Someone very close to me is having really concerning issues with his boss. He’s a salesman at a large regional group of dealerships. At first, the GM was supportive and everyone liked the dude, he would always make weird, sometimes sexually inappropriate comments towards subordinates, but it was just seen as him trying to be funny. He’d always lend a helping hand when reps would try to close a deal and used to always be someone you could rely on for guidance if you ever had trouble doing something. He’s like a master salesman and people reader, incredible ability to close customers, but his skill set has also allowed him to be able to control and effectively manipulate some of the employees. Especially the newer reps or “greenpeas”.
Everything was manageable until the last two months. It started when he made absolutely everyone come in for New Year’s Day at 8 in the morning, even though only three cars where sold that day and service was pretty much dead. Almost immediately he started becoming really controlling and physically and mentally abusive towards everyone in the dealership. Constantly belittling employees as if it’s some sort of sick boot camp and making everyone feel like sh*t. Threatening nearly everyone with taking away their jobs. He’s constantly now making sexual comments and hurling homophobic slurs at every guy AND girl at the store. Here’s just some of the many things he’s done:
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Always physically GRABS employees by the shoulders and shakes them violently. When asked to stop he says “why are you scared of me grabbing you” to your face in an insulting way -
Pretty much coerced a salaried employee who only makes around 4K a month to lock himself on a 1000$ monthly payment for a new vehicle. Subliminally threatened his job if he didn’t do so -
almost fired a high performing salesman for not wanting to trade in his brand new truck for a new vehicle (why on earth would someone on their right mind do so???) -
Always twists one of the GSM’s (General Sales Manager) nipples, one time did it so hard that he actually bruised his nipple. Also got said GSM on a non-compete agreement because “he’s really good at what he does” but obviously just wants to control him with no way for him to escape. He also constantly degrades and insults this GSM. Calling him many “gay” insults and always saying he likes to “take it up the a**” in many different ways. He has a family and fears for his job so he doesn’t stand up for himself -
A sales rep was gonna sell a customer a car from another store, he volunteered to buy a plane ticket with his own money to pick up the car and bring it to the customer. This GM somehow makes the car disappear from the system and tells the rep to fly out anyways to do him a favor instead, sales rep says no because he’s not getting reimbursed anymore from the deal, but says he should do it anyways and be a “team player”. Rep still says no, and is told he’ll regret saying no. Rep reports the Incident to HR and is fired the next day. -
The next morning after the above incident there’s a morning meeting. Everyone knows the story but the GM talks about him not being a “Team player” and that if anyone has a problem not being part of the team that they’ll have a similar fate. Looks up to the second story towards where HR is and says “does anyone have any issues, tell me now, anyone who doesn’t want to be a part of the team and do what ***** did” subliminal trying to say that if anyone has any issues with him can expect to have their jobs on the line. -
among many of the things he’s told women, he recently told a girl “why don’t you want sauce, are you afraid to fart when you walk” and “when you get home, I’ll be WAITING for you” in a really threatening and demeaning voice. I bring these up since they’re recent and might still be in video recording from the cameras -
Always degrading people and insulting them, whether it’s their looks, certain things they do, or talking smack about their personal life. The only way I can think of it is like “professional workplace hazing”
About half of the dealership now is willing to testify against him if asked or interviewed. I’ve always seen this sub present some useful help and resources for different types of situations. HR hasn’t done anything. There was an investigation on him a while ago but back then everyone backed him up and testified in his defense, and HR back then also seemed very interested to get to the bottom of it. Now, it seems like they don’t, everyone thinks that because he’s become extremely controlling, intimidating, and manipulative, he even has the HR ladies scared to do anything. What other external resources/agencies can we get to do something about this with the incidents I have mentioned??
I helped this close person get ahold of the head HR department (he’s super scared of retaliation I did it for him and never mentioned his name) but not sure how or if this will help.
TL;DR : Abusive general manager won’t stop mistreating/disgusting behavior and need help in what to do about this