Is This Overboard?

Singapore
February 23, 2009 3:41am CST
I was just feeling mixed or rather appalled how a boss of the company resort to serving his ungrateful staff with stale 2 day old burgers. In the article, it was mentioned that his staff had incur his displeasure when they complained about their lunch which was served in a 5 star hotel. Furthermore, this vindictive individual is no common layman but non other than the renowned millionaire and equity magnate Damon Buffini – a key business adviser to British prime minister Gordon Brown. I just cannot help feeling distaste for such a public figure with a unbecoming behavior and character. I can understand if he ticks his staff off with strong words and stringent dressing downs but to have them eat stale burgers is just unthinkable here. I feel this is really too high handed and shows how he disregard human dignity. Well, Damon and his wannabes I do not think that wealth and reputation gives you the right to totally disregard and disrespect your subordinates' dignity and rights. This is simply no different from any buffoon barbarian. Have your say. Ref: http://newpaper.asia1.com.sg/news/story/0,4136,193600,00.html
2 people like this
2 responses
rosdimy
@rosdimy (3926)
• Malaysia
23 Feb 09
From one point of view it is too much. But on the other hand we do not know what his employees are really like. Most of us have a limit to what abuse we can take. I have been in management before. Though I disagree with what he did I can understand why he did it. I have done nothing similar but if employees still complain after given lunch at a 5 star establishment, then the employer has the right to give something less. The argument is if employees do not like the best then their preference must be in the mediocre. Something must have snapped inside him leading to him giving his employees stale food. Definitely not the best reaction. all the best, rosdimy
2 people like this
skysuccess
@skysuccess (8858)
• Singapore
23 Feb 09
rosdimy, Thank you for your invaluable feedback but I would not be feeding my staff stale food. Whatever ingrate staffing members have committed, they can be given a harsh dressing, warning letters or even a sack but to be so vindictive to this extent is just putting questions in my head about his dignity and his regard to fellow human dignity. He seems too high handed and way over his head here. IMO.
2 people like this
rosdimy
@rosdimy (3926)
• Malaysia
23 Feb 09
Sometimes being nice works better. Giving a ticking off or reprimanded with words may bring an undesired backlash. The employees may become even more disgruntled, complaining somewhere else that the employer does not understand their feelings and needs. So the best thing may be not to say anything. The next time bring the employees to a cheap establishment. Should they ask for the reason then they should be told that it was thought they preferred a cheap eating outlet because they complained when taken to a first class establishment. Stale food should not be on the agenda or nenu.
2 people like this
Artemeis
@artemeis (4194)
• China
26 Mar 09
He is just downright immoral, disrespectful and hates life. He has no right to do such a thing especially when he needs his staff to work and bring success to his company. I can understand that people can be unappreciative or misbehave or ungrateful - who doesn't make mistakes? We are human and we are never perfect so what is there to feed stale food when all he has to do is fire them and hire new people? He is like what the movies say taking the law into his own hands. Sad to see that he is not being punished by the law.
1 person likes this
skysuccess
@skysuccess (8858)
• Singapore
26 Mar 09
artemeis, Strong words indeed. However, I just feel that he deserves every word of it. There's just so many kinds of people in the world and it is just sad that such a boss exist. Thanks for dropping by. Take care and have a nice day.