Workplace Dilemma: How Should We Respond to a Boss's Unacceptable Behavior?

My boss did something extraordinarily bad. He slapped one of the employees for a minor mistake that was later discovered not to be the employee's fault. Please suggest if we can take any action against the boss. It's becoming difficult to work in this environment.

Regards,
Monica

Suggestion for Handling the Situation

My suggestion is that you don't take immediate action. First, ask him when he is free, then go and speak to him about this. Make sure he understands that he should not get angry again. Inform him that the mistake was his.

Call the employee and speak to him in front of your boss, clarifying that the mistake was not the employee's fault. Help your boss understand his mistake. Don't try to do this in front of the employee initially. Allow some time for him to realize his mistake. Then, go and speak to him again, and call the employee to make your boss apologize to him.

Try this idea only once. If it doesn't work, then we need to find other alternatives.

Unethical Behavior by Management

Your boss made a mistake by slapping an employee for something that wasn't the employee's fault. Moreover, he unethically fired the employee. Please consider whether you should continue working under such an unethical person. A Head of Department (HOD) should not let emotions cloud their judgment. In a different scenario, if the HOD acted emotionally, they should acknowledge their mistake and ask for forgiveness instead of resorting to firing the employee.

There is a high likelihood of such mistakes happening again. If your senior management is genuinely interested in rectifying the situation, they need to take action; otherwise, it may be challenging for you to address the issue with your boss. Consider exploring opportunities outside, and perhaps it would be better to move on.

Regards,
Kamesh

Thanks, Mr. Kamesh. I feel exactly the same. It's difficult here. He is actually also the owner of the company (director), so even if I want to, I cannot deliberately pinpoint the blunder he has done.

You should take immediate action against the boss. He should be fired without delay. Postponing action would set a bad precedent.

Hi Friends, I just saw this thread now. In reality, a boss should be an idealistic person from whom subordinates can learn. Such an attitude will definitely harm our careers, whether we are employees or bosses. Therefore, let's learn a lesson from this situation and avoid developing such attitudes. Being human, we all make mistakes, and in such scenarios, making aggressive decisions can be costly.

Effective Organizational Practices

The most effective way to accomplish tasks in an organization is through good communication, organizational behavior, and patience. Consider this perspective to achieve success. Trust me, it will help you out.

Dear Monica,

Tell your boss that violence begets violence. Imagine the victim remains outwardly calm but contemplates revenge.

I know of a case where 3-4 employees got together and beat their G.M. black and blue. For a long time, he could not attend his office.

Those who take revenge often find innovative ways to do so. Breaking a kneecap is a terrible thing; breaking both kneecaps is even worse. In another case, the person lost his job forever.

Apart from revenge, violence from employers vitiates an organization's culture. It creates a dent in the brand image. Who would like to work in such an unprofessional company? The news must have spread like wildfire in the job market. Will he be able to attract good talent now?

In one of the hotels in Bangalore, the owner slapped his G.M. in the lobby. This news spread like wildfire. Later, he paid a hefty price for his mistake as he could never get good manpower because everybody avoided joining this hotel. Finally, he had to outsource his business to another party.

If your employer has some sense, he should call everyone and apologize to the victim in front of everybody. Otherwise, let him be prepared for a slap from his destiny.

Ok...

Regards,
Dinesh V Divekar

The Double Standards in Workplace Accountability

Employees' mistakes are reviewed seriously, but EMPLOYERS/OWNERS/DIRECTORS are not. At times, non-guilty employees are FIRED even if they were not involved. EMPLOYERS/OWNERS/DIRECTORS can do anything, but EMPLOYEES CANNOT. He should realize and accept his mistake, whatsoever & whomsoever he may be. If you ignore him, he will repeat the same. You, employees, have the right to make him feel that he has made a MISTAKE so that he doesn't repeat the same in the future. For a few bucks, how can employees lose their DIGNITY/IMAGE/REPUTATION/HONESTY/SINCERITY/LOYALTY or TOLERATE NONSENSE?

With profound regards,

Addressing Workplace Assault

Slapping an employee is considered assault. The victim should report the matter to higher authorities within the organization and also to the police. The police should investigate and take appropriate action.

Regards,

He should file a police case. If the cops refuse to file a case, he should approach any union leaders or sit in "Dharna" outside the police station.

The owner should be humiliated and will tender a public apology besides agreeing to pay compensation for the employee to withdraw the complaint. In his lifetime, he will change his attitude.

Regards,
Siva

Monica: Obviously, what has happened was not the right thing. In such a situation, if you are still in touch with the employee who had to go through this ordeal, ask him/her if they would want to take any action or if they have put it behind them. If yes, then there are many ways to go about it. As for you, well, you have seen what you had to see. There isn't much that you can learn from such leadership. Hence, look for the right opportunity and move on in life. All the best to you.

Hi Monica, This is definitely a tricky situation. This is a typical behavior of people running small-time businesses that grow with time. Their ideology of management, however, does not change.

