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July 13, 2005
Your Boss: A Psychopath?
“Egggselent.”
Can you hear your boss murmur this in his cube? Apparently, you and Homer from “The Simpsons” are not the only ones. According to a recent Fast Company article, psychopaths –- defined as those unburdened by conscience who selfishly use people “callously and remorselessly for their own ends” –- don’t merely exist in corporate America, but are now more than ever harbored in the business environment. In his study involving a half-dozen companies, renowned industrial psychologist Paul Babiak found that the rapid changes the economy has recently undergone have fed corporate psychopaths, who thrive on the thrills of fast transformations.
Apparently, these people succeed because those around them assume they are not fundamentally different from the average compassionate person and that they do care about others’ feelings. This assumption allows corporate psychopaths to prey on those around them. “They have an element of emotional intelligence, of being able to see our emotions very clearly and manipulate them,” says Michael Maccoby, a psychotherapist interviewed for the article who has consulted for major corporations.
But how do you know if your boss is afflicted with this state of mind? Take this quiz, which is based on the standard clinical test for psychopathy. The quiz focuses on the so-called nonviolent “corporate psychopath.” Fast Company notes that this quiz is a “strictly amateur exercise.”
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Comments
Thanks for the validation. She's definitely troubled, I've definitely got a problem that I can point to, now.
Posted by: S | Jul 13, 2005 12:23:03 PM
Thanks for reading Fast Company! Reader feedback to that piece has been pretty interesting.
Posted by: Heath Row | Jul 13, 2005 6:58:05 PM
My boss isn't a psychopath.
Of course, he would say otherwise about me!
Posted by: Charlie on the Pennsylvania Turnpike | Jul 19, 2005 9:00:12 AM
My last boss was a psychopath. We all knew it. We watched our backs. Several of us who had been with the company many years with outstanding performance lost our jobs. She'd been in her management position just five months at that time. She is still there. I'm still unemployed, almost ten months later.
Posted by: katie | Jul 19, 2005 1:34:22 PM
My last boss was a psychopath. We all knew it. We watched our backs. Several of us who had been with the company many years with outstanding performance lost our jobs. She'd been in her management position just five months at that time. She is still there. I'm still unemployed, almost ten months later.
Posted by: katie | Jul 19, 2005 1:37:43 PM
There are lots of ways to get ahead in business. One way is to be good to others, to work hard, to stay connected. Another is to lie and manipulate. Unfortunately, liars and manipulators usually often do well in business, even as they undermine it. I recently came across a resume of a local up and comer. It's so full of lies and stretched truths that I just laughed. He listed his current position as having started years before the company he's working for was even founded. I guess if Al Gore invented the Internet, this guy can work for a start-up 5 years before it even existed. Seriously, until those of us who are honest call the spades what they are, we'll just be run over by them.
Posted by: E | Jul 26, 2005 7:38:18 AM
I had a job I loved for six months got a substantial raise after three months and then a management change. I was assigned to a woman who had a reputation for not keeping assistants. I went in with an open mind the first week of June. She never gave me a chance - gave me assignments and then told me she never told me to do it; talked about me within earshot; consistently set me up to fail. I finally resigned after seven weeks. I have never ever worked for a more manipulative person. However, anyone who did not work for her would say she was the nicest person - always remembering birthdays etc. Yes, a definite psychopath. Thanks for the enlightening article.
Posted by: Lynn | Jul 26, 2005 9:59:46 AM
This problem is not limited to the corporate world. As a former teacher and current non-profit worker, I have encountered quite a few supervisors over the years that would not do well on the psychopath test. The scariest part is that these people were spending donors and/or taxpayers money to carry out their schemes and demean their employees! Thankfully, now I'm in an environment where people are more open and pleasant to work with.
Posted by: Nichole | Jul 26, 2005 10:08:01 AM
My boss is a psychopath. He is the most ruthless, selfish person I've ever met. It is so difficult working for him. He takes credit for everything others do. He sounds so elegant when he talks in public, he would fool you all. Gosh, now that I know he is actually a psycopath, kind of scares me but he fits this article to the letter!
Posted by: lynn | Jul 26, 2005 10:19:12 AM
My life has been destroyed over the years due to dating 2 psychopaths. My fiancee just had a heart attack over this one i with now. Very sad. Anyway, and this man states he is a christian. He controlled my life, messed up my christian walk with the lord, i am doing big sins i regret and finding hard to forgive myself. I forgive him and past x. God is angry with me now due to the sins I done. Got very serious gambling problem due to all this. anyway, if anyone like to speak, please send email to the host and they will send me email
thank u
Posted by: N | Jul 26, 2005 10:51:47 AM
I can understand Charlie's statement. I've worked for a few of these, but none as bad as my last one. Certain employees get the shaft from him, and then he gets the president of the company to lay me off because I have the nerve to demand some respect. Other employees have told me that I was treated worse than any others have ever been there, and I believe it. One lady even had a heart attack because of a demeaning outburst in front of employees and customers one day. The owner refused to do anything, saying that it was just the way things were going to be--don't like it, you can leave. One thing I want to know: how does one get another job when these evil people are getting called for references on us? I've been unemployed for almost 4 months, and I think I'm running out of possibilities at this point. Charlie, I wish the best for you--I know how it feels.
Posted by: Debra | Jul 26, 2005 11:25:32 AM
Please do not give up on your career search. You will find a position with someone who will look beyond that blemish! I recently accepted an offer, not an awesome one, but an offer non the less. I searched for 17 months for a position after being fired for standing up for myself from a tyranical, unrelenting, horrible man, who gave me a great review and a big salary increase then fired me a month later. I'm so much happier and I have a beautiful baby boy that I had a chance to bond with!
Posted by: Suzy | Jul 26, 2005 12:48:45 PM
MY BOSS IS ACTUALLY PRETTY COOL. MY HUSBAND ON THE OTHER HAND PERFECTLY MATCHED EVERY QUESTION ON THE QUIZ BUT ONE. LOL POOR POOR ME...AND DONT FORGET HIS CO-WORKERS..
Posted by: KIM | Jul 26, 2005 1:31:53 PM
I worked in VA Beach, for a Non-profit organization. We had an Associate Director that promised me that I was getting a raise. She said to keep it between us. Well, when I didn't get the raise, I asked her about it and she said she was waiting on MAK. Well, it never happened, so I went to the HR and asked if I was put in for a raise and she said no. Dolo T. got in trouble for it and came back to me and said, "I said this was between me and you." And I said, not when I didn't get my raise, then it was between the HR and I. Manipulation is not the key to a great working environment. Bullies are what they're called. Office bullies need to be stomped out, so don't take their crap, call them to the carpet and get them out of there. Have a nice day!!!
Posted by: P =:) | Jul 26, 2005 2:37:05 PM
I feel your pain Charlie, Katie and E, Pychopath all get away with it and it is LEGAL, some articles call them bullies and there is nothing we can do about it. My boss, the pychopath, bullied me in front of customer's, auditors and co-workers, funny, never in front of the Owner of the business. Everyone knew it and no one said a thing. Inclusive kept giving more and more responsability until one day, the owner fired me due to performance. Never once did the owner allow a meeting I requested many times to advise him of this situation, so here I am without a job. I believe the owner has fallen into this pychopath grasp and all of the employees are unhappy and being released one by one by the phyco and the owner just lays back and enjoy the show.
Posted by: Margarita | Jul 26, 2005 5:38:23 PM
After working for one psychopath who verbally abused me, I unwittingly took a job with another. After a week,this one fired me without reason and without warning. He told me at the interview he was going to pray about his decision to hire me. He claimed he was a Christian. He taught a Bible study and went to prayer meetings. He used to make me do work for his church on office time. Anyway, I can't get unemployment and can't find another job. The boss I had before these two was a psychopath who spied on me. I stopped dating because I kept attracting men like that, but I can't stop working. People tell me I'm too nice. Does that make me a target? I've learned to detect psycho men in my personal life, but how do I avoid them professionally?
Posted by: maturewoman | Jul 27, 2005 12:14:06 AM
I think I need to explain my previous comment. I was trying to be funny (and apparently, missed the mark). Truth be told, my boss wouldn't call me a psychopath; more than a little crazy, perhaps, but...
I have had some draconian bosses in my time, but I haven't had any such in several years. The last time I did, in fact, was when I was still young enough not to care if I stood up to her, regardless of the consequences. And I did. And I survived, and practically defanged her from inflicting further abuse.
That was long ago and far away, and not something I would endorse people doing cavalierly today. However, if the manager is psychopath, get out. Find new work. Along the way, document EVERYTHING.
Don't worry too much about the 'references' given. The contact should be your 'old' company's HR office, and they can't legally say much more than your start-end dates.
Do what you have to in order NOT to be subject to demeaning treatment.
Posted by: Charlie on the Pennsylvania Turnpike | Jul 27, 2005 9:08:46 AM
at our office, this woman (for lack of a better term) was hired as a RRT, then they fired the lead Rep (who hired me) I asked for her position and was told it wasn't goI was fired from my position after 2 years of loyal dedicated work, the last of the original 3 employees ing to be filled, not even a month later this "woman" hires her ex-roommate co-worker to fill the position, and at $4 more per HOUR, and I received a 36 cent raise!
Then she fired the other employee and replaced him with yet another former co-worker, then it was my turn to be done, I was just told that at the end of the day that it (and I quote) "your last day at this company" WOW, how do people sleep at night? Needless to say hurt, shocked and now pissed off. It's been almost 3 months, and have sent out over 100 resumes, but still nothing, she then tried to get my unemployment denied by saying it was misconduct, they did their findings and decided it was not. When I contacted my former co workers, they both said make sure you incorporate into your statemnet about us, because there is a pattern and that is what I did, I finally got unemployment after waiting 6 weeks.
