Jobs

By Fred Ouma

NATOCHO describes her former boss as a "lunatic" who called her daily and screamed at the top of her voice. "My stomach would start churning when I was just getting ready for work, dreading this woman's incredible mood swings."

But Natocho's case is just one among many victims of a master-servant relationship at workplaces. Many bosses literally prey upon subordinates regularly and often with full impunity because their power intimidates and silences their victims.

According to workplace experts, relationships between adults begin with the assumption of some level of mutual and unconditional respect. "That seems fair," says Silvia Nandera, a human resource and management consultant.

"Many times, however, bosses cross the line, violating universal social prescriptions and breaking the rules of decency that form the heart of any community."

This involves lying, restricting your activities outside work, threatening harm for not complying with their wishes, making you a scapegoat, punishing or providing unequal benefits due to favouritism, public humiliation, personal attack or name-calling and flagrant lack of concern for your life, all of which violate ordinary standards of politeness and fairness. It also includes an "I don't give a damn attitude."

Any of this behaviour is always inappropriate, notes Harvey Hornstein, author of Brutal Bosses. "You're treated like a second-class citizen. At the core of all oppressive behaviour is a negation of another person's social worth."

But it is hard to walk away. You may not want to quit your job, fear your boss will make life more miserable or you will be fired if you stand up. So the wound gets deeper. It goes unhealed as the abuse and pain continue.

Both Nandera and Hornstein agree that bosses should voluntarily refrain from this behaviour. "Workers should be able to pursue corrective measures within their organisations, free from backlash and confident of a fair hearing," says Nandera.

"But they are not. So the system must be changed by broadening the concept of the workplace to include and involve the community that houses it," she says.

Hornstein adds: "As the costs of robbing citizens and institutions of their dignity and productivity cannot be tolerated, so the bosses who brutalise subordinates must be outlawed. Bosses everywhere must be put on notice."

They also advise victims to be on the alert and ready to assert themselves. "Do this by calmly stating that you will not tolerate this kind of behaviour," says Nandera. "Walk away if it continues. If the boss yells that 'you did such and such and how stupid you are,' question the information that's being thrown at you."

Standing up to the assault won't be easy, though. But standing up for yourself with appropriate words and action will strengthen your dignity, which is something no one can take from you.

Know your boss
Not sure if yours is an abusive boss or just plain tough? Ask yourself: Does your boss require that his/her standards are met before giving a compliment? Expect you to dress appropriately at all times? Demand that you give your best effort? Insist you work hard? Demand you constantly do high quality work? These are signs of a tough boss not an abusive one.