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 Lansing's Advice Column

Dear IMO,

My co-workers and I are fed up with our boss. He is incompetent on every level. We’d like to see him removed from his position, but are unsure how to go about it. Do you have any advice?

CJ

Dear CJ,

There are several ways to do this, but you and your colleagues must decide which works best. Generally, you need to know who to trust in the office. Once you have decided the “who” part, you ought to sit down as a group, outside of the workplace and on your own time, and list the grievances you find most harmful to your work and to the company.

These grievances may include procrastination, avoidance of important issues, failure to meet deadlines, over delegation of responsibilities, inordinate amount of time out of the office, disregard for employees’ performance and well being, physical and/or verbal abuse, sexual harassment, and a lack of concern for the company. Cite specific examples with dates and times or be prepared to have data to back up your accusations. Keep the discussion limited to actual facts rather than personal feelings and innuendo. Remember what you say may be used against you.

Having established your list of grievances, you need to report them to the right person. Find out if your company has an HR officer who handles these issues. If you work for a non-for-profit, contact the Board of Trustees and schedule an appointment to meet with the Executive Committee. Make sure you and those you speak to maintain confidentiality throughout the process.

If all goes well and your company has any credibility, the situation will improve for all parties. There is a risk involved with your decision to take this matter before higher ups in the office. You and your colleagues may be viewed as snitches. Your boss may try to find a way to have you fired. Weigh all your options before you proceed.

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