This is a situation I hear from an intern in a lab at uc berkeley. This boss is a profesor. She micromanages, manipulates, threatens, insults, and harrass the students and people that works for and around her. Very similar to the sitcom tv show "the office", except it is serious. Students have approached the department head and he has had meetings with her about her conduct. It has subsided for a short time, but she is back to her old ways. They are afraid to do anything just because they need her for letter of rec for grad schools, med schools, jobs, etc... Any suggestions for what these people working in her lab should do?
Thanks in advance for my friends in this lab from hell.
2006-11-01 18:52:19 · 6 answers · asked by anonymous_at_Cal 1 in Business & Finance ➔ Careers & Employment
Sometimes work can become difficult. Co-workers, bosses, and a negative environment can all make your job less than enjoyable. In fact they can make work a place where you simply don't want to be. There are options for dealing with difficult people at work. Difficult people do exist at work and come in every variety-no workplace is without them. How difficult a person is for you to deal with depends on your self-esteem, your self-confidence and your professional courage. Dealing with difficult people is easier when the person is just generally obnoxious or when the behavior affects more than one person, but its much tougher when they are attacking you or undermining your professional contribution. She's a bad boss, bad to the bone. http://humanresources.about.com/od/badmanagerboss/a/bad_boss.htm
2006-11-01 19:30:00 · answer #1 · answered by JFAD 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The following suggestions may be persued:
1. Signature Campaign against her actions (and not against her person - very important). Affected people MUST sign in this in enough numbers - if not possible, forget everything and suffer in silence - your collective choice.
1a. The signature campaign should be addressed to the Dean or equivalent boss of this professor.
1b. The written complaints must be very specific and not generalized. Some of you must stand-up and say that she has done / said this on this day at a place. If proof is available, very good. You may do a preparatory "sting" operation by secretly audio or video recording her conversation in a revealing situation.
1c. The signature campaign must also request an action on the part of the University authority - starting with written memo to her to change her ways or else ...
1d. Try to collect as many signature as possible in her dept.
1e. Get the copy of signature campaign signed and stamped as proof of receipt from the university authority.
2. If no action by authority after "reasonable" time, write one more letter reminding the authority about its duty to resolve the issue.
3. If the authority still does nothing, you can take legal course. In British legal system, the University is an authority and a Writ of Mandamus is applicable. I am not sure of UC Berkeley, find out its status.
A Writ of Mandamus or its equivalent, forces an authority (compelled by a court order) to take action on a situation. It is then no longer up to the authority to choose or not to choose to take any action - They have to take some action.
If all these are possible, the said professor will cool down and behave. Preserve all documents, as these will be of immense value if she shows her color again.
Best of luck
2006-11-01 22:02:29 · answer #2 · answered by nodoublespeak 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
nodoublespeak has outlined a really good plan of action.
The only thing I can add is I would question whether anyone can expect a positive recommendation for grad school. Has a former student recieved a good one from this professor? Wishful thinking isn't enough and just because it's her job doesn't make it happen.
When she becomes abusive, simply excuse yourself and say you'll come back at another time.
Good luck...
2006-11-02 00:36:41 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Some people has this superiority complex in themselves that they are the best and the others are not of any use here. So they insults and harass others. The problem can be some time solved by satisfying the ego of that person. But best is the person to consult a psychiatrist. For this you can approach any of the near or dear of the person
2006-11-01 18:59:41 · answer #4 · answered by Anu 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
tell her to hold a hidden tape-recorder to paintings together with her each-day. Any time he comes close to her she could change it on. If she catches him making sexual concepts on tape - he will lose his pastime, and hers would be shelter.
2016-10-03 04:56:04 · answer #5 · answered by sashi 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
torture her to death.. Maybe a little sarcasm or death threats will do.
2006-11-01 19:01:10 · answer #6 · answered by Andcelly 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