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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To think that the boss is patronising?

9 replies

NorhamGardens · 04/04/2011 11:43

Has anyone here come up against a boss (running own small company) who incentivises staff with weekend breaks, holidays etc? Sounds very generous until you realise they come at a price, lunch breaks are simply not allowed.
Lunch is paid for or subsidised but eaten on site in around 15 minutes. She runs the office with a fist of iron and there is no HR department or anyone to complain to if things get difficult or unprofessional. It's really about controlling the staff and making them beholden to her.

What I find curious is she offers tickets to musicals and overnight accommodation to parents. It's assumed that our parents will be awed, humbled and delighted with the show chosen by her and hotel. The assumption is that most of our parents wouldn't be able to afford these things, or be high brow enough to be able to choose a suitably classy musical on their own :). When my mother was offered such a treat she politely declined (musicals not her thing at all!) and quite frankly she found it odd and patronising. I overheard one young girl colleague, whose mother accepted the musical incentive saying about how grateful she and her mother were in a fawning way.

The boss is trying to join the upper echelons of society, she's joined a private bank and the cheque book is mentioned and comes out at every opportunity. She thinks she's lady of the manor, but makes all sorts of malapropisms which are very amusing. When her bloods up she's anything but amusing, downright nasty actually and I see this situation getting worse before it gets any better. She's recently come into money so this may settle down in time. She's offended my mother turned down her incentive and has suggested maybe she's not very cultured...? What to say and do, apart from looking for another job. Wondered if others had come across similar situations and bosses and how they fared.

OP posts:
Chil1234 · 04/04/2011 11:55

Luck of the draw with owner/managers of small businesses unfortunately. They are often obsessive about their company, spend all their waking hours on it and think others will be happy to do the same with a bit of bribery thrown in. The Hyacinth Bucket social climbing angle is interesting but incidental. Suggest whoever it is that works there goes to see the CAB or a solicitor. They should at least have a contract of employment stating their terms and conditions and regular breaks are covered by various employment laws. That way they can speak to 'Hyacinth' from a position of legal strength and not be cowed by her overbearing style.

Awhiteelephantintheroom · 04/04/2011 11:55

I agree with Chil, the boss sounds like Hyacinth Bucket....

TheVisitor · 04/04/2011 11:58

When it comes to breaks, over 18s are entitled to 20 minutes for every 6 hours worked, under 18s 30 minutes for every 4.

EvenLessNarkyPuffin · 04/04/2011 11:59

She's trying to make you go to musicals? This is what unions are for.

NorhamGardens · 04/04/2011 12:02

If she was like Hyacinth I'd have no problem at all, Hyacinth much more benign :).

OP posts:
Awhiteelephantintheroom · 04/04/2011 12:06

I couldn't stand working for someone like her and would job-hunt asap. She sounds intolerable

Lucyinthepie · 04/04/2011 12:07

I'd take her aside and butter her up, say how much you appreciate her incentive scheme. Would she consider cash payments in lieu of the various trips she suggests as you and your familiy aren't really cultured enough to appreciate them, but you feel really motivated by her kind gestures.

wakeupandsmellthecoffee · 04/04/2011 13:44

Ask her to give out lidli or co op vouchers silly woman . or a monthly subscription to the Sun newspaper .

ajandjjmum · 04/04/2011 13:51

Don't really get this. I'd be very happy for someone to arrange a show and overnight for me - presumably as a gesture for all of the hard work I'd been doing.

On the assumption that I was being paid the going rate, and could take whatever breaks were due to me as per my contract, should I choose to do so.

But at the end of the day, if you don't like it, get another job.

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