Objective

The employee has already been fired, so the damage is already done. Your objective is to avoid such occurrences in the future and to improve the work environment to prevent clashes between the management and the employees.

My Suggestion

Wait for a few days to let the situation settle down. When you find him in a mood where he is listening to you, tell him in a gentle but firm manner that the morale of the employees is being adversely affected because of the incident, and ultimately, it's going to bring disrepute to his organization. Times have changed, and such monarchical ways of leading people would only have a negative impact on his firm in the end, as employees would always have better options in the job market. Make sure that the message is short and simple. Avoid getting into any sort of argument. Such individuals' egos get bruised at very small instances, so be sure that you handle him with tact, probably praise him (genuine praise—I am sure there must be something good about him) before you share the feedback.

Your role as an HR professional is to work in the interest of the organization as well as the employees.

Regards, Prashant

If your establishment is covered under The Industrial Employment (Standing Orders) Act, then the employee can lodge a complaint with the employer, and the employer is bound to investigate it.

Now there is an amendment to the Industrial Disputes Act, 1947, and a workman can ask for an internal grievance resolution mechanism.

Regards,
P. M. Patel

You are stuck in an unenviable position. Since your boss owns the company, you can do little against him. Working in such a company is difficult. Most bosses have a temper and do shout at people. However, they rarely resort to violence. Anyone who resorts to physical remedies is not fit to be a boss.

I do not know what type of company it is, what line of business, etc. Mostly professionals will not work in such a place. Only those who don't have options will stay. Or I guess if the pay is really higher than the industry.

If you are looking for revenge or to punish him, then the employee has to file a police complaint plus complain with the labor court if applicable. But I do not know if the person has time to do this. It takes years for the courts to move.

I would suggest you find another job. Before you leave, tell your boss why you are leaving and the impact it has on people working for the company. You may suggest to him to give a public apology. Then it's his wish to do it or discard.

Dear Monica, Physical assault on office premises is extremely unbearable. No employer has any right to resort to physical violence, even if the employee has committed any mistakes. If the employee has indeed made a mistake, there are legal avenues to address the issue. I cannot agree with the suggestion to approach an aggressive employer for advice. He definitely will not listen to you if you attempt a peace-making discussion.

It may be better for you to quit the company where you are working, rather than enduring mental stress under such inhuman and aggressive individuals.

Regards,
Uma K. S.

Dear Monica, I think you have had enough suggestions from your colleagues. In addition to those, you can talk to your boss directly and approach him in a very soft manner. You could say, "Sir, what happened with the employee was not his fault. I recently found out it was not his mistake at all. Please reconsider his employment. He has his own family problems, and if he is fired, it will be difficult for him to manage. You are a person from whom the whole company draws inspiration, exemplifying model leadership. However, slapping is not the right way to address such issues. If he is not suitable to work in his current role, consider transferring him to another department or location. If he did make a mistake that day, your dignity as a director might be compromised. Kindly suggest or develop some strategies for our company, sir.

I hope this approach may work, Monica. Even if you have decided to switch jobs, perhaps you can still impart a lesson to your director.

Regards,
Ramkishore

Mr. Ravi, I definitely agree with what you have said, but think about Monica's life. Do you think she should be in prison for this simple reason? If all Indians act this way for minor causes, we will change like fractions. If the ex-employee also thought the same way, he would have killed him on the spot. Does slapping someone really take away a person's life? Life is precious; only God can decide about it. We are human; we do not have the right to kill.

Regards,
Ramkishore

Why do you think Monica will go to prison? You have to execute perfect actions without leaving a trace; that is the essence of seeking clear revenge and justice in the court of God. We are servants of God, sent for justice and judgment.

I would agree with you, Jay! But this needs a lot of guts because, firstly, Monica is a woman, the issue that happened is not about Monica, and the employee who was sued is not currently in the organization. Some people in the organization might not want to get involved in such kinds of issues.

Monica, if you really want to teach him a lesson, it would be better to find another job when your service is crucial for your company. Take all your documents from the organization after the notice period is issued. On your last day of work, confront him in front of all the staff for the mistake he made, ensuring he is properly criticized. However, make sure you do not put yourself at risk while teaching him a lesson. I really appreciate your courage for such a revolutionary approach.

Regards,
Srivani.

Immediate Steps for Legal Action

Tell the slapped employee to immediately file an FIR against the employer who has slapped him. With that FIR copy, tell him to immediately file a court case without any delay. Take this matter to court. Filing an FIR is just a formality to start the court case. In a professional atmosphere, no one is allowed to slap an employee, no matter what. It is totally against the law.

I will go with Kamesh. Being your boss and the director of the company, you can't initiate any action. So just drop the matter and find some good opportunities. Remember, the boss is always right.

Regards,
Ajay

Ideal Boss Behavior

Boss behavior should be idealistic, and he should be patient enough. In the above-mentioned scenario, the boss is very aggressive and is completely unfit for a leadership role. He forgets the principles of natural justice as well.