Posted by: p | Jul 27, 2005 2:19:10 PM
Creepy! The term psychopath sounds so derogatory, even slanderous.
But I read the article and quiz and recognized the personality of another employee. What makes these types attractive to employers? Why would they get hired? Why would they allow other employees to get fired based on the input of a psychopath?
I'm rather taken aback to reading some people's posts here, losing their jobs after YEARS with a company based on a "psychopath's" direction.
Posted by: B | Jul 28, 2005 7:33:54 AM
The reason these psychopaths exist is because their bosses allow it. They get the results they want and do not care about the damage inflcted on us. These people are obviously not blind or stupid. They know what's going on.
Posted by: Bill | Jul 28, 2005 10:01:23 AM
Katie/Charlie on the Pennsylvania Turnpike, you've been unemployed for 10 months and your "boss" is still there. Funny how that works, but it sure makes it difficult to keep a positive attitude. Hope things are looking better.
Really! I'm not a psychopath!
Posted by: Gary | Jul 28, 2005 10:25:35 AM
I joined the "managed by a psycho boss" society years ago - assumed a new position with a new manager who spent the first 6 months trying to get me fired. In my case, I beat him at his own game - developed strong one-on-one relationships with his clients who praised my work and "his obvious good management". It fed the ego need and he backed off. But I watched the charm and venom pattern - co-workers and even management really didn't know how to respond to it, which kept him on the payroll for years. But happily, time wounds all heels and his maniacal need to skirt chase resulted in eventual HR actions and dismissal.
Posted by: Mel | Jul 28, 2005 10:52:04 AM
I worked for a psychopath - scored 13.5 out of 16 - and he laid me off three weeks ago. Funny thing, my blood pressure has dropped 30 points - apparently being unemployed is less stressful than working for him!
Posted by: Teri Lester | Jul 28, 2005 1:22:00 PM
WoW! I too have been the victim of physcho supervisors. One actually told me to "think again about carpooling with her." Duh? Why would carpooling with a co-worker be detrimental to me? I did get laid off but after she left on medical leave for cancer treatment - sometimes there is a universal debt to pay when you live your life in hopes of destroying others.
But my favorite psycho was the one who told me that I could not move into a new position because I did not have the necessary experience - the new position was tasks and responsibilities that were split from my job because there was not enough time to finish all my work without overtime. I couldn't believe it! Work I had been doing for years but I was not experienced enough! I took that one over her head and won. I wasn't the only victim and eventually she was demoted and was so embarassed by it, she retired. She also told me that I should move to Arizona because I suffered from allergies and when I said that was not an option because I wanted to stay near my family, she threatened to put me in for a medical lay off. I stopped that one by having my doctor write a letter stating my allergies did not interfere in my job. When she found out, she tried to force me to sign a release she wrote so she cold speak directly to my doctor!! NOT!
Unemployee again. Last time it was years before finding a job. I pray it's much sooner this time. Our country has to stop the flood of jobs leaving this country or no one here will be able to buy the products the companies are having made overseas! Don't they see that?
Posted by: P.A.Wolf | Jul 28, 2005 3:52:49 PM
First off, for 'B,' my understanding is that psychopath IS a derogatory term!!!
I worked (as a supervisor) for a psychopathic organization - and this was a contractor to a US government agency. From the head mucky muck, who seemed to be half in the bag most times, to the HR manager who thought we couldn't discipline people for sticking their fingers in my chest and challenging a supervisory directive (because they didn't know they couldn't do that - I am SERIOUS!!!) to the 'manager' who was previously a truck driver and undermined everything I did by going to my clerks without involving me in directives, etc, and talked out of both sides of his mouth. The last straw was when I attempted to handle a disciplinary matter and got a 2 day suspension out of it because they thought I didn't handle it properly. I had been there all of 10 months.
I handed in my resignation in the same meeting they gave me my suspension days and the HR manager had the audacity to say "May I ask why you're resigning?"
I should have seen it coming with the finger in the chest incident.
Posted by: pam | Jul 29, 2005 8:48:40 AM
I ignored my instincts about my pschopathic boss and tried to talk to him about business concerns. Three days later I found myself laid off without notice, but told I would get an excellent recommendation. What is the best way to describe the loss of the job to a prospective employer? How will I know if he's sabotaging my job search?
Posted by: MJ | Jul 29, 2005 3:17:55 PM
Yes, I too was working for a psycho, she drove a lot of good people away and she always wanted to be the good guy.I hope one day she will seek help as she is destroying a good company. What makes it more sad is that she is grossly over paid. All she does is attend meetings, delegate work, volunteer her understaffed personel for more work and threaten them !!!
How does that saying go " never bite the hand that feeds you "
Posted by: Guapo Sapo | Jul 29, 2005 6:05:30 PM
To Margarita
Sometimes being too nice does attract people who are "pychopathic". I mean who doesn't like someone who is nice. Every one does. Just be careful who you show your real self to. Remember, these psychopaths may have been nice people who got stepped on one too many times and decided enough is enough and got a brilliant idea to act like they're from another planet. I mean really, what person in their right mind would do the things they do out in the open for the whole world to see. No shame to be seen at all. When you ignore your conscience to get ahead that's what happens. How can they incoporate anyone else in that space they call a head if they aren't even connected to themselves. Steel up and stay away. Especially if you are a woman. Men read "nice" vibes, send out "don't even try it vibes". Or you know, fill in the blank. It's your life. Don't let them ruin it or your health in the process. Much less your bank account.
Posted by: Marie-Anne | Jul 29, 2005 11:15:54 PM
I have worked in the medical field in Health Information Management for 30 years. I can state that almost all of the managers I have worked for fit the psychopath profile. The horrible things that I have seen perpetrated on other employees and myself are worthy of a book. My most recent supervisor (I quit) admitted to someone that she was going to keep her job no matter who she had to hurt along the way.
The story is too long to relate here but I went from being a favored employee to persona non grata in a matter of a couple of weeks after having been hospitalized briefly for a cardiac problem.
She and her system drove out at least three predecessors in my position that I am aware of. One quit in one day, another in a week and another survived about four months as I did. The woman who replaced me was there about a month and she has quit as well. Had I not been desperate for a paycheck I would have quit the first week myself.
The sad reality is that if these psychos don't have a legitimate cause to terminate an employee, they find all manner of other ways to make their lives miserable and force them out and we can't call it discrimination under any law.
Posted by: Barbara | Jul 31, 2005 2:16:37 PM
Gary,
Maybe I've somehow misled you, but I am not unemployed. I have had some real SOB's (of both genders), but I haven't had any such for some time. My recommendation to all is to document everything, anytime one of these psychos acts out. And while you are doing this, seek employment elsewhere. Yes, it's a pain, but it is also necessary. The ecomony is growing, but few jobs outside of the start-up IT positions of the mid-90s and union jobs have the luxary of employees telling off their employers.
Take notes. E-mail them to yourself, if nothing else. Sure, some bosses read e-mail; fine. If the SOB fires you because you are taking notes, then that only accelerates the inevitable. Perhaps, and I know this is a stretch, if they read what it is they are doing, MAYBE they'll realize their errors.
Either way, protect yourself; those notes may save you in HR if you decide to challenge your dismissal.
Posted by: Charlie on the Pennsylvania Turnpike | Aug 1, 2005 8:23:03 AM
I can speak and write from personal experience about a boss who was a psychopath.
The end result was I was forced to leave a job that I loved after suffering a stroke on the way to work one morning. That was my wake up call....
Posted by: Gene | Aug 2, 2005 10:37:20 AM
To Teri
In response to your comment about the flood of jobs going overseas. I'm a mechanical engineer that has been involved with manufacturing for 20+ years. I am currently laid off, AGAIN! this is the 5th time in 8 years and it's because of all the jobs going overseas.
Talk about psychos, it's the managers and top level exec's that are responsible for most of it. They see the opportunity to exploite the workers, resouces and enviornment of another country and take full advantage of it for the sake of saving a few bucks. And when they wear out their welcome there they will move on to the next victim.
Our government turns a blind eye to all of this. They look at it as a way to control inflation, which is a huge factor in the equation of the health of our own economy.
Good Luck!
Posted by: ackyway | Aug 2, 2005 11:01:46 AM
The quote is from Mr. Burns., not Homer.
Posted by: Doh | Aug 2, 2005 11:08:02 AM
Wow, I thought I was alone dealing with the despair and feeling of self-loathing thinking it was me.
I worked for a builder with great ambition, attitude and achieved sales quota goals without recognition or support. I realized when I was "Let go" just before Christmas and just after all but sellling out the community that this was a planned strategy to keep the remaining commissions to the tune of $65,000 that should be being paid out to me now. Instead I am completely broke and still looking for a sales position and I keep feeling unworthy to be considered because I how this could happen from professional people.
Well thank you for everyone's input I realize this has happened to other good people.
Posted by: Debbie Billirakis | Aug 2, 2005 11:09:05 AM
My boss is defently a psycho and she takes that to new heights. "Raises the bar" as she says. Look in any dictionary and look under bad manager. Next to that definition will be my bosses picture.
