Okay here's the situation. My supervisor told me yesterday that he feels disrespected that he thinks I don't greet him each day in a manner that he's comfortable with. I told him that I do respond in kind when he says good morning but he insists that I don't. Basically he says that in two months time if he feels that I'm not saying good morning in a manner that makes him feel respected or comfortable, he'll recommend that I be fired. I wanted to punch the guy out but I know that's wrong. What the f*ck do I do with this?

Okay here's the situation. My supervisor told me yesterday that he feels disrespected that he thinks I don't greet him each day in a manner that he's comfortable with. I told him that I do respond in kind when he says good morning but he insists that I don't. Basically he says that in two months time if he feels that I'm not saying good morning in a manner that makes him feel respected or comfortable, he'll recommend that I be fired. I wanted to punch the guy out but I know that's wrong. What the f*ck do I do with this?

NovaAngel said:

What a wanker! How, exactly, does he expect you to greet him in the morning, and what is wrong with the way you currently say "hello" in the morning time?

If I were you, I'd act now. Go over his head, go to HIS boss and say that he threatened to fire you if you didn't say hello to him in the morning time. Tell him to find you a new supervisor, or to discipline your current one. You might casually mention that you are familiar with the term "unfair dismissal".

Of course, if this guy is genuinely powerful, he'll just find another reason to fire you, by saying you are incompetent etc. If you have a HR department you could ask them to get that "verbal warning" about the way you say "hello" in writing, and countersigned by a HR member of staff.

In the meantime, you might start looking for another job, your boss sounds like a prick.

ian said:

I would go to his immediate boss and HR but for the fact that they are all pricks. HR is completely useless and almost always sides with management. The head of HR is a total bitch. As for HIS immediate supervisor, he overheard the prick talking about the situation and told HIM to put his grievance about me in writing to make a stronger case against me. I also wouldn't put it past him that he'd say that I was derelict in my duties in some form or fashion and that is FAR from the case but who's HR gonna listen to: me a lowly worker or middle management?

I shouldn't have to look for another job but you're right. I'm waaay past sick of this place and the corporate BS. I don't know. Maybe I should give in and just try to say hi and shake his f*cking hand everyday to make him feel good about himself the bastard.

Can you believe that he actually asked me, "Do you like me?"
I said that regardless whether I do or not, the important thing is that I do my job. My personal feelings are irrelevant. Plus I think you know what my answer is anyway not that I told him that so that I could give him a reason (in his eyes) to fire me.
[This message was edited Fri Jun 20 8:03:02 PDT 2003 by NovaAngel]
[This message was edited Fri Jun 20 8:03:47 PDT 2003 by NovaAngel]

definetely talk to your supervisor once more. make minutes as well and send a summary of the conversation. Put a deadline for commenting on his behalf in that summary. That way you have some tangible evidence of what is going on.
If you and your supervisor cannot come to an understanding, go to his manager - but tell your supervisor you will do so.
Again make notes and send it for comments (make clear: if you have not replied by Friday at 5 PM I take it you accept this summary as being truthful).

If that doesn't help: go to HR.

There is no way a company can fire you because a supervisor doesn't like the way you say hello in the morning. Damn I would have been sacked thousands of time... can only grumble when I haven't had my cafein dose.

But make sure you build up a good case though, nobody will confess he is sacking you for that reason.

Better yet start looking for another place to work... who wants to work for such suckers anyway?


And good luck!

NovaAngel said:

That's awful. What kind of pathetic excuse for a man needs to ask his employees of they like him? I'd quit if I were you. That sort of bullying bullshit is only going to get worse

You have a couple of options at your disposal -- the important thing is for you to act OFFICIALLY in a manner that records your supervisor's comments.

You might want to consider, to do this, filing a complaint through your employer's human resources department -- this would protect you by showing that you acted promptly to show how this was a negative incident and how you immediately recognized this to be an unacceptable comment from someone who supervises you. Doing this would be particularly helpful -- if your supervisor has a history of such behavior with the people he manages.

Secondly, you want to speak to his supervisor about it. But, before you do so, you might want to talk to a lawyer. A lawyer, ideally, would be able to provide you with a wider context in labor practices.

Which leads me to my other question: Is your office a union shop? If so, you likely have grounds for some sort of action on your behalf.

Either way, act promptly to officially register your disapproval of your boss' comments. Do what you can to protect yourself in the workplace and to show, in a worst-case scenario, that you did what you could when you could.

Sorry to hear that sort of thing. Stay up, NovaAngel!


(pathological edit)
[This message was edited Fri Jun 20 7:55:15 PDT 2003 by ThreadBare]