We are all human. We have emotions, but slapping or beating a person because we are above them in the hierarchy is completely intolerable and can create the worst kind of scenarios. Sometimes we need to consider moving on. It's better to look for another/good job. Before leaving, discuss this issue with your boss, but remember it should be done in a polite way. Don't argue with him. If he learns from his mistake, it can set a good tradition; otherwise, he will face the same one day. Being HUMAN.

Regards,
Nagarjuna Chowdary HR
[Email Removed For Privacy Reasons]
[Phone Number Removed For Privacy Reasons]

I wonder why no one else is bothered. Or probably they are not taking a risk by showing their disapproval. You need to figure out why that is. One possibility is that for each of them, this job is important, and they can't get a similar one immediately. Or perhaps they believe that the boss is doing the right thing. The action you will take should depend on what the answer is to the above.

Hi all,

I totally agree with Mr. Dinesh. I also remember a case from my first company. I joined as a trainee HR there, and we had a team of five. One day, our boss started using very bad language like "Dharamshala samajh rakha hai kya," and said, "nahi hota to shadi karke ghar baith ja" to one of my female colleagues. The next day, she resigned and left the company. But what we all did as a team was write a mail to our V.P., keeping our boss in CC, and gave a formal warning that this kind of behavior would not be acceptable anymore. From that day onwards, our boss changed.

Regards

You are forgetting perhaps two important differences here:

1. He is the owner. There is no VP or any higher authority to complain to.
2. No one else in the company seems concerned that he has behaved in such a manner.

Dear Monica, you have access to this forum, so you have brought up this issue for discussion and advice from other members, which is very good. I am very sure that the other workers in the company are also in some form of discussion, maybe with each other. As HR, you are supposed to be their guide and mentor, especially in such difficult circumstances. So, firstly, abandon the thought of quitting. That would be an act of cowardice. So what if you are a woman? You have the same rights as a man and so the same responsibilities!

It has been suggested that there are many people who will take up your job and, in all probability, the BOSS will select someone of his choice who will execute his dictates with a vengeance. You are sensitive to the situation, so take charge and get the workers behind you. Not for any violent measures, for that would only vitiate the atmosphere further.

I would suggest that first, you have the fired employee file a case with the labor department. They are a nuisance when all is well, so I see no reason why they can't be a nuisance when all is not well. Use them as a tool for lawful vengeance as well as correction. Meanwhile, you could involve the production head to discreetly arrange a slowdown in production while remaining within the bounds of discipline. In this manner, each worker would feel empathy and part of the action. And you would have maintained unity, discipline, and would ultimately be able to hurt the owner and teach him the lesson of propriety which he obviously lacks.

Here's wishing you good luck.

Regards, Colonel Gahlot 'TRURECRUIT'

This is certainly an uncomfortable situation for you. The boss will not change his way of working immediately, and it is useless to tell him to mend his ways. It is for you to decide how you want to be seen in the company by employees. If you see this kind of behavior as against your own values, you need to take a stand, tell your boss this is not acceptable, and you will not allow it to happen again. If he tells you to leave, you must be prepared to do so. If you cannot do that and need the job, etc., I am sure your boss will also not be very happy with his actions; nobody can be proud of this kind of behavior. Perhaps talk to the boss and see if he would be open to having a coach work with him. If your boss already has people in the family, etc., who he listens to, consider asking them for help.

If nothing works, and you do not wish to be associated with an organization that condones such behavior, you may want to consider looking elsewhere.

All the best

This is a very bad and unprofessional act. He should apologize to the employee and settle this matter.

Rajshekhar

It has been seen in companies that the boss is always right in every situation, and the final outcome is in front of the boss. If anybody opposes it, they will be fired, and nobody will speak against the boss. This is India. To improve this, a lot of effort and days are required, and strong laws are also necessary.

Regards,
Inderjit Singh Ubhi

Addressing Unacceptable Behavior in the Workplace

That type of act is not acceptable in any environment. The question is, how can we avoid such bad actions?

I believe we can tactfully control these issues by developing a code of conduct. This code should be clearly outlined in black and white, ensuring mutual understanding between both parties, i.e., employee and employer.

The code of conduct document must be signed by the employer. Both parties will then be bound to follow it and act accordingly. By implementing this approach, employee satisfaction is likely to increase, as it holds the employer accountable to adhere to a set of written guidelines.

Regards,
M. Rizwan Razi
Lahore

Boycotting a Strike

The best course of action might be to boycott a strike. At the very least, the boss should apologize for his actions or say sorry.

Hi Friends, it is truly shameful that an educated person can behave in such a manner. I believe the victim should start searching for a new job as soon as possible because individuals of this kind are unlikely to change their behavior, especially when they have support from the MD of the company. Therefore, it would be advisable to seek new employment.

Thanks,

Dibyendu