Posted by: Josef Mazzuca | Aug 2, 2005 11:24:29 AM
My former boss was truly a Physco,
When we had meetings he would use cuss words and break objects over the floor. Everyone in the facility would be scared of him. I worked there for years and had perfect attendence and always had excellent job evaluations, had never been written up. I got terminated over something that was not even my job responsibilty. The ones the blame fell on walked scott free. This manager has ben there for about five months. He has no repsect for anyone. He talks over the top of everyone who is trying to inform and let him know something. I am not there now but feel sorry for the ones that still have to deal with him. He is so unproffessional. This man truly did not fit in as a manager
Posted by: Mad | Aug 2, 2005 12:13:05 PM
Two years ago I worked at a place with not one but serveral psychopaths. One of them was the attorney, and even though she was not my boss, she acted like one all the time. She was absolutely irrational, maniacally crazy, intentionally mean, and pretty stupid since she was driving everybody who came on board for that position away and the turnover was so high, that productivity was extremely low...My suggestion - try to get out of such places as soon as possible. The fact that the crazy maniac had been there for more than 6 years, and 27 people have changed on the position that had to work with her for those 6 years, tells that even though she's a psychopath and has a record at HR, she must be well connected with someone in the organization that helps her being kept there!!! Management of that place was just as crazy and irrational, with no skills and vision, so there you go!
So no matter what you do, at the end you'll be the one to suffer! So beware of such psychos and get out ASAP!!!
Posted by: Eva Draganova | Aug 2, 2005 12:22:42 PM
I didn't work for a psychopathic boss. I watched her get her start in business. She went from a Fotomat clerk at a drug store to head of barcoding at a major publisher. She's left that job but continued on, perhaps into Maryland and elsewhere.
She has absolutely no regard for other people and no detectable conscience. She was also very determined to get her hands on people - literally - and build a power base. She may well have succeeded by now, and woe to those under her or in her way. You shall be destroyed.
Her name is Jennifer Patience; she has been since married twice so far as I know and may have another name. If you have been her victim, please contact me.
Posted by: Pete Rogan | Aug 2, 2005 2:15:05 PM
I'm a boss and I am in no way a psychopath. The employees that can't get to work on time, follow the dress code, break and meal policy and remember company policy from one day to the next are the psychopaths...but I LOVE THEM ALL!!
Posted by: Teresa Perry | Aug 2, 2005 2:47:51 PM
I have had a psycho boss who called his two employees in to yell at them for hours at a time...insane. What a waste of time, creating negative feelings and perpetually feeling like you are walking on egg-shells. I have also worked for people who were extremely negative behind my back...not even giving me a chance to tell them what was going on. Out of the blue, they made plans with me for later in the week, then fired me that day! Documenting everything is a great idea. I wasn't even given a reason for being 'let go' but suspect it was on the word of a person who suffered from extreme paranoia...for a place that prided itself on communication, this was a prime example of a massive break-down in communication. Cover your tracks or you may be hunted down by a stealthy predator and the 'groupthink' phenomenon. Psycho. Now I'm unemployed with no unemployment (I was going to school and working part time before this). Men, beware women who are man-haters!!!!!!! They are more common than you think!
Posted by: Brett | Aug 2, 2005 4:06:36 PM
Wow! Finally, I can read what others have had to go through, with these workplace psychos. There should be a "National" blog on this problem. The last job I had (before I started my own "one-man business"), was at a company just outside of Cincinnati. I heard recently from an "insider", it is a shell of its' former self! Ahhh, sweet revenge! Sometimes, my friends, there IS justice in the Universe.
I left the company many years ago, after giving the two owners of the company plenty of time and feedback, to correct (ie, FIRE) the existing crazies they had in their employ. I held a "key" production position, so one would think the owners would have listened to me, but they didn't. I suspect many business owners "look the other way" on these psychos, because they are afraid of them, and have no inter-personal skills or even the cajones to deal with these creepazoids.
Anyway, one of the psychos was my immediate supervisor(gosh, "ain't" that always the way?). Fortunately, this psycho wasn't real bright, and ended up even driving one of the owners nearly "up a wall", and got himself fired! HA! I LOVED IT!
However, they still had another psychopath running amok around the place, and if they had fired that creep (a woman this time) along with the other one, I'd probably still be working there. But they failed to deal with the problem, so I gave 'em my 2 week notice (sweet again!) and, as I said, started my own business, which, thus far, has worked out great! Ironic, isn't it? I used to sit at my desk at that place, and dream of no longer being vulnerable to these unspeakable jerks, and I hoped that if I ever did get away, it would be as nice as I imagined. And baby, IT IS!!
For those of you still dealing with these sacks of feces on a daily basis, I want you to know, I understand only too well what your dealing with, and how it makes you feel. These types are like "emotional terrorists". They seem to know exactly where and how to "hit" you. Their "hits" are designed to cripple your self-confidence, self-esteem and make you angry. If they had gown up in Iraq, they'd have been one of Sadaam's "elite" torturers. And for what reason do they do these things to you? Oh, don't worry. They were already inventing reasons the first moment they met you. These people are, and have always been, the scourage of the human race. They are in management of all the small businesses, corporations and governments of all the countries on our sad little planet, because they are attracted to power. I hope there are enough good guys also in these same places to save us, but I'm not optimistic, based on my actual life experiences.
Some suggestions for you "good guys". Don't try to deal with this alone. Bond with others in your company who understand (if there are any left who are as courageous as you), and hopefully you have family outside this place that will listen to you and be there for you. And keep looking at other job options. And speaking of that, even if it risks blowing the interview, ask your prospective employers how they deal with these types. Are they strong enough to confront such individuals? Do they even understand that such people exist? Are they psychos themselves? Well, maybe you don't want to ask them THAT, but stay focused on how they answer your other questions, and the expressions on their face. That will tell you if you want to be working there or not. No point in making a "lateral move"...
Posted by: Mark S | Aug 2, 2005 4:20:12 PM
I guess I have to question just where does the line exist when deciding that your boss is a psychopath or trying to advance the Plant operation and his own career. I was a Production Manager with a confectionary manufacturer. Things were going well for me and the Company for the 1st year and one half, then a new VP of Manufacturing was brought in to replace the one that was transferred overseas. His promise to the CEO at the time of hire was to bring in innovation and change. This was a pretty tall order as we were for the most part a state of the art operation. One of his goals was to hire at least two new degreed Chemical Engineers. To do this I was being leaned on heavily to force out by means of poor reviews the two weakest production supervisors to make room for them. These two were not really poor supervisors, as a matter of fact, they were actually pretty good as production supervisors go, they were however not yes men and did voice their opinion on occasion, but most of all they were not degreed engineers. I could not bring myself to put them out of a job after their many years of service. This, in turn cost me my job as the VP switched to plan B by dividing the plant into two departments, hired two young engineers, eliminated my job and created two Department Manager jobs. All of this happened while I was going through a divorce and could not of come at a worse time as I was at my weakest. I have since found out that he has also has forced out at least 3 other very competent managers that were also non degreed and over 40. Was all of this done in the name of creating an avenue for innovation? Was he following the parent corporation's (privately held) propensity of recruiting young engineers for its salaried manufacturing jobs? Or was this man a psychopath, being callous to further his own career? I might add the CEO is soon due to retire.
I have never really recovered from losing this job. Despite the fact of having 25 years of food manufacturing experience managerial jobs for a non- degreed DWM with kids at my age are very scarce and practically non existent with stable companies that do not exhibit high turnover in salaried positions. The choice I made has cost me big time, but I still feel I made the right decision.
Posted by: LML in PA | Aug 2, 2005 4:27:24 PM
Hello all. A friend I went to high school with ended up being severly bullied in a corporate position she held as she would not give in to pressure from a (much) older executive's demands for an affair.
After the smoke cleared and she realized what had happened (and had mostly healed from the experience), she joined an online group that helps to educate folks about workplace bullying. To read more info on this problem and to find resources in your area if you've been affected by this, visit www.nobullyforme.org
I hope this helps someone!
Regards,
Meg
Posted by: Meg | Aug 2, 2005 4:31:05 PM
Good article. I believe, however, that the correct word is actually "sociopath." A sociopath is described as a person who is completely self-absorbed and has no personal regard for others whatsoever. A psychopath is an individual who exhibits a deranged state of mind and engages in disturbing, even violent, behavior. My boss could possibly be a sociopath; the guy has an extremely difficult time remembering to thank people who do specific tasks in the department. Moreover, he seems to have no interpersonal skills. (The same could be said about a lot of people in positions of authority; my theory is that management could make people stupid and cruel.)
Posted by: Drew | Aug 2, 2005 6:12:10 PM
I was interviewed and hired by one person who was not the supervisor while the supervisor was on vacation (unbeknownst to me). From the moment I saw the supervisors face (the day the supervisor returned from vacation was my first day on the job) I knew she would be a problem. For 2 plus years this supervisor tried to get me fired. The supervisor humiliated me so bad one day I was hysterical (on the inside) and extremely jittery, nervous and not to mention feeling totally incompentent. I am a Christian and the way I handled that situation was with prayer, asking God to help me have the right attitude and not to do what I wanted to do which was quit! Amazingly God did just what I asked him to do. Without me "trying" I was kind to this supervisor, so much so until one day I realized that I wasn't angry with this person although almost every day this person tried to make be look and feel incompetent. That is when I realized that God truly did answer me and he was going to take care of the situation, I didn't have to do anything other than what I was doing, trust him. As it turned out the supervisor, who had been at this company for over 5 years quit because she felt she wasn't being treated fairly by the owners! And thank God, I still have that job!!!
Posted by: Shardonna | Aug 2, 2005 7:28:06 PM
Thank you all so much. I was feeling the weight of working for one of these people. Mine suffers from Bipolar Disorder, is hooked on painkillers, and slept with the owner of the company. I have respect for her as a power to be reckoned with because I am no match for her. She will do whatever it takes to win, and I will not. I mean "respect" not in terms of "wow, I would like to be like that/have that", but in terms of respecting the power of the hurricane. I have seen so many wonderful and competent people leave, and now it is my turn. What is frustrating is that if you succumb to smooth people - you would love her. Once you become in management you will soon recognize you will be the next best thing if you make her feel that way, and if you don't, offering any differing viewpoint (i.e. ethics), she will create situations on a weekly basis to make you miserable. I will try to take your advice and not take it personally, I hope you will do the same. I have been there for almost 8 years.
