My celebrity boss is a lunatic I'm losing the plot

[Niceseasidetown]

My boss is a celebrity in our industry. Think: 100s of 1000s of social media followers, his own podcast...and all the ego that goes with that.

He is also rude (telling people their ideas are fucking shit), a huge micromanager and a bully. Everyone at work says this, not just me. His adoring fans don't see this side of him.

When I took the job he wasn't my boss. He fired my boss publicly saying he wasn't up to the job and now I have to work much more closely with the celebrity boss. My stress and anxiety are through the roof. I am criticised for everything and publicly. Literally not one thing is right (even obvious achievements). I'm mocked and ridiculed. I'm very experienced and well paid and in my 40s. I'm good at my job.

I'm obviously looking for a new job.

Spoke to HR who just sighed and said he is like that. He owns the company.

How do I cope. I feel on the edge of a breakdown. I also have to manage a team who he undermines me in front of.

Literally every hour is miserable and terrifying.

I can't do anything legally or practically. I need emotional coping tips because I am a wreck. I worry what this is doing to my physical as well as mental health.

can you not go for constructive dismissal?
i guess not as he is so very rich. but it has been done to alan sugar

oh but she lost

This is a bit rude to be honest. People have taken the time to try and give helpful advice- just because it doesn’t fit the exact parameters of your question doesn’t mean it isn’t helpful and it certainly doesn’t mean they’ve ‘massively’ failed to read the question.

Employment lawyers aren’t just for the wealthy.
Look at your home insurance policy. Usually employment law is covered. It usually comes as standard with some home insurance policies. We claimed through our home insurance policy when dh had issues in his job.

Remember sexism and racism don’t have a limit you can be paid out for

I didn't misunderstand the OP's request for emotional coping strategies. I honestly thought that having the visual evidence to show anyone close to her, especially those who are taken in by his 'celebrity' aura, would give her a lot of emotional support. It would be irrevocable evidence of his egregious behaviour and having that to show people would give her so much confidence. Sorry if this is not so. It was just a suggestion and like any idea does not have to be taken up.

Well he basically excelled himself the last two days.

Posted on social media saying "Finally I have the power to make everyone do as I say. I love it" (close paraphrase of his actual words) together with several posts slagging off candidates he interviewed.

Told me Tuesday night an impossible task needed doing in 24 hours. I did it somehow.

Then decided the task needed undoing urgently.

Constant belittling, refusal to address data....contradicts himself in a single text message....

I'm feeling stronger though. He is a joke.

I'm also understanding how much everyone remotely close to him knows this.

Also started posting more vids of himself online being "insightful and charming". I wonder if he might crack.

Thanks for letting me get that off my chest.

He sounds a mess! So glad you’re feeling stronger 💪
I know you can’t but I’m DYING to know who he is 🧐

What a nitwit. Hope you’re doubling down on looking for a new role.

Oh @HamptonCaught you would be so disappointed.

As I said he is a celebrity in our industry.

So imagine I work in construction...he is a legend in the construction industry. He has a podcast, 100s of 1000s of followers on his YouTube, twitter and LinkedIn

He thinks he is a celebrity

But none of you will have heard of him

Thats what makes him even more pathetic....he isn't a real celeb. Though he has had plastic surgery and his teeth veneered....

Massive update he actually messaged me late last night with his first ever compliment. "It's great watching your energy. I love it."

He is clinically insane. I'm going to start a book....

Massive update he actually messaged me late last night with his first ever compliment. "It's great watching your energy. I love it."

Ohoho, do you think he's noticed on your slight shift away from behaving like a True Believer?

First step in your happy escape from his web...

Hahaha. I've stopped trying to make him see sense. When he has a shit idea now I just say "thank you so much for choosing me to do this. I'm really excited."

Then when he changes his mind 8 say "you're right. No problem."

And it possibly is playing with his mind.

He does pay me well so to some extent I'm thinking if he wants to pay me well why he runs his own company into the ground (which he is doing) then whose the real loser and the real winner.

I've definitely emotionally detached a lot which is what people here advised. I didn't really know how but somehow I have.

Sounds like you're on top of things op☝🏻😎
even so, be careful.... if /when it goes wrong he will not take any responsibility and he will want to punish someone for it, he will try and blame whomever he can pin it on.
Please make sure you are covered, belt and braces ☝🏻😶

Good to hear

I immediately thought of the Victoria plumbing guy...

The Pimlico Plumbing guy who looks like Rod Stewart and dresses like Jimmy Krankie is who I keep thinking of when I read this.

I used to live in Pimlico and saw him a few times around, the description is correct!

That text he sent - and late at night too - what a creep 🤮

Great that you’ve been able to make a mental shift to deflect his nonsense. I still think you should keep up the new job search as it’ll feel like you have an outlet for when he gets too messy again. As others have said, cover your back.

I think I previously said that your OP made me think it was someone “famous” in your industry but not a proper celeb, so interesting that it’s the case! It makes him all the more pathetic.

Keep on keeping on! 💪

Yes good description and that's who I meant, pimlico, not Victoria plumbing 😁

I saw this, have only read the email headline but thought of you OP:

https://www.economist.com/business/2023/03/30/a-zero-tolerance-approach-to-talented-jerks-in-the-workplace-is-risky?utm_campaign=a.coronavirus-special-edition&utm_medium=email.internal-newsletter.np&utm_source=salesforce-marketing-cloud&utm_term=5/13/2023&utm_id=1596675

@Niceseasidetown

@CovetedAsFuck thank you. This is definitely how he identifies.

Yesterday he crossed a line and humiliated one of my team. I'm going to raise that.

I saw a job advertised this morning that looks perfect...though no salary (and I'm paid well).

He's also indicated he's taking over the one area I had any autonomy.

So...I think this will get worse not better.

I've only been here 8 weeks.

He stalks my LinkedIn and I'm so tempted to post that article 🤣🤣🤣

Reading through the thread. Hold your nerve, stand your ground, keep posting as an outlet.

You will get another job and boy oh boy how you’re going to savour every minute because will be bliss in comparison 🌈🌷

Jesus I've just looked up that Pimlico guy. His face!!

Thanks @Kenwoodmixitup . I will keep posting even if I'm the only one because it's helpful to log things.

What I haven't said is that technically, TECHNICALLY, I don't report into this man but someone else. This person drops me notes after the online flaming to ask how I am but will never stand up to this guy.

I suspect this will come to a head next week as this line manager has signed off on things (yes I have an audit trail) that this lunatic is going to object to and I suspect they'll both try and blame me (it was a good decision and anyway would normally be well within my remit).

Trying to switch off but the fear and dread of next week are hard to deal with.

Will apply for this other job on Monday.

What's most embarrassing is, I used to work for a guy who idolised that weirdo. Bloody mediocre guys suddenly have the whole world at their feet because they make a bit of money and realise that making a podcast is a piece of piss.

So were we all wrong thinking it was the guy from Dragons Den?