Just a couple days ago, the premise of the upcoming movie “Horrible Bosses” seemed pretty funny.
Three disgruntled employees seek vengeance on their over-the-top and inappropriate bosses. The movie follows the trio’s attempts at knocking off their bosses.
But this dramatized scenario became all too real this week in Louisville.
On Tuesday, a LG&E employee walked into LG&E’s South Service Center on Jennings Lane and fatally shot his supervisor before taking his own life.
Suddenly, the movie doesn’t seem so funny.
Louisville Metro Police have not disclosed information on what may have led to the shooting, but one LG&E employee said there was tension between the two workers. Sgt. Robert Biven, a LMPD spokesman said, “There is nothing rational about this.” He added, “There is an alternative way to work things out without people getting hurt.”
Most employees have had to deal with bosses they simply cannot get along with. Whether it is a verbally abusive supervisor or a gossip stirring manager, it is common for employees to get frustrated with their bosses from time to time.
A survey released Tuesday by staffing company OfficeTeam finds that 46 percent of those polled reported having worked for an “unreasonable boss.” Of those respondents to the survey, nearly 60 percent said they stayed in their job, compared to 11 percent who left right away and 27 percent who left eventually when they were able to secure another position.
There are many ways to handle “unreasonable bosses” without physically harming the individual (or getting fired).
In a previos blog series, we talked about how to deal with poor management:
How To Deal With Poor Management Part 1
How To Deal With Poor Management Part 2
How To Deal With Poor Management Part 3
How To Deal With Poor Management Part 4
Now, here’s a little refresher course.
For the employee:
If you or someone you know is unhappy in their current job because of a conflict with their supervisor, here are some tips on how to handle the situation.
For the employer:
As the employer, you need to be aware of warning signs that something is wrong with one of your employees. These are common warning signs:
Employers must encourage an atmosphere of open communication. Let your employees know they can come to you with any issue. As an employer, if you think your employees are not happy with you, then talk to them. Ask, “How can I be a better supervisor?” Asking your employees for feedback will not make you look weak; instead it will show your employees that their opinions matter.
Protecting Your Company
Employers CANNOT have the attitude that a tragedy like the one at LG&E will not happen at their work place. Employers must be prepared.
To prevent violence at your company:
If you have any questions about creating a workplace violence prevention program, feel free to contact us. The consultants at Integrity HR can help you design a workplace violence policy that is customized to your company.
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