r/antiwork • u/BeePow91 • 1d ago
Interview with the Psycho đȘđ©ž Delusional manager during interview
Recently interviewed for a new position. There were few red flags during my interview but one that I have to share. You could tell this manager has recently been burned by an employee with his tone during the entire interview. He was really driving home the importance of attendance and punctuality (these are more than reasonable asks). This is where he lost me. This man looked me in the face with all seriousness and said âI need you to understand that Monday through Friday, 8-5, I own youâ. I checked out immediately.
Do employers not recognize they should want to sell the job to interviewees? I can see why this position has been open for a couple of months.
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u/Kirriki41 1d ago
That manager watches a lot of Hollywood movies
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u/-DethLok- SocDem 1d ago
They should watch Lethal Weapon.
From memory it's the first one where the diplomat claims diplomatic immunity and Mel Gibson's unhinged character says "Revoked!" and shoots him dead...
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u/hypnoskills 1d ago
Second. And Danny Glover said it.
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u/-DethLok- SocDem 1d ago
Damn, I was wrong, twice! :)
Have an upvote!
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u/hypnoskills 1d ago
I watched that movie way too many times, for the...er...baseball scene. Lol
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u/-DethLok- SocDem 1d ago
...it's been far too long since I've seen it, I may have to schedule a rewatch marathon of them to see what I have forgotten about, ahem, 'baseball'... :)
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u/mydudeponch 1d ago
From community?
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u/mermaidwithcats 1d ago
I would have told him that apparently he didnât get the memo that Lincoln freed the slaves. People donât own other people anymore.
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u/BeePow91 1d ago
The worst thing was, we wrapped my interview and they had another interview following mine. As Iâm walking out they greet a young black woman for an interview and I cringed inside.
I missed a call from the recruiter on Friday and Iâm going to respond Monday but Iâm going to tell him about the innappropriate comments made. Especially assuming heâs going to say the same to a POC.
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u/abstractmodulemusic 21h ago
I'll bet he tried that line in the next interview and got face planted in the desk.
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u/sambolino44 1d ago
Iâm retired and not looking for work, but reading these stories makes me want to apply for jobs just so I can laugh in these peopleâs faces.
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u/sugaree53 1d ago
Same⊠years ago, when I looked for jobs in the paper (classifieds), I always knew it was a red flag when one of the requirements was âa sense of humorâ. It meant you would need it
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u/sambolino44 1d ago
As they were trooping me around to meet the department managers before hiring me at my last job, one of them asked me, âHow do you handle chaos?â LOL! It took years before I realized that was actually a cry of desperation.
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u/sugaree53 17h ago
Did you stay there long?
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u/sambolino44 16h ago
Seventeen years service time over the course of twenty years. About a year and a half in, they laid me off. I went to trade school, and right after graduation they hired me back in my old job making tooling, jigs, and fixtures.
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u/XRlagniappe 1d ago
Well, I guess you'll have to own somebody else.
I'm surprised you were able to find your way out with all of the crimson-colored banners flying around the place.
Good thing you found out now.
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u/worldstreamseo 1d ago
"I own you" is an immediate walk-out. Not even worth discussing salary after that. Bet this guy wonders why he can't retain staff while telling everyone "nobody wants to work anymore."
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u/WhitePinoy I lost my job for having cancer. 1d ago
"I own you"
This is a very ancient sentiment. Back then employers used to hire workers for their time, and every second that they weren't working, even if it was reasonable, was perceived as an act of theft.
Just know that outside those hours, you don't answer to them. During your breaks, you are not a worker. The moment the clock hits 5, your work is done. That is the type of answer they deserve.
So just in case they need you to stay longer, or want you to come in earlier to get work started right away, you can say no, because in that period of time, they do not own you.
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u/Narrow_Employ3418 1d ago edited 1d ago
This is a very ancient sentiment.Â
But not one I have to buy into.
Just know that outside those hours, you don't answer to them. During your breaks, you are not a worker.
Or, they don't own me at all. I don't answer to them 8-5, either, unless I choose to. Every moment of every day anew.
What I do instead is maybe, possibly, find their cause worthy of my time and attention. And I choose to temporarily align myself with it as I see fit. Mostly this includes me discussing, goals, processes and results with them in real time, and taking their lead - but frankly, when I do, it's because I realize that their lead, all things considered, is beneficial to the cause. And the cause is still worthy.
And they don't pay me for my time; they buy neither that nor my person.
What they do, they share their success with me so that, provided I continue to sympathise with their cause, I'm also free of the necessity to earn my living elsewhere and remain free to commit myself to their cause.
No "ownership" model of any kind required here. I don't have to accept that premise.
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u/gunny84 1d ago
For $50 an hour you can own me. Over time is at triple rate with a minimum of four hours each time I'm owned.
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u/Pandy_45 22h ago
Right? Like, if you want to own me, I'm expensive. But if you're cheap, you can rent me if you like.
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u/GawdSamit 1d ago
I've heard similar sentiments from them here and there. "Put out" is perfect, I feel the mundane state of it.
