#workplace-toxicity

#workplace-toxicity

A decade ago, fresh out of business school, I joined a tech company in my first business development role in Singapore. Within the first quarter, I had closed two quarters' worth of sales targets. But the environment was abusive. The CEO yelled regularly. Personal and sexist remarks were common, on body, appearance, even what women ate or wore. It was triggering. Having lived through a previous abusive situation, I found myself in constant flight-or-freeze mode.

I worked at four different law firms before starting my own practice. One of the shops was a smaller law firm that did not pay associates as much as other practices. This usually meant that people could take time off without too much trouble since everyone understood there needed to be advantages to receiving such low pay. For some attorneys, this also meant that shouting matches were tolerated since associates did not feel like they should take abuse from higher-ups for such little pay.

I recommended that she be terminated, and the boss said no. I then recommended administrative leave so a full investigation can be completed. I also asked that she be moved back to hourly pay so she can't continue to steal hours, and that her travel privileges be revoked. My boss-who is also an officer of the company-thinks a five-day suspension with no other consequences is sufficient.

Your dean may be brilliant in her scholarly field, but she's willfully ignorant about leadership. It sounds like you aren't her only target, so let's start with ways to protect anyone who has to report to her.