Hello everyone.  I have just started on a temp to perm opportunity at a local manufacturing company as the HR Manager, however I report to the CEO and he is a control freak!

He is extremely suspicious of staff (has already been reading my emails and I've been there less than 2 weeks), treats the staff with contempt and breaks employment law constantly.  One example of this is that they agree pay with a new employee, then when they issue the contract they put in it that their rate of pay is made up of 3 areas; basic pay, sick pay and holiday pay.  Then if someone is off sick or on holiday they do not pay them as they say it is included in the pay they receive when they are at work!  They refuse to pay some people SSP or holiday pay.  They refuse to give anyone a copy of the handbook before they are employed stating that if they are not prepared to trust the company before they are employed they can go elsewhere!  I have already discovered several areas of concern but when I put this to the CEO he just slates every other person who has been in HR and says it is their fault but if you try and change something he blocks it.  They have now received 4 tribunal claims in as many months and I feel this is the start of a flood of them.

My question is, has anyone else had such an experience and managed to turn things around or should I just quit now?  I can really see that I could make a huge difference if he'd let me but I could be banging my head on a brick wall.

Thanks in advance for any comments.

Iv been through a similar circumstance with a previous manager, who id personally call the manager "from hell". Due to his attitude and maliciouse actions i reported him and after that my work life was made intolerable and i ended up being dismissed as a result. Now my situations made worse because im taking the company to an employment tribunal. All this is through no fault of my own.

The point im trying to make is even though i belive i did the right thing reporting his stupidity and malicious ways, to no avail, there is the chance that if your CEO is of a spiteful character, theres every chance you doing something about him, could cause him to "seek revenge" on you. Like i said, its been known for people like that to do that!

All im saying is be prepared for the "dirty and smelly" to hit the fan if you take action on him, then if all else fails, theres always an employment tribunal that wouldnt take very kindly to the way he treats staff!

Thanks for your comments and I can see that you could be right about the revenge bit. 

I had a conversation with him about an employee on Friday in which he got really annoyed at being challenged but I found out today that he actually followed my advice afterwards!  So, I am happy to walk away if things get too bad but have decided to lay my cards on the table with him when he is in the office next week and he can like it or lump it!  He needs me much much more than I need his job!

Thanks again though - it feels as though I'm not alone.

Bibi

Bibi,

If you have a non-executive director on the Board, you should go to him.  Ensure that you present the case from the point of view of your concern for the business - clearly this man is putting the business itself at some risk because of his behaviour.

Additionally, you should address the issue to him directly and ensure he knows what the pssible leagl ramifications for the business (and him as a director) are. EAT awards in pounds shillings and pence are often useful eyeopeners...

Non Exec directors are either related to him or afraid of him!  Not an option but thanks for taking the time to respond.

Bibi

Thanks Judith.  I am already thinking along those lines - have been there 2 weeks and today have been asked to do something illegal.  I got the message just as I was leaving today but intend to respond tomorrow and say, "No way!"  I don't intend to put my personal reputation on the line or go against my principles.

Dreading going to work is the worst feeling!

I am heartened by everyone's responses - thank you all.

Hi everyone,

Just to let you know there is a resolution to my dilemma.  Didn't take as long as you Judith but I refused to do something illegal with someone's contract on Thursday and he had me removed from the premises with immediate effect!!! 

Am I bovvered?  Is my face bovvered?  I ain't bovvered!!!

As far as I am concerned I wouldn't have stayed in such an establishment so it is a relief.  Onwards and upwards!!

Hi Bibi

I have just picked up this strand and would like to ask you which of these options you feel is best for you:

1. Stay - and do what he asks

2. Stay and try to change things

3. Leave - find another job and put this behind you

4. Leave - but find a way of influencing his practices from a distance

From your comments so far, I am assuming that option 1 is just not on.

Option 2 means that you need to

- have a passion and commitment to changing the status quo

- find an influential champion in the business other than your CEO

- develop a support network for yourself - you will need it;

- improve your professional credibility - e.g. write about employment issues in business journals he respects?

- take care of your physical and mental health

If you can live with option 3, fine - it will certainly protect you from grief, but will you look back on this as a lost opportunity for growth?

Option 4 might mean consulting statutory bodies that can put pressure on him more directly

I hope you find this useful - and I wish you the best of luck in making the right decision for you

Judi

Hi Bibi,

Some good advice offered by my esteemed colleagues, but I worked very closely with a ceo who had the ego of a skyscaper, but the process I took with my ceo through was one of longer term education, sowing seeds every day and it worked.  Showing him that by listening to me saved cosndierable time money and resource and a PR nightmare

I spoke to him in money terms, if we act this way it will likely to cost you.....  and bad PR will be ....... which affected peoples perceptions of the business and its products, also in a community word soon gets about and labour becomes hard to find, when I told that person that it is likely that he would have to work a further 12 months to just pay off his troubles he actually caused - he listened.

I made him realise that he was likely to be remembered for the bad things that he did than the good he did, and this 'pinched the achilles heel' as no one wants to be known when they are gone as a 'waste of skin' as he was being called behind his back.

Likewise once the drip feed ended - I left as there was no way that I was going to put up with that behaviour such as the listening to my calls which contravens 4 communications laws I know of similar to yourself.

I really thiink you need to question as to why you want to work there???? why why why? I bet you cannot answer why to each of your 3 answers !

YOU NEED TO LEAVE AND QUICK - it is not worth having a breakdown and getting to a sunday night dreading work the following day, your confidence and self worth will be rock bottom and from day two of working somewhere else you will be invigourated. 

I have been there and know what you are going through, it is just not worth it.

At the end of the day you offer advice and guidance if he ignores it so be it but it is likely to bite him firmly and squarely in the butt..... and certainly the pocket.

DEspite some points suggested - honestly - VERY few people in HR have the ability, skill and basically interest in trying to change such ignorant and irresponsible type of ceo or director - it is likely to take donkeys years and do you really want to spend the best years of your life cleaning up after someone whose ego will always do what he wants and that is to possess the power and control at all times and see people jump through hoops, when you have money, TOTR mercedes, boys toys and newest gadgets and unable to use them --  this is the only joy some ego's like to exert, plus some people are only happy when they see the control and malice they put others through - quite sick actually.

Just think that you are on the 747 that is going down and there are only a few parachutes - make sure you get one and quick

You do not want your HR reputation tarnished by this type of character

Lee