Posted by: worn out | Aug 2, 2005 7:49:22 PM
You do not have to work in a company to have a boss as a psychopath! I worked as a Licensed School Secretary for the Board of Education in NYC! Before I was tenured (that means short by 2 1/2 months of 3 years, my Principal the psychopath wrote terrible unsupported U's on my Rating sheet for end of term. Due to this horror which was rated 1 week before with S's for satisfactory all the way down, the misery got it back & decided to be a human skunk & changed almost all to U's including perfect attendance and perfect payroll and perfect everything just to bring in one of her friends. This was a new first year principal who was appointed to my school which I opened alone - by the Chancellor. Who is worse - the boss, the Principal, the Chancellor, the Mayor! Help will I ever be able to get another job anywhere in NYC after my disgusting rating? Totally without merit for sure plus they allow her to be around children in a High School. Whats next?
Posted by: Debbie226 | Aug 2, 2005 10:00:33 PM
My past employer was definitely a psychopath. In fact her actions were borderline criminal. Because she has power and money, she actually believes that she is not responsible for her actions. How do these type of psychopathic people become so successful? Do they use people as stepping stones in their quest for success? I know that when I met this woman for the first time I thought she was charming and intelligent. Boy did she have me fooled, but her true nature came out and it did not take me long before I saw the real person.
I believe that some time or some place she will become responsible for her actions, if not this life, then the next life. You know the old saying,"What goes around, comes around."
Posted by: Once a victim | Aug 3, 2005 8:37:22 AM
I don't know how my boss from my last job would be categorized. He terrorized nearly everybody in the department. Of course, his boss was the same way and I suspect the company president was likewise. He was the head of another department when the company decided to combine his and my department into one. He walked around for the first two weeks threatening to fire everybody who didn't follow his new guidelines. One day in particular, he had a young woman coming in for an interview. He instructed me to "check her out and tell me if she's a fox". Eventually, this type of behavior caught up with him, after we had a female employee, who had resigned shortly after giving birth to her first daughter, write a letter to the company. The HR department verbally reprimanded him. He then had the gall to call a department meeting and tell everybody that WE had to watch our language and behavior. Typically management type; he'll go far in life.
Posted by: TAB | Aug 3, 2005 9:44:42 AM
I agree with Meg, I think the correct word is sociopath. Organizations attract them and tolerate their destructiveness because they impart the illusion to their superiors that their mischief results in more added value than the bad behavior subtracts. Plus, many of the higher level managers don't really see the chaos they cause, only the additional half-percent of net revenue added this quarter. "High water covers a lot of stumps" to quote an old southern expression. One thing the sociopathic bosses know how to do - achieve the current organizational objectives and they are safe as long as they do.
I worked for a sociopath for several years that was a management disaster in-the-flesh, but his division performed in a stellar fashion financially - ultimately the only criteria for success. He finally experienced a bad quarter and posted a significant loss. Had he not carried the baggage and reputation of being a totally ruthless and abusive senior manager, I believe he would have been extended some forgiveness for the atypical quarterly results. Instead, he was summarily fired on the spot. What goes around comes around - unfortunately many of us don't get to witness the execution.
If you are in this situation, the overwhelming advice - either move to another spot in the organization or get the hell out as fast as possible. Sociopathic managers are unpredictable and can turn on you before you even have a clue.
Posted by: BeenThere | Aug 3, 2005 10:55:47 AM
I agree with Meg, I think the correct word is sociopath. Organizations attract them and tolerate their destructiveness because they impart the illusion to their superiors that their mischief results in more added value than the bad behavior subtracts. Plus, many of the higher level managers don't really see the chaos they cause, only the additional half-percent of net revenue added this quarter. "High water covers a lot of stumps" to quote an old southern expression. One thing the sociopathic bosses know how to do - achieve the current organizational objectives and they are safe as long as they do.
I worked for a sociopath for several years that was a management disaster in-the-flesh, but his division performed in a stellar fashion financially - ultimately the only criteria for success. He finally experienced a bad quarter and posted a significant loss. Had he not carried the baggage and reputation of being a totally ruthless and abusive senior manager, I believe he would have been extended some forgiveness for the atypical quarterly results. Instead, he was summarily fired on the spot. What goes around comes around - unfortunately many of us don't get to witness the execution.
If you are in this situation, the overwhelming advice - either move to another spot in the organization or get the hell out as fast as possible. Sociopathic managers are unpredictable and can turn on you before you even have a clue.
Posted by: BeenThere | Aug 3, 2005 10:59:13 AM
Hey that quiz describes this chick I was hanging out with-shes selfish, never really gave a damn about anything I said, lied constantly and caused trouble, the whole nine yards-its crazy-as far as my boss, hes evil, but I dont think he matches a pyschopath
Posted by: Ted | Aug 3, 2005 4:36:14 PM
thank you for conferming what i thought all along. My ex-boss is a psychopath. I thought that there was always something wrong, now I know. I was with the company for 5 years. The other person in m positon only 4, not to mention that I am disabled. So yeppers... she has a really BIG problem!
Posted by: Mary | Aug 3, 2005 7:08:42 PM
Well, we certainly must strive to be accurate in our descriptions, and "politakally-Korrect", so, ok, these jerks are "Sociopaths", not "Psychopaths". But that's only because the police haven't yet found the bodies buried in their back yards.
I'm sure we'd all agree these people are severely dysfunctional. Still, the Freudian labels are just so much more fun!!
Another thing: Fight The Good Fight. Never give in. Probe their weakness and hit 'em BACK, Baby! Then act like nothing's wrong! Be like, "Hey, pal...I didn't do anything...What's YOUR problem??" It can be delicious fun! I did it until I found a better alternative. These bullies are victimizers, so you must NEVER act like a victim, or adopt a victim mentality. Fight fire with fire. I can assure you, they are far more wounded and fragile than you are. Just probe their weaknesses a little more each day. Needle 'em. Yeah, they probably got screwed over in childhood...but I've met people who had HORRIBLE childhoods, and are wonderful human beings.
They had to deal with the stuff that happened to them, so they did. The...uh, "sociopaths" would never think of "dealing" with anything inside themselves. They would much rather act out their sickness on YOU. So hit 'em, my friends...needle 'em...use their owm dysfunction against them. Of course, if this individual happens to be in a position to fire you with impunity, then you do take a chance. It's a tough situation. If you can keep smiling (and your emotional/physical health) without fighting back, more power to ya. Me, if I EVER find myself in that situation again, I'm goin' down with both barrels blazing (figuratively speaking, of course). The pen, and voice, are always mightier than the sword! Ok, that's enough. I can't think about these creeps any more...I'll keep ranting till I ruin my day HAHAHAHA!! I'm outa here. Good luck, my friends.
Posted by: Mark S. | Aug 3, 2005 7:47:38 PM
Within the first two months she 'came on board' 80% of the original staff working there quit. I was the last hold out. I was awarded unemployment because she kept changing my job, then writing me up for not performing well. She contested the unemployment award saying I quit for 'personal reasons', lied outrageously in the hearing, and my unemployement award was reversed. Two years later, I am now not only making 1/2 what I did before, after 10 months unemployment, I still owe $5,000.00 back to unemployment. I appealed, and appealed as far up as allowed, showing proof where she lied, only to be told her 'inconsistancies' did not affect the overall spirit of the decision. It was my fault for quitting. I even had an attorney represent my appeal pro bono, he felt I had been wronged.
In other words, it was alright for her to lie under oath.
Word to the wise: don't ever attend an unemployment hearing without an attorney, no matter what it costs, or how good your case looks. You'll lose. Winning an appeal is as likely as winning the lottery. Maybe less. I attended the first hearing without representation after an attorney told me I didn't need him - I couldn't lose.
Posted by: Aly53 | Aug 3, 2005 11:42:21 PM
As a normal course of being employed, one should always keep "excellent" records should you be the subject of a personal vendenta to undermine your credibility as a means to get you fired. Facts always win over assumptions and lies.
I wonder if one could team up with their fellow laid-off co-workers, put a business plan together, get a small business loan and create a startup that would directly compete with the company that so erroneously remained blind and either couldn't or wouldn't see the forest for the trees regarding these "management psychos". Would be the best way to eliminate organizations that "harbour" those types. Put them out of business. A company is only a name on a piece of paper. It's the people working for it that makes it live a breath. As with any living thing, a desease will evently kill it.
Posted by: James | Aug 3, 2005 11:58:02 PM
Barbara, In your posting, you mentioned the things that happened to others and yourself would be worthy of a book. Everybody else seems to writing similiar tomes. Might prove theraputic if not profitable.
Posted by: James | Aug 4, 2005 12:22:53 AM
Fastcompany sponsors a readers network called the Company of Friends. Company of Friends is free forum that allows those who wish meet to communicate, discuss, and collaborate with others to how to solve problems, develop skills and improve your career options. Take a few momments to explore the link on their website www.fastcompany.com. There's a good chance that a Company of Friends groups is closer than you think.
You hold the key to your future. No one else is going to create it for you. Who are you going to let drive your future?
Good luck to all.
