Reality HR: October 08

Censoring employee abuse

HR life is always an eventful one. It is full of challenges, some exciting, some frustrating and some definitely nerve wrecking.

In one of my previous organisations many years back, I had to deal with a case of verbal abuse which had become almost uncontrollable. A very senior executive was about to travel for an important conference overseas. When he reached the airport late evening, he realised his PA had forgotten to give him an important document. He immediately called up his PA and started screaming at her. He wanted her to go back to the office late at night, collect that document and get it to the airport. She refused, so he started abusing her on the phone. The girl took offence and decided to bring the matter not only to the highest authority in the company, but also to the press.

There were many heated discussions, counselling sessions and a lot of pressure from all ends. This was a very delicate matter. We had to stop it from going to the press yet the PA was very determined to resign and to make sure the matter got publicised. The executive justified his behaviour by saying that it was a case of insubordination and HR should deal with it.

After many sessions, the matter got reconciled by both parties and a potentially explosive situation was prevented. My lesson from this incident is to remain calm in such situations and never be seen as favouring one party more. These situations have to be dealt with very objectively.