How Do You Handle a Micromanaging HR Manager Who Blames Subordinates?

Dear Seniors, We belong to a Property Development company. One of our customer's wives has been recruited as our HRD Manager. Her experience is from a core government organization. She is harassing her subordinates a lot for every small thing, manipulating situations in front of her superiors, and blaming her subordinates for things for which they are not responsible. She is unable to save herself from this situation. Right from pen and paper, she wants her subordinates to inform her of everything, including putting a cc to her for every email that goes from her subordinates' email ID mandatorily.

Please advise me on how to handle such a boss if our boss is of this kind. She is my friend, and I would pass on the advice.

Regards, Srivani

Shivani, please find suggestions for your questions.

1. Manipulation of data needs to be highlighted to the top management in your company.

2. CC being mandatory is not something wrong. Some bosses prefer to stay on top of things around them. Once you gain their confidence, that would not be required.

3. Since it's a small company, you can ask your friend to find opportunities based on education, qualifications, and experience in a good corporate company. Just one question - the subject line is slightly misleading by stating HRD is harassing me, and the description says my friend is in trouble and needs advice.

Thank you.

There are "N" number of people and "N" number of mentalities in the world. The person you are talking to is one character. If the team members who are all facing this problem come together, they should have a meeting with her and inform her politely. If communicated with individually, there is a possibility that she could target that particular individual and create more trouble; hence, it's better for the entire team to address the issue collectively.

Even after that, if there is no change, then it should be escalated to the higher authorities. If the higher authorities are also not responding positively, then they have to live with it, or else they have to look for alternatives.

Regards,
Kamesh

Srivani,

One surefire but somewhat difficult way to deal with such bosses is to be candid. Candor has definite advantages, but for that one MUST always be improving, principled, and courageous.

Regards,