Posted by: James | Aug 4, 2005 12:34:15 AM
My ex-boss is a total psychopath and unfortunately still has some employees left at his company to beat up on. I left the company in April (after 8 and a half years!) and am taking the summer off to "recover". He didn't just control us on a business level, but mostly he tried on a personal one. Back in 2002, it took me 6 months to change my last name after I was married for he made it very clear that he thought I should keep my maiden name, for I would lose my identity. Once I finally changed it, he was very dissappointed and treated me indifferently. He had already started in on the negatives of having a baby. Those comments are just the tip of the ice burg. Lucky for a lot of us, the FBI came in and took everything... he's being investigated for insurance fraud. KARMA! A lot of us were so relieved! (That was the best day of my life for I got it back!) It's like I was in a bad dream or under a horrid spell. It's amazing that a person can take control of people like that... I may have to testify in a federal court if it goes that far. I'll do it with bells on to put him away and make him pay!
Posted by: Jill | Aug 4, 2005 12:10:23 PM
Everyone, I think a lot of us have at one time or another become victims of psycopathic managers. You cannot change these people, but I have faith that you can change your situation and yourself for the better. If I may, I would like to suggest that you all read "The Power of Your Subconscious Mind" it has certainly taught me a lot about myself and how to become successful.
Posted by: Laura | Aug 6, 2005 12:36:43 PM
test
Posted by: Dennis | Aug 12, 2005 7:16:07 PM
Our Society is too Politically Correct!! If your boss is a Psychopath or a Sociopath...then catch them somewhere away from the job site, after work...and "get Midieval on their ass". I am talking about beating the crapp out of them! And if you aren't "up to" the job, then get one of your friends to do it for you.
What really confounds me is that most of the people who read this, will think that I am joking. I am not! Our society has gotten so predomenated with wussy, politically correct weiners, who let other people screw them over, that the ranks of general mgmt. have learned that they can get away with murder. Human Resources wont help you, government arbitration boards wont help you, lawyers and courts wont help you.
The only thing that will make you feel better, ultimately...is to get even...with somebody who has screwed you over! Beat the hell out of them! Just be carefull not to actually kill them. And also...don't get caught!
Posted by: Dennis | Aug 12, 2005 7:31:49 PM
This is a fascinating (and very necessary) discussion. As with everyone else, I also had psychopaths for bosses. I was struck by three excellent suggestions for dealing with them.
(1) From “Barbara”: Document, Document, Document! Find a way to use your PC to work for you so you don’t get stuck doing double work. The witch I worked for tried to dump as much work as possible on me so I’d be too frazzled to contest her. I had the blessing of being trained in PC software and light programming and my home PC and laptop (never trust the PCs on the job!) were my workhorses. Keep the laptop or PDA that you are using a complete secret, even from your friends! Secure your workspace by keeping your desktop clear - lock your desk every time you leave it. Whenever I was distracted away from my desk, her stooge had the opportunity to ransack it so I bought one of those $1.00 plastic wrist coil key chains that made it possible to lock my desk in a hot minute. Remove ALL personal information from your desk. These creeps will search your desk after hours - managers DO have the right to search your desk, locker and PC! Get in the habit of maintaining some kind of daily journal that accounts for the jobs you’re working on and the time you took to work on them - even if you’re working for the best boss in the world.
(2) From “Brett”: Network - Enlist friends inside and outside your department. Friends outside your department aren’t known by your psycho manager so they can help you store info in desks, lockers, etc. out of the reach of your spying saboteur of a boss. My working buddies let me use a desk on another floor to type my notes into my laptop on my lunch hour. They can keep you posted on job openings in other departments and serve as your eyes and ears. Your family and non-company friends can suggest and work on any legal avenues you may need in future. The suggestion to question your next employers about psychopaths is priceless!
(3) From “Drew”: CALL ON FATHER GOD. Psychopath/Sociopath ain’t nothin’ but a $10.00 word for DEVIL. You can’t fight what you don’t know and can’t see. Often these minions are working for higher ups that know exactly what they’re doing and have ordered them to eliminate you, especially if you are an older worker that they wish to deprive of vested benefits. You cannot defeat that kind of organized evil alone. God CAN see and defeat the tricks of the Devil.
I would warn “Dennis” not to use the same weapons and tactics psychopaths use. They are the masters of black-bagging/back alley tactics; they’ve used all their rotten lives to fine-tune dirty fighting. You’d be fighting them on their terms and territory - they would win - hands down!
One suggestion from me: If your job is a union shop, JOIN YOUR LOCAL: They’re another outside agency you can appeal to if your rights are violated. As a former union steward from a family of union stewards, Trust me; union dues are worth it!
God Bless and Keep You All.
MIZLOU
Posted by: MIZLOU | Aug 14, 2005 10:06:16 PM
My apologies to:
Charlie on the Pennsylvania Turnpike: DOCUMENT
Mark S: NETWORK
Shardonna: CALL ON GOD
I got names and postings mixed up and identified you wrong in my first posting. I don’t post often so please excuse.
In addition, I’d like to suggest some sources on dealing with psychopaths and other miscreants:
Books - Non-Fiction:
“WITHOUT CONSCIENCE: THE DISTURBING WORLD OF THE PSYCHOPATHS AMONG US” by Dr. Robert D. Hare. (This is an excellent book for the lay person, especially newcomers that don’t understand what a psychopath is. Hare is the author of the psychopathic quiz at fastcompany.com).
“THE MASK OF SANITY” by Hervey Cleckley (This is considered the definitive work on Psychopathic Personality Disorder - PPD)
“THE EMPTIED SOUL” by Adolph Guggenbuhl-Craig,
“CRAZY BOSSES” by Stanley Bing
“HOW TO WORK FOR A JERK” by Robert M. Hochheiser
“THE I HATE MY JOB HANDBOOK” by Ellen Tien & Valerie Frankel
THE BIBLE: The problem of evil is an old one. Satan is the original psychopath and this is the original handbook for conquering him and his minions.
Books - Fiction:
“IT” by Stephen King
“EAST OF EDEN” By John Steinbeck
“ZOMBIE” by Joyce Carol-Oates
“AMERICAN PSYCHO” by Bret Easton Ellis
“DEVIL IN THE WHITE CITY” by Eric Larson
Movies:
“PACIFIC HEIGHTS” (1990) - Check out the way Melanie Griffin didn’t get mad but got smart and then got even.
The movies below have good dramatizations of psychopaths and viewing them can be a great (fun) exercise, some comfort and consolation in recognizing PPD in the villains in these films.
Double Indemnity, Gaslight, The Bad Seed, Body Heat, The Usual Suspects, Swimming with Sharks, Jackie Brown, Paths of Glory, Night of the Hunter, Sum of All Fears, 2 days in the Valley, All About Eve, t The Last Seduction, Black Widow, Breakdown, Wolf, Day of the Jackal, Chinatown, Fargo, Juice, One False Move, To Die For, My Son Johnny (made for TV), Hud, House of Games, The Spanish Prisoner, Little Odessa, Miami Blues, The Onion Field, Glengarry, Glen Ross, Ronin (loaded with psychopaths), Heat, Reservoir Dogs, The Talented Mr. Ripley (Purple Noon), Strangers on a Train, Compulsion, Rope, White Oleander, Road to Perdition, Streets of Laredo (made for TV), Cape Fear, Paris Trout....and so many more....
Documentaries: The Corporation
Again, God Bless You All.
MIZLOU
Posted by: MIZLOU | Aug 15, 2005 3:14:27 AM
Ahh, a place to vent! I'm prolly a bit younger than most of the people here being only 18. Anyways, one 47 year old manager has taken a shine to me for reasons uknown to me, and has not stopped harassing me. He even went so far as to try and stick his hand up my skirt. I brought this to the attention of the store owner and the first thing he said was, "Are you sure this happned?"...no, I just had a bad dream and I thought I'd share it with you...OF COURSE IT HAPPENED!! And to make matters worse, he delegated the matter to the second most powerful person in the store...our general manager...WHO HAPPENS TO BE MY CREEPY MANAGER'S LIVE IN GIRLFRIEND!!! Who's side do you think she's taking. Man, everytime I turn around I have another knife to pull out of my back...
Posted by: Meg | Aug 23, 2005 1:16:15 AM
Abusers are losers. They will pay sooner or later.
Bullies are sick. It is hard to deal with sick persons.
I have decided to save myself by leaving the bully after fighting twice without any success. HR's on the bully's side, because he is the boss.
The 2nd time, HR even pretended to investigate the workplace bullying committed by our manager.
After the bully became the manager of our department about 3 years ago, half of the old employees have left the company.
Looks like the only way to save our health is to leave the bullying workplace.
There must be some good workplaces out there.
Posted by: G | Aug 24, 2005 1:36:17 AM
I worked for a company that paid slightly above
minium wage. Ibelieve that there is 3 reasons to
hire these psychopaths.
1. They will work for next to nothing just for
the spotlight.
2. They work long hours.
3. They save the firm moneyty
Posted by: chas | Aug 28, 2005 3:23:34 PM
I worked for a man whom I'm sure was a sociopath. He ruined me financially and has left many an emotional scar on me. I'm not over it yet. Sometimes I wonder if I'll ever get over it. It has made me question who I am, what I accomplished professionally during the years I worked for him, and, most of all, how I let this man play me for the fool. What's more, I'm an artist, and I haven't been able to move forward with my career after the blow I received from this man.
He came on with sweet talk and charm, making it seem like he was more interested in my work and in me than anyone had ever been in my whole life (in truth, he thought he could profit off of my unique artistic style and for a long time he did). He offered me a high-dollar contract that was to take place over a period of years and he made me feel so important. Constantly, he feed me compliments. He even sent me gifts--flowers, credit cards for meals, etc.
