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Thoughts - DH's boss is a real a$$

DallasLonghorn97DallasLonghorn97 member
in Working Moms

Ok ladies - I need some objective opinions. Here's the situation. DH has worked for the same company for 10 year. For the last 2 years, DH has been in a completely new role for the company  - Account Manager (e.g he is a sales guy). His territory has gone through 4 previous account managers in like 5 years. The problem is two fold - 1 - he has HUNDREDS of accounts that purchase very little. So he is spread very thin trying to get to all these accounts. At the same time, he has 1 really big account and is expected to spend 2 full days at this account each week. This particular account is 2 hours outside of the rest of his account base so really he only has 3 days a week to connect with all these other accounts. Problem 2 is that is boss is a royal jerk. This guy has a reputation in the company for being a big jerk too. DH knew this when he took the position, but his old position was being eliminated and this was a way for him to develop other skills.

So two years into this, boss is now telling him that he expects DH to work 16 hour days (this has been increased from previously telling him to work 12 hour days just 2 weeks ago). WTH!?!?!. I told DH to do the math, if he's working 16 hours a day, that leaves 8 hours to eat, sleep, poop, spend time with family - whatever. He makes decent money, but not great money. He says stuff that is rude and demotivating frequently. For example, recently I was out of town for business in LA. One of those evenings DH had the kids (it was like 6 PM), DH's boss called and DH apologized that the kids were in the background, that he had them b/c I was traveling. Bosses response "what...are you telling me you can't work because your wife is out of town?" Such a ***. Apparently he is also threatening DH that he needs to pick it up or he's not "safe". Now, I want to caveat that to make monthly bonus, he has to meet 75% of his sales goal. In two years, there as been like only 1 month he got no bonus - so it's not as if he's not bring in sales. Additionally, he's had four of his largest accounts that have shut down in the last two years, yet they keep increasing the sales target.

I will say DH is somewhat a sensitive sole and his feelings do get hurt easy, but this just seem beyond acceptable and frankly demotivating. The only reason DH is sticking with this at this point is that if he leaves before March, he might have to pay back the tuition reimbursement from his company (althought they don't have a history of going after people, he's concerned his boss would push on this).

All this is really weighing on DH. My company and boss are much more family friendly. While there are periods I've had to work 12 - 16 hours/day, my company totally gets that is not sustainable or healthy so it's hard for me to relate.

What would you do? Part of me thinks he should appropriately stand up to his boss, meaning indicate he is working hard and willing to put in hours, but he realizes he is not producting nor effective at his job if the expectation is 16 hours every day, but I don't know if that's a smart idea.

Thoughts?

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Re: Thoughts - DH's boss is a real a$$

  • AleciaMarieAleciaMarie
    Honestly, I would want him to start looking for a new job. It seems like his boss is trying to get him to quit and I would not doubt that he would look for reasons to fire him.
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  • ShufflerChickShufflerChick

    March is not that far away, and it takes time to find a good job. He should definitely start looking. And worst case, if something great comes up a little earlier and they do go after him, just pay back the tuition and move on with your lives.

    In the meantime, he should just continue to do his job and meet his requirements, and interact with the boss as little as possible.

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  • historychick79historychick79
    I wonder if there is anyone in the company's HR department that might be able to assist, especially if the boss has actually provided such comments in writing via email or letters. It might be considered creating a hostile work environment with enough documentation. They might be able to assist with transferring to a different territory or rearranging his accounts if he has such a strong  track record with the company. Otherwise, I agree with PP, make sure the resume is up to date and begin investigating other options now. March isn't too far away, and it may take a while to find something else that an equivalent. 
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  • JLS0320JLS0320 member
    That would make me so angry if DH's boss treated him that way and I know if it were me I would not want to work there. I agree he should start looking for another job, March is just around the corner. He should just do his job and try and stay away from the boss as much as possible. If it gets worse he needs to contact HR. Are other employees being treated this way, or is he being singled out?
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  • P.G.&A.M.P.G.&A.M.
    16 hour work days to me is ridiculous. Unfortunately his boss is unlikely to change. I'd do everything I could to help him fond a new job that's more realistic and family friendly.
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