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Control Freaks - Get a New Job or Quit - Fast!! (Unless You're Fired First)

Posted by: franknhonest
Date: 7/26/2008 3:04:08 PM

I have been working for a company for ten months and to my horror got landed with a total control freak for a boss. You know the type: their in the office at 7am and leave at 7pm, expect perfection from you even though their work has obvious errors in it, want you to ask permission to leave for lunch or home at the end of the day, if you don't work until after 5.30pm you're not enthusiastic or committed, etc. They constantly drag you down with their irritability, sombreness, inflexibility and frankly appalling attitudes. And, of course, everything always has to be done THEIR WAY.

Well, having been through a period of major depression a few years ago, I was allowed to start work at 10am rather than at 9, and leave later than everyone else if necessary. So this went on for a good few months, and apart from the odd slip-up in attendance some days, was going quite well. My contract was to get paid on an hourly basis. This of course took the pressure off the company as they didn't have to pay me for the odd day I had off, or for holidays.

That was, until I took my first week's proper holiday this month since Christmas. When I got back, I had an email informing me that the next project had not been given the go-ahead, so I was not to attend work that week. This carried on for three weeks. Each week I would get one or two emails informing me that the new work was "coming soon", or "imminent", but by the end of the week another email would come in informing me that I wasn't to go in the following week as the work hadn't yet been given the green light.

Now after 3 weeks you can imagine I was wondering if there was really any work coming up, or whether this was just a delaying tactic. Then at the end of the 3rd week I received an email asking me to attend work at 9am the next week. The purpose of this was for my manager to "advise" me (in reality, lecture me) on the "difficult market conditions", the "pressures on the company" and the "important deadlines". Also, I would be required to attend work at 9am each morning instead of 10am. All this, even though he admitted the work still had not been given the go-ahead!!

So I replied, saying that as everything appeared to be in a quandary, if I was to start working at 9am like everyone else, then I wanted my contract changed so that I would get the normal benefits that everyone else got (after all, anyone working the same hours as everyone else should get the same basic benefits). I was courteous and polite, as I had always been in my communications with him.

In his reply he completely ignored everything I said, and said it would be best if I left the company. He also addressed the message to his superior, even though it was sent to me!

Just goes to show - you can never negotiate with a control freak. They have no concept of give and take, of fairness, of kindness, or of any admirable quality apart from their "high standards". For all his boasting about his excessive working hours, it only revealed his complete incompetence.

So, if you're working for a control freak, I would advise you to begin planning your exit straight away. If it gets too bad you could quit without having another job in line (I've done this before, and it worked out fine). Never lose your temper or control. If he or she is a workaholic, arrive at the same time as everyone else and make a point of leaving 10 minutes early (drink the rest of your cup of water beforehand and pretend to go get some more!). You could even try changing your computer settings to automatically shut down after you've gone. Look for another job. If you're actively doing this you will feel better within yourself, knowing that you are doing something positive which will eventually land you a better job.

When you go for interviews, watch for the signs of control freakery. Obvious ones are if two people are in the room with you but the boss does all the speaking. Ask questions about the management style, training opportunities, working environment. Ask questions about openness, transparency, 6-month or yearly job reviews, etc. Find out who you will be responsible to (usually the interviewer) and how the organisation is structured. Ask how the company is moving forward and what the turnover figures are for his or her particular group/department. All these things will give you a good idea of whether you will end up in a good environment or a toxic one.

And whatever you do - never get sucked into Stockholm Syndrome. Remember that control freaks go particularly for the more intelligent, open minded individuals who produce excellent quality work. Keep a record of all your email conversations and any unpleasant occurrences, as this could be a great help later or after you've gone.

Hope all this helps. I asked something reasonable from a control freak and got fired. I was not expecting it, but when you realise it's all about control you will know you don't need to blame yourself. The boss is the problem - not you. Control freaks are not worth it. Move on and search for your dream job!!

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