Everything seemed like a dream come true. I bought a new car and my dream house in a nice area of town. I thought the bad days were behind me...that I'd be financially secure for the rest of my life. He promised me time and again that that was so. And I overlooked the strange quirks and the way he manipulated me--making me work 80 hours plus a week and always wanting to know where I was. He'd call for several hour phone meetings--among other things. Believe me this is only the tip of the iceberg.
I even began to think that this man had my house bugged, because he strangely seemed to know what my family and I talked about in private. We could never find any evidence of that, however.
And then, he started getting behind on the payments he owed me and always had an excuse as to why, but I let it slide, believing that he'd come through.
He didn't. When company profits declined, he broke the contract and became downright cruel to me. When threatened with a lawsuit over the backpay and breech of contract, he tried to throw me over the edge with fear tactics. I believe he did this in hopes that I'd commit suicide--I nearly did.
In short, my family and I lost our home and just about everything we had. Even then, we were deeply in debt--even owing money to the IRS. He didn't care. We had to move into an old dilapidated house that we'd owned that was fit to be red tagged (this is where we live now, and we may even lose it before this is all over.). When I told my boss about the house, he arrogantly said that I didn't know better but to live in a house like that. Forget that I had no choice.
As for the financial ruin, in his eyes, he had nothing to do with that. It was all my fault, because I hadn't managed my money well. Forget that he hadn't fulfilled his monetary obligations to me and owed me several hundred thousand dollars in back pay (on top of cutting my pay 70% suddenly). He told me once that after I finally got my money problems in order (which I could do, according to him, by living frugally and investing) that maybe then I'd be as good of a person as he was and that he'd respect me again.
I realize now that he'd set me up from the start--gave me that big contract (which he had never intended to fulfill) so that I'd become financially dependent on him. Then he could "own" me.
This become absolutely clear when he wanted me to stay on with the company in 2005--at yet another huge pay cut. He thought that I was so desperate that I'd have no choice but to accept.
I surprised him. I walked away from him and his company at the first of the year.
But, like I said, the scars remain and I'm struggling to understand how all of this happened.
Posted by: Marie | Sep 11, 2005 5:21:55 AM
My so called `bosses` are team of psychopaths. It is disturbing because all the allegations levelled against me appears to be their own projections. All the issues were resolved and it comes to the conclusion that the initial provocation for his current continous offensive terror stems from his male masculinity not responded by subjugation. I migrated to Australia 11 years ago not realizing this would be my fate. And now it appears that may be that was the wrong decision. In my entire stay over here I never once suffered from migrant psychosis, but now I feel the strains and have resolved to return back to my country. There is no racism involved as such. It is just that I fell into wrong hands.
Posted by: Anita dhar | Nov 10, 2005 5:36:53 AM
Please i need a good tape recorder to record psycho boss
Need this to give to board of directors. Only when no one else is present this happens. The board has heard complaints from a lot of employees and want a good recording to back up complaints.
Thank you
Dennis
Posted by: Dennis McLaughlin | Dec 2, 2005 11:37:13 AM
i can't believe that i have found this site, as i realised that after a chat with my therapist that the person that i finally mentioned to her was truly a sociopath within my organisation and she confirmed that this protype of a person was actually somewhat commonplace in certain companies. within 24hours of reading up on this affliction, i am able to let go of it all. so here's my story.
this nebish of a person was hired as a consultant by my "former" CEO to assist with research. He was a deciet researcher but really in my opinion a person capable producing reems and reems of information but unable to make comphrensive thoughts. My CEO once made the mistake of inviting him to a board meeting with his shareholders in which he upstaged him when shareholders asked questions about the running of the business. Suddenly my CEO began to confide in him and tell him of what he thought his shortcomings were in terms of delivering the business to the shareholders. not long afterward there was an attack on my CEO forcing him to step down. i want to also interject that the ceo is a great person friend of mine and i was telling him all along that this person was bad news. after a while, i seemed like i was the one with the problem.
With my CEO stepping down and our shareholders getting more involved operationally, he remained a consultant for a period of a year and our dear friend got busy.
The plan was that there was another candidiate recommend by our CEO as a wonderful young manager with long service with the company. i chose to stay with this new manager (we have an great working relationship to this day).
At this point, the consultant had no job and BEGGED the new manager to stay. I crossed my fingers that he would get booted. He was so charming to the new manager (let's call him John)that he could assist him in the new position. We all then thought, okay maybe. His next step was to create a bond with the shareholding entity and give constant reports that John, myself and everyone was not doing their jobs, that we were negligent, and passed a lot of rumours and stories to the shareholders and the people that they work with. We could never figure out how certain information got to them, or understand how things were twisted.
He was a poor boy from the wrong side of the tracks, the but himself through school. He was booted out of an MBA program so became incessantly jealous of my Chairman's backing of me to do this and a promotion i got. He worked dilligently behind my and our backs to discredit us, but we did not know this until too late. Also, another one of his strategies, is playing off people's titles and credentials. one day he is a manager, then a director, then the head of something. He is obsessed with organograms and always trying to have a direct reporting line (even if in their minds, he is just a trumped up researcher)
Also, one of the directors was told various stories that i said that i did not like him and thought him incompetent. He became obsessed with having me elimated and as the creep began reporting to him direct, thereby driving a wedge within the organisation. I did not see this going on until too late.
Both John and I are high profile people and have had long years of service and accololades. The creep, has no personality,no one wants to acknowledge him and even if he does work, he did not have the gravitas to gain much respect. What i found strange and someone can tell me if they have encountered this, is that he would watch either of us and always get jealous and try to emulate us. For instance, if John was speaking at a conference on a topic, suddenly, he would research that topic, try to become an expert on it and also try to speak. it was like he was always trying to mirror the other person. Or better yet morph into what other people had gained recognition with. Very weird.
Suddenly our Chairman had the wrong opinion of me and John. We were then set up to be fired. After a series of hearings, he realised that his voice was all over the various allegations. After we got fired and all over the media, several people from the organisation resigned. The answer to why was covered by him that the organisation was becoming leaner and more profitable as a result of his "strategy".
The organisation which was once the pillar of team work became one of fear and loathing virtually overnite. A new type of organisation emerged that thrived on back stabbing and deciet. He went on to try to hire new people that did not know him, but most people meet him and see that he is not really a person that they can learn from and many choose not to join the organisation.
As we left the company, this guy was not only doing my job, but then moved to take over as head of the company. John, the CEO and I confronted him over a dinner telling him that he knew that it was him behind it all. He vehemently denied this, saying that he was a great friend, and how he had tried to help us. That he would go to the shareholders and tell them that they got us all wrong. I made it known that I wanted nothing to do with him.
At the time, he felt that he still needed John, so begged to be his friend. I told John to watch out and stop empowering him with knowledge, as he did not know or understand the real mechanics of the job. In his attempt to "copy" John, he failed measurably, but to date the shareholders think he is the second christ.
what perplexes me is if the shareholders know this and merely used him as a vechicle to get rid of us. Was it their plan all along and will they probably dispose of him also. Also, when this person was confronted, he quickly morphed into a wimp. He is a pathelogical liar and has all the traits outlined in several of the corporate psychopathic profiles.
I forgot to mentioned that he had been fired from his previous job when trying to obstruct the rules structure. Fortunately, it was a very strict firm and he stuck out and was fired and escorted out of that building. We found this out later after contacting his former employer.
We are now suing the company for unfair dismassal and all that jazz. We kept him out of our case because we realised that he would only spy on his and report back. I know that all of you out there always want revenge on these type of people. I see that a few have got recipes on how to deal with these types. I should have followed our instincts and not hired him. I beleive that he will fail, or move on to another job and screw things up there.
Any advise?
Posted by: get even? | Jan 20, 2006 3:39:43 AM
Well mannered and successful Theresa was a model person.
On the inside was the psychopathic personality. Seattle must have the greatest number per capita. Sexually preditory women are rare. They spread disease without any remorse.
Posted by: john bocchetti | Mar 7, 2006 9:25:51 PM
Look here people... 40 years ago in California, we celebrated the advent of the psychopathic mind-cults such as Scientology, Erhard Seminar Training, Mind Dynamics, ad. nauseum(!)... John Paul Rosenberg, nickname: Jack, alias: Werner Hans Erhard was a psychopath(!)... His sexual abuse of his daughters(as documented on CBS 60 Minutes in the early 1970's), his acute name change to escape that situation(Giving up "Jack" in that Kennedy era?)... His getting Grolier's Encyclopedia door-to-door sales sued for deceptive sales practices(He was in charge of sales training at that time)... The fact that the state of California sued "Mind Dynamics" out of existence for practicing Psychiatry without a license... This man was called "One of the most influential contributers to corporate culture...", in 1972...a psychopath deconstructing psychological research, philosophy, the Bible, buddhism, even stealing concepts and language directly from L. Ron Hubbard's religion... You can still hear echoes of this garbage in almost every corporate "coaching" program out there... A psychopath teaching normal(relatively?) people how to react as victims in a dysfunctional family situation(what a psychopath knows best--how to torment and manipulate his siblings, parents, children, etc.) and later as artificially trained 'psychopaths'...what a concept(!).
Selecting for psychopathic traits(manipulation, charisma, etc.) as preconditions for promotions in psychopathic organization...who knew such a thing was possible(!?)...
