Parachute, Anyone??

This is true, I promise. In the early 90's I worked for a small family owned software company. My boss was the son of the company founder. He was a law school grad who couldn't hack it the real world, so daddy made him a VP of the company. The company was broke but in some of the most expensive offices in town because the Son liked to bring his dates there to impress them (seriously).

Anyway... The company was in trouble. Investors were pissed (they blew $20M before I got there) and Son tells me its my job - as product manager making $32k a year - to solve the problem.

Stupid me, I actually tried to put a good plan together. The day I give him the plan, he calls me in my office (he's 2 doors down, but he still calls). "Come to my office now!". Okay. Off I go.

When I get there, the HR Manager is there too. Okay... Son announces "You've been here too long with not enough results, so it's time for your review". I think I had been there about 4 months and for the first three I wasn't allowed to make any changes.

So it's review time. And he starts talking about how the company is in the crapper and I'm doing a lousy job of digging it out. I'm just sitting there at this point thinking WTF. He's getting really worked up and beginning to shout that it's mostly my fault, ending with a finger pointing scream of "what the hell did you plan on doing about the $20M _YOU_ spent".

Now this guy was legendary for being a testosterone assh-le, but this was a new level even for him.

I politeley pointed out that the $20M had all be spent 2-4 years BEFORE I joined the company. That sent him off the deep end. He was banging his fists on the desk swearing that I had insulted him and his family and ending with (the best part): "If you ever say anything like that again, I will throw you out of the f-cking window".

Now those of you paying attention will remember the HR manager was in the room too. She'd said nothing through all of this, but had just gone really pale.

In a very timid voice, she said "Well I think we should wrap this up now" and I left the room.

Within minutes, the CFO and HR manager were in my room making excuses and explaining that it was no big deal and I should just let it go.

I am proud to say I told them to get lost. The Son was notorious for bullying employees, male and female, to the point of tears and frequent resignations. I'd had enough. I sat with the CEO and HR Manager and explained that I would take legal action against the company unless the Son (a) apologised and (b) got therapy.

I won. And BOY did that feel good.

Sadly my next boss was an even bigger prick, but that's another story.