WORKING FOR AIRHEAD BOSSES

[Rubiconmango]

Sorry I have to rant -_-

I've been employed by a couple who literally have no clue about the business they have invested in. The wife is the one who is leading and the husband is in the background! The wife did my interview. She gave all the big talk in my interview, but having worked here for 3 months; I realised in the first few weeks, she really is insanely delusional about the legalities around the business she has invested in, and really has no clue about how to run the business, but continues to give it the large. She literally parrots everything I say to sound intelligent in front of everyone else! Like literally parrots it! And when she gets stuck, she pulls me up to finish off her conversations to save her face!

Her husband on the other hand, took her lead and has full confidence in her! He has no idea how much she laps it up, but behind the scenes, she's really heavily dependent on me I have years of expertise and am in a very senior role. In his presence she acts like a different person and talks so much s*! She waffles and then drags me into the conversations to actually talk some sense!

I am so sick of them both. I'm irritated with his level of delusion too in thinking his wife knows what she is talking about. Both have invested in the business and I feel he is being hopeful that she knows what she is doing! They opened the business two years before I joined, and saw no success! Now I realise they blamed it on COVID and it was in fact her incompetence and delusion that have washed away both their money! Now they're just desperate to make money with no regard for legalities, and processes. They don't even have a business plan. I am actually speechless. Never seen this level of delusion when money is at stake!

I feel used by her! She really needed a lapdog/yes man! Not me - a very experienced professional! I feel stuck! She routinely pulls me up for doing things the right way! She doesn't care for quality standards as long as she doesn't get caught legally! And I am not about that kinda nonsense way of running a business! Her husband sings to the same tune! Yet they pretend they are about standards. I would literally just go along with their insane ideas for the peace of my mind until I found another job - however, for my role, I have a licence that has taken me 2 years to get! So if I roll with all their stupidity, I would most definitely lose my license! Just one of the illegal tasks they want me to part take in is backdating legal documents for the few clients they did have! It's wild!

I cannot switch jobs for at least 6 months due to my personal situation. I feel trapped, and insulted when they come at me for having high standards, when they have none, and no acknowledgement of my efforts that have gotten them this far!

Any advice on how to get through the next few months would be great. I can't deal with chameleon personalities and the wife definitely is colourful!

P.s. I have worked for them for longer than 3 months! Changed some details for obvious reasons.

Yikes! I would try and find another job asap! Good luck!

Do the minimum amount possible. You seem to be saying far too much to them. Say less.

Agree, look for another job, and ride this out, doing and engaging as little as possible, so as not to embroil yourself in their madness. If you don't get out, your standards will drop, which would be a shame.

I've been in this position. Tread very carefully as they may well blame you when the shit inevitably hits the fan. Don't risk your own integrity and start looking for a way out as soon as possible.

Now that the business is no longer new and Covid is in the past this pair have run out of things to blame for the failure of their business. They will bring you down with them if you don't get out.

Interested to know what business industry it is but understand you probably don't want to say. Pm me if you want.

I've built myself over many years, so would never succumb to lowering my standards for the lower ones of others, which is why it is so much more frustrating -- But yes, I am looking to get out! I have too! It's awful working for 'the blind leading the blind' when you have so much to contribute -- Thank you for your comment <3

Thank you for your comment. And I agree. They will throw me under the bus in a heartbeat! They're wretched like that!

I wish I could tell you which industry I work in, but you never know who you're talking to, so would rather not say. Thank you for your kind words though :-)

What's the business? (If it's producing exclamation marks, you should be making money hand over fist )

Can you really not look to move now, bearing in mind that a senior role may take a while to come up and you presumably have a notice period? If not, I would be thinking strategically about how to get out as soon as you can with your reputation intact- spend some time working on your network so that you're well-placed when it's time to look for a new role. Keep your eyes on the job market and specs for jobs that come up- would you fit? Can you use this time to fill any CV skills gaps? Think defensively at work, so that you're not blamed if it all goes tits up before you leave. Try not to focus too much on personalities. Not standing still but lying in wait.

I know a few people like your bosses and TBH they tend to bumble through ok on charm and contacts and a decent safety net of money. Not sure the same can be said for the people who work for them so keep your eyes open.

If you genuinely can't leave then you had better start keeping damn good records of what you do and make sure it is all above board.

Get out before they ruin your reputation.

I had similar Managing Director issues back in 2010. I left 6 months before a massive Bank audit which destroyed the business and everyone lost their jobs. Those who stayed until the end had their reputations destroyed. It was horrid.