Posted by: Woofie | Jul 24, 2006 3:33:32 AM
definite contender for worse boss in the world. Boss'spouse fired for having sex at work and boss was mad because the company fired other spouse, re-counted totally "wrong" stories about this and other abberant sexual behavior openly at work (we all shared a large space w/o cubicles even) making everyone uncomfortable. was having an open affair w an office superior (and others) and used influence to abuse other employees. bragged about getting other employees fired and how they were allowed to abuse others. (physically and mentally ostracizing one employee by moving workspace into a storage area) Super controlling, abusive in daily life. boss eavesdropped/monitored all comments made during co time and would "punish" for any comments that weren't inline with her spin. (I was written up for casually defending a co-worker against awful/unfounded office gossip that was being discussed openly) boss was allowed to hire a sibling in dept. and then raised her to a supervisory position (untrained sibling w HS ed was "supervising" college trained workers with very specialized skills) never having posted job position per co policy. Job entailed working with software and sibling was ONLY person in dept that didn't know how to use software. i was also forced (with threats of termination) to work overtime (on salary) to make up for time lost due to young child's hospitalization/illness- even though we were supposed to be allowed a certain amount of personal/medical leave time allowed, at the same time boss/sibling used co time for trips to tanning salon (sometimes 3-4 times a week)and personal "errands", took time off for various "outings" and didn't bother to make up.
Abusive, dictatorial, controlling, harassing behaviour on a daily basis!
i was happy to have lost the contest to see whether I would quit or get fired first!!! This person will be the cause of a harassment suit for company before its all over with, and frankly, they deserve it for allowing that type of behavior to go on.
Posted by: buster | Nov 17, 2006 11:41:24 AM
What to do about my supervisor. She is unprofessional, manipulative, threatens staff, insults us behind our back and to our faces and to other departments. One minute she is nice, the next a jerk. She tells you you are doing a great job one minute and then the next day you are not doing your job. She tells you to not perform certain duties anymore and the next week she wants to know why we are not doing those particular tasks.She definitely is on a power trip, and is a big bully. She constantly states they won't fire her because she is the only that can do this job. Staff has gone to HR and the VP about these issues and she is still there after 5 years.
I should have known at my interview that I should not take this job when she told me about every problem that existed at the workplace and there has been a very high turnover rate.
If she only spent more time doing her work instead of telling us about all of our departments problems she would have her stuff done on time and we would be able to get ours done instead of putting in all of these overtime hours. Just because she doesn't have a life doesn't mean we don't.
Posted by: lori | Nov 19, 2006 7:25:45 PM
The owner of the small company for which I work is the psychopath where I work. What's interesting to many of us at work is why in the world we stay there.
We answered yes to all the questions on the quiz.
Posted by: Virginia | Feb 16, 2007 5:52:54 AM
My ex boss was a complete psychopath. He always treated his employees like they were stupid. He didn’t like me, actually he didn’t like anyone just men mostly which made me wonder. He always yelled at people and embarrassed them openly sometimes just to push his power around. Anyway, one day his mom who was the controller of the company received a nasty unsigned letter under her office door putting down the company & the employees. After blaming everybody and yelling at everyone in separate meetings, they decided to blame me and fire me for it. I wonder if they wrote it and wanted to blame me because I was making a good salary & they didn’t like that. After I was fired, and was told because of the unsigned letter, I was handed a letter saying that I did not meet their expectations. So, which is it? I left quietly like a lady and went home & applied for unemployment because I was just fired really for no reason at all. I received a letter from unemployment stating I was fired for misconduct. The company is so cheap, they didn’t even have a water cooler and now they certainly don’t want to pay for my unemployment. My boss had 8 employees within a 2 year period in my seat before me, gee, I wonder why. Psycho! Now I have to waste more time on this horrible company and fight for my unemployment. Thanks Planned Companies!
Posted by: Bonnie | Mar 8, 2007 6:25:01 PM
I see a common thread with all of you who have posted. The common thread is that you all are decent hard working and honest people. Let me tell you that Psychopaths envy people like us because they know we can do the job better than them and we have more skills than they. What psychopaths try to do is elliminate their competition or threat (us) They will even manipulate a situation to make it look like we are not doing our job. I have experience that before (many times). The sad part is that these companies we work for know that these psychopath are doing the things they are doing. That lead me to the conclusion that the owners and top-level management our psychopaths as well. What they dont know is they are slowly and surely destroying the economy with their games and behavior. This is the reason why Ford and General Motors are suffering. Because these psychopaths are not about excellence: They are about self gratification and greed. They dont see the big picture. Thats why we had the enron,Worldcom scandals. What is going to happen is that most of the decent and honest hard working people are going to start their own business and get out of coporate america. Another thing is that psychopathic people tend to hire people like themselves. Not only do they hire them but they favor them as well. I have worked in a place full of psychopathic people, and let me tell you..its an ugly situation. This kind of behavior is doing a good job in destroying America's economy than the terrorist. If We dont get ethics back into corporate America, we are going to be in a lot of trouble as a country.
Posted by: Patrick | Apr 9, 2007 11:55:54 AM
I and the majority of the rest of the pilots in the flight department of a major telecommunications company quit, just short of gaining our retirement points because of a sociopath. He fit the bill to a T. Even admitted to having been abused as a child. No conscience at all, no sense of remorse. Totally narcissistic; nothing he did wrong was his fault, always someone else's. We wondered why management kept him with his 130% turn over in just two years; then it struck us: he was saving them retirement expenses. They used him to run off the old time, high paid people and hired cheap ones to cut costs. If you have a psycho for a supervisor, there may be a good reason why he's there! High turnover can save a company money in the long run.
Can you hear me now?
Posted by: Bob | Apr 25, 2007 4:22:06 PM
I have 36 years length of service for more than 10 plants and organizations. But for first time I see such psychopath as my current boss. I know, that nearly all of the shiefs are insolent liers, but there are limits of propriety - not even... I tried to reply 3-4 times - without attention. Now I remember the words of Soljenitsin in his Nobel lecture:
And the simple step of a simple courageous man is not to partake in falsehood, not to support false actions!
That's my opinion.
Posted by: ACasualVisitor | Jun 27, 2007 10:14:17 AM
I got away from my sociopathic bosses (and coworkers) 7 months ago after reading BullyOnline and discovering that there was a name and condition for what I was undergoing. I am the wiser now; and just recently started working for a much more professional company, where management just doesn't allow bullying. After the mobbing and threats I received from those primary and secondary bullies I worked with earlier, I now truly understand how genocide and extreme cases of bullying (Nazi-ism, for example) could gain a foothold and destroy so many innocent lives. Bullying in any form should be rooted out mercilessly before it takes hold in an organization and corrupts everybody working there.
Posted by: Matilda | Nov 7, 2007 1:55:12 PM
My situation appears to be unique among the postings here. I work at a tiny company consisting of 3 employees plus my boss, the psycho-- or actually, I think she has Compulsive Personality Disorder. ("restricted ability to express warm emotions, perfectionism that interferes with the ability to grasp the big picture, excessive devotion to work, indecisiveness, and an insistence that others submit to her way of doing things")
Without a larger company structure, and no HR department, I have no recourse. Although I have only had her best interests at heart, and have done everything within my abilities to perform an excellent job, I have been the victim of extreme emotional harassment. This has been a subtle but traumatizing form of abuse. Her interpretation of reality is skewed by her Disorder. She gave me nothing but positive feedback, until our most recent major project. With the project far behind schedule due to her negligence, I worked at a steady but unhurried pace and refused to work much overtime. She internally seethed until steam was coming out of her ears, and began to accuse me of all sorts of unprofessional behavior. Ironically, it was her unprofessional behavior that had brought the situation to this point.
I was able to temporarily patch up the situation, but the thought of doing another major project with her makes me want to kill myself.
After working here for almost 3 years, I won't have a reliable verbal recommendation. I am going to quit this month, and take a lower-paying job, and when I quit I am going to ask the psycho to give me a letter of recommendation for my future job hunt. I only wish I would have done the same at my last job, because this is two jobs running where I had an insane boss. The first one is known for "turning" on employees who quit and trashing them when called for a reference.
These are desperate times, and many qualified and talented people such as myself are hard-pressed to find employment. We hardly feel we have the option to turn down a job, even when we see the writing on the wall and know that there will be an extremely difficult boss or manager.
My only advice to others and to myself is to remain calm. Try to be detached and professional in all your interactions. Document as much as possible in case you have a real case for harassment. But when you are able to quit, leave the drama behind. Ask for a letter and if they stall, write it yourself and ask them to sign it. If you present this letter when asked for references, you can avoid the potential employer calling the past employer. When you are interviewing, think of a way to tell your "employment story" that avoids the conflict as much as possible. Re-write history. That is what successful people do-- they turn things around to make themselves look brilliant. Emphasize the positives. Make up a positive reason why you quit.
And if you are slowly being driven insane, quit. No job is worth that. Take a pay cut, go work for a temp agency, anything.
