporate HR. (He blew up at his long suffering admin one time to many, and she called HR). When HR showed up, all the managers had documented instances of his bullying, lying, racism and sexism, and that, plus the corporate accountants figuring out that the guy had been padding invoices to customers in order to make it look like the branch was more profitable than it was (so his bonus would be bigger) finally got him demoted back to a position where he had no direct reports, and within a few years, he was terminated even from that job. 

So it is possible to get rid of these kinds of jerks, if you have a responsive HR, if he’s not the owner of the company and if you’ve got other people who will back you up. However, it’s a long, arduous task. The whole time I was trying to find a different job, and ended up accepting one shortly after the jerk was demoted - I figured if that company promoted jerks like that, sooner or later they’d promote another one. 

[Mrs. Dinero]

Thank you all for your responses. They are appreciated.
He is the president/founder. It’s not so much yelling(volume) as it is exhausted questions directly at an individual or group as he is physically walking fast circling the plant. “Why is this area like this? Who’s drink is this? What does he do? He took a day off?Each time this happens it’s $500 less of bonus. This area needs to be cleaned up. Why is this here?” It’s short lived but he does it so frequently that it doesn’t get the results he wants.

No one reacts. Maybe because they’re guilty of what is irritating him at that time. I don’t know what’s going on just yet. Still observing.

It might be all his outbursts are due to people not listening or producing. He’s only come at me directly once and it was after a significant error. He said, “Why would we have someone who doesn’t know do that? “ True, I don’t know the product line yet. There is some validity to his rants.
We had a record breaking production day and are finally caught up on past due orders now. I’ll update if I walk.