You all know what the boss from hell looks like — they’re a cackling, bulking, hulking nightmare, spreading cigar ash around your workplace and guffawing in their wife beater shirt when they force employees to work extra shifts.
Not the nicest of people. But even those who aren’t satanic caricatures can cause disruption and hurt in an office. While they might sprinkle rose petals at your feet when you enter work, send adorable pictures of cats through the email system and regularly wear a halo, if they’re mistreating you in some way, they need to be dealt with.
Whether it’s sexual harassment, a pay dispute, wrangling over hours or health and safety fears, here are a few ways to stop problems in your workplace.
Call the professionals
Wandering into the murky world of employment law can be a tricky business. As the Dude from The Big Lebowski would say, there are a lot of ins and outs. But you can’t act like the Dude when you’re chatting with your employer — instead, you have to know those inside outs like the back of your hand.
You best bet is to head to the capital. Employment lawyers London are some of the most thorough and knowledgeable in the country, providing you with the best advice on how to go toe to toe with your boss.
If you’ve got enough coin, you could even hire them to speak to your boss on a wholly professional level, leaving you out of the picture.
The perfect union
Back in the 70s, the trade unions were constantly opposing government policy, growing in strength and perspicacity. But, as prime minister Margaret Thatcher gained power, the grasp of the trade unions began to fade.
By the end of the 80s, amidst miner strikes and protests, the unions’ powers had been diluted to near nothingness. But that doesn’t mean you can’t take a page from their book.
Chat to colleagues and form a group that can battle against your boss in case of a major dispute. After all, one complaint is unlikely to cause a stir — but 10 or 20 will see your boss’s ears pique.
Terms of endearment
Away from frightening terms like strike action and pay dispute, there is one reasonable solution — be pally with your boss.
While you don’t have to wine and dine them, or even get on with them, maintaining a healthy relationship can reap positive rewards for your workplace.
If any problem should arise, nothing can calm a situation more than having the boss’s ear. That way, you’ll be able to speak like real people, avoiding the bother of tribunals and litigation.