Posted by: Mary | Dec 1, 2007 12:00:45 PM
MY EX BOSS WAS DEFINITLY A PSYCHO. I TOOK THE TEST TO VALIDATE MY SUSPICIONS AND CAME UP WITH " BE AFRAID" THE ONLY THING THAT SAVED THE RESULTS FROM BEING " BE VERY AFRAID" WAS THE FACT THAT HE HASN'T BEEN CAUGHT DOING ANYTHING CRIMINAL...YET, AND EVEN IF HE DID HE WOULDN'T ADMIT TO IT. THIS MAN HAD A HISTORY OF DEMEANING HIS SUBORDINANTS BY YELLING, CUSSING, POUNDING FISTS ON TABLES, CALLING PPL LIARS..THE LIST GOES ON. HE DID THIS TO A FRIEND OF MINE WHO TOLERATED IT BECAUSE SHE WAS AFRAID TO LOSE HER JOB. I TOLD MY FRIEND IF HE EVER DID THAT TO ME, I WAS OUT OF THERE. WELL, MY TURN CAME. HE ACCUSED ME OF DOING SOMETHING I DID NOT DO, AND I REFUSED TO ADMIT I DID IT JUST TO MAKE HIM HAPPY. HE SLAMMED HIS FIST ON THE DESK, YELLED AT ME, CUSSED AT ME AND TOLD ME I WAS FULL OF BULL. I GOT UP FROM MY CHAIR, THREW MY HANDS UP IN THE AIR AND TOLD HIM I HAD HAD IT WITH HIS BULLYING, NOT JUST WITH ME BUT OTHER PEOPLE ALSO. I POINT BLANK TOLD HIM HIS BEHAVIOR WAS ABUSIVE AND I WOULD NOT TOLERATE IT..FOLLOWED BY " I RESIGN AS OF NOW!" HE ASKED ME TO RECONSIDER TO WHICH I REPLIED. " I DONT ALLOW PPL TO TREAT ME LIKE YOU JUST DID, PLUS, I CANT WORK WITH SOMEONE I CANT'T TRUST." THE LOOK ON HIS FACE WAS PRICELESS AS I PRANCED HAPPILY OUT THE DOOR. I FOUND A JOB TWO MONTHS LATER. I DID NOT USE HIM SPECIFICALLY AS A REFERENCE, I USED MY PREVIOUS SUPERVISOR WHO RESIGNED A YEAR BEFORE BECAUSE OF PSYCHO. WORDS OF ADVICE TO THOSE WHO CANT FIND JOBS..DONT USE THE PERSON YOU HAD PROBLEMS WITH AS A REFERENCE. THERE IS NO WRITTEN LAW THAT SAYS YOU HAVE TO. THERE ARE PLENTY OF OTHER PPL WHO CAN VOUCH FOR YOU. ALSO WHEN APPLYING FOR A POSITION, IN THE BOX THAT SAYS " MAY WE CONTACT YOUR EX- EMPLOYER?" CHECK THE NO BOX. EVERYONE MOVES ON FROM A JOB BECAUSE OF DISSATISFACTION OVER SOMETHING AND POTENTIAL EMPLOYERS KNOW THIS. SO WHEN ASKED WHY YOU LEFT YOUR LAST POSITION SAY SOMETHING LIKE " I HAD BEEN THERE FOR 5 YRS. AND IT WAS TIME FOR ME TO MOVE ON" PLAIN AND SIMPLE.
Posted by: Peef | Dec 4, 2007 6:19:11 AM
Try this one on for size...
After looking for nearly a year to exit a very large, ultra conservative company that paid private investigators to monitor (phone records, financial records etc) all people who worked remote to be sure they were not engaged in "unethical" activity - I took a senior marketing position with a company - working directly for the VP - Eng & Sales. His title should have told me something....
From word "go" he listened to all my telephone calls, monitored all my email traffic and made sure to manage any contact with the CEO.
He had a lot of unsolicited input re my home search, my temporary living quarters, volunteered info about my home sale he shouldn't have known etc.
He had two flunkies working for him who had transitioned with him from a large defense contractor. All were very close mouthed and focused on "in your face" management and spending a lot of time micromanaging us all - but definitely keeping us away from the P&L.
Turnover was extremely high - even for a startup - countless sales guys in just 6 months. Particularly because we literally had nothing to sell at that point.
I'll never really know what they were all up to - embezzlement of the parent company's funds or just being good sociopaths.
I drove it to a showdown when I asked for the signing bonus (substantial sum for a home downpayment) - I was very suddenly "marginal" and should look for something else to do. I resigned, effective now - drove home with a huge sigh of relief - and until now - haven't looked back.
When I remember the incredibly crude, abusive behavior of this late middle age person - I wonder what went wrong with him - and why he's not in a straightjacket or dead.
Is this an endemic problem with our culture? Do we pressure ourselves to excel too much?
Posted by: Dan | Dec 4, 2007 2:09:32 PM
y'all need to read the book The Sociopath Next Door, by Martha Stout!
Posted by: S | Dec 7, 2007 12:45:42 PM
I also have worked for numerous sociopaths, or psychopaths. I have left four jobs where I was treated rudely, had my competence continually attacked on a daily basis, had no training on my job, but tons of work put on me. I then was nitpicked, critisized and made to look stupid if I made one error by those who were extremely insecure, jealous, envious, hateful and simply evil. All in a sick attempt to ruin my self confidence. The goal of these monsters is to "make you look bad". The tactics bullies use are ALWAYS the same.
I just recently wrote a 67 page thesis for my undergraduate degree on this very subject and every comment made on this site describing the tyranical behavior of these bosses, is the same as that described in the literature I read on the subject, which included at least 25 scientific articles and books. There are thousands and thousands of people reporting these incidence and many organizations worldwide trying to help the people who have been traumatized by these tyrants. There are also many books being written on this subject.
Our government is well aware of this problem and needs to step in and eliminate it, through zero tolerance of such behavior and severe legal remedies for those who violate them in any industry, including the legal and governmental fields. This problem of sociopathic bosses is random, it is not isolated to one career field. It is a human behavioral issue and so any place where you find people, you will find sociopaths. Unfortunatly I not only have research knowledge, but I also have first hand knowledge through experience, as so many others do.
I also agree with one of the respondents who said that "What goes around in life comes back around", except I would have to add my belief that it comes back "tenfold", that is the natural law.
I am a very religious and spiritual person. I am highly educated and capable, as I know every respondent in this article is. The one thing that I learned from my research paper that I want everyone to know is; the sociopath, psychopath and bullying boss, is none of these things...only highly incompetent, jealous/envious and evil.
When you know the facts, it is easy to see why they so badly want to get others like ourselves out of the company..to alleviate any competition or threat to their position and to try and increase their own sagging self esteem and confidence and increase their feelings of power and control by getting rid of anyone around them who they compare themselves to and find themselves lacking against. They think if they can just remove that person who is smarter, prettier, nicer, braver, more educated, etc. from the company and from their life, than they again will feel as if they are the best looking, smartest, etc in the room, it is a inferiority complex on their part. They are not smart enough to know though that there will ALWAYS be someone better looking, more educated etc. in their world, that is life.
When you realize why this dysfunctional person is treating you the way they are, you can see things clearly and it can become quite flattering to know how great a person, student, worker, individual you really are and also to realize it is THEIR problem, not YOURS. This will again help you regain all your lost self confidence. The bully feels worthless, so he wants everyone else around him to feel the same, especially those who are extremely far from it, because he is JEALOUS/ENVIOUS. This is why the bible says to avoid those who are jealous and envious, they will hurt you.
Point is, no one should ever have to be subjected to such evil bahavior, or have to lose their income or leave their job to save their health because of someone elses messed up psyche adn morals. I am not sure of the remedy for these dysfunctionals, as most of their character traits would prevent any kind of psychological counseling from ever working on them, they would just lie and con the psychiatrist into thinking they were well, then go out and hurt their employees or coworkers or whoever again, as they have no conscience or remorse for their actions. Oddly, their behavior sounds like a criminals, huh? That is why I say it is going to take legal remedy to control these people, problem is they can even be working in the legal and governmental environment. They are in every work or social environment.
The best answer is to just get completely away from these type of people and avoid all contact with them. Just as the bible talks of those who are good being aware of and protecting themselves from those who are evil. Some problem individuals in life are best left up to God to handle.
Posted by: JoAnna | Dec 11, 2007 1:19:59 AM
On 9-11-2001 I was at work, and took my 15 min break and went for a walk to the Hy Vee Grocery store next to where I work. On the TV monitors in the store I noticed the WTC had just been struck by the jet airplanes. A bit confused as to what was going on, I went back to work where we were scheduled for a routine section mtg. I went early and several engineers had the TV on watching the WTC smoking and on fire. I sat there transfixed, trying to comprehend what was happening. In strode our psychopathic boss William D. Tucker commanding "turn that off", I said can we leave the video feed on and turn off the audio? He bellowed, "no, turn that off that doesn't affect us, we need to get on with our meeting." He is a cold hearted, calculating, self centered, conceited, mentally twisted and disturbed, narcissist Darth Vader monster. He is hyper critical of anyone who disagrees with him, including upper management, and takes pride in being the guy who knows more than anyone else. The woman he was engaged to for 3 years dumped him, he has no pets, is a work-a-holic, and lost his bid for promotion to department head and is trying to be the department head from a lesser position as section leader. He mocks our Total Quality Management efforts as false, whereas only he really understands what Deming's 14 point plan is all about. He told me our former supervisor had told him some "things" about me, and when i asked him to explain what he knew, he smiled and said he better not. I called Gene Pollmann, our former supervisor, and asked him directly what he had told Mr. Maniac Tucker, some big secret that was supposed to make me afraid? Gene said he never told Bill Tucker anything about me, he said, "why would he do that?" That would make Bill Tucker a liar, a fabricator of a lie designed to make me feel afraid. Bill Tucker is a petty tyrant and a Bully. I asked my union rep to attend a meeting designed to flush out the truth of his accusations, I asked Bill Tucker for evidence in my file which would show the bad work habits he had been yelling about with his finger wagging in my face, he said he had none. I appealed to upper management to do something about his mentally deranged management practices, they refused. Bill Tucker told me to my face, "you can criticize my management style but I will not change, and I have the power to make you do things you don't want to do"...I transferred to another department after working there for 20 years. He said he was going to need me to step up to a promotion as Dennis Wright was going to be retiring soon, I told him he, "shouldn't talk about offering me someone's job behind their back, especially since they have not retired yet." He is a bad manager and is in need of a personality transplant...trouble is, he thinks he is Mr. Wonderful, he's drinking his own Spiked Kool Aid. thanks for reading...I miss doing my old job, but working for that crazy Bully manager was suffocating.</