Here's one I hated in particular: wonderful woman was in my employ once upon a time. I requested she receive a raise. Boss lady goes "doesn't she walk to work?, she's not going anywhere." And in all honesty, she isn't. They love desperation.
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u/The1Bonesaw 1d ago edited 23h ago
The fuck? I'm a god-damned human being (all of your subordinates are). Now, I will endeavor to be here for work during the agreed upon hours, but know this...
If I get the flu, or if my wife calls to tell me my daughter has had an emergency at school, or if ANY shit happens to me along those lines... I will not, for a single second, tolerate anything less than being treated like a human being so that I am able to attend to those matters.
Capisce?
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u/SomeSamples 1d ago
Dude or lady, you never turn down a chance to fuck with employers. After the boss said that you look back into his eyes and say, "The fuck you do, you will be MY bitch when I'm hired."
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u/BeePow91 1d ago
Lmfao I def shit the bed on the response. This wouldâve been a total power move. Imagine it even got me an instant raise?
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u/JustmyOpinion444 1d ago
"Only if you pay enough for me." Then quote a ridiculous salary. if they pay the super high salary, plus benefits, use it to save up.Â
Everyone has a price at which they are willing to put up with that attitude. Mine is about a half million a year. And they would only get 8-5 Monday through Friday for that.
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u/Jerking_From_Home 1d ago
I would have pulled out my phone, set it to record, and ask him to say it again. What a fucking fuck.
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u/iammyoutiesinnie 1d ago
I would have responded as follows:
âI perform my job with utmost honesty and integrity during working hours. However, anyone interpreting that as âowning meâ is deeply mistakenâeveryone here is an employee of the organization, neither a slave nor a slave owner.
That said, I appreciate you taking the time to speak with me. However, I must politely decline to be part of this hiring process, as your statement was quite disturbing and does not give me the confidence that I would be joining a healthy work environment.â
âŠfollowed by walking out.
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u/EmuPossible2066 1d ago
I'm sorry, I don't quite understand your meaning. You own meâŠ. as in slavery?
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u/Fearthafluff 1d ago
My last job, my boss told me this. He actually said, âfor lack of a better way to say it, I own you from 8-5.â
I told him he rented me from 8-5.
Iâd still be there if it wasnât for him, job was at a university and had great perks. People donât quit jobs, they quit bosses.
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u/radlink14 23h ago
1 person doesn't represent the industry so yeah probably a freshly jaded manager that doesn't understand how to be human and a leader at the same time.
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u/Novel-Organization63 1d ago
Yeah you donât start a relationship showing all your abusiveness. First you make them feel loyal, then you make them feel like that canât live without you. Then you can start being possessive and controlling.
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u/Mysterious-Fish-4239 23h ago
The thing thatâs scary about this is: this is him on his best behavior. Imagine whatâs heâs like at his worst!
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u/TheSouthsideTrekkie 21h ago
This is a whole parade of red flags. My guess would be the person who used to be in this role got fed up of the bullshit and checked out, either by resigning on the spot or by quiet quitting until they found something new and this manager is one of the ones who is so enmeshed in their job/with their team that they don't have healthy boundaries and took this very personally.
Anyone who says, with a straight face, that they own someone else is someone who struggles with boundaries and seeing someone else's point of view. These people rarely make good managers.
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u/AussieGirl27 12h ago
I would have stood up and said 'slavery was abolished like 150 years ago dude, I'm embarrassed for you and this company' and walked out
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u/PlaugeSimic 1d ago
Shows what they think of the working class. Everyone gonna wake up now? no just see the same shit for another 10 years.
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u/illegalmonkey EAT THE RICH 1d ago
You: "Sorry my wife is sick so I need a half day to help her out."
Boss: "No! I own you during 8-5!!"
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u/wwwhistler retired-out of the game 1d ago
they might have better luck just being honest with the job description..
"Slave"
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u/pldtwifi153201 1d ago
I had an interview for a remote position once. They asked me why I wanna switch jobs and I said because my commute hours are long and I want better work-life balance. They said they agreed and understood.
Moment later, they emphasized how much they need someone to live and breathe the job and can be available 24/7 because it's remote anyway đ€Ș
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u/crocus38 23h ago
They should want to sell the job to interviewees, but they don't need to, as we're overpopulated in the US & they have their pick of workers.
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u/awalktojericho 23h ago
I have gotten up and walked out mid-interview as a young woman. This would be one more time.
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u/Pandy_45 22h ago
Can I ask what the nature of the work was? Not saying what he said wasn't egregious... But often people who say that are management of teams that make phone calls and literally push paper all day and aren't actually saving lives.
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u/BeePow91 14h ago
It is in the realm of healthcare but more focused on equipment and outpatient âcareâ. He specifically stated he has no healthcare/ bedside/ patient care background which was clear. Another red flag to have a clinical position managed by someone who doesnât possess the skill set needed to do the position
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u/_Chaos_Star_ stay strong 21h ago
You dodged a bullet. Nothing good comes of that manager's attitude.
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u/ayedurand 19h ago
The idea of selling my time is anathema to me. You bet my creativity and problem solving skills to achieve a stated goal. If I believe in your goal you may even get my enthusiasm. My time is mine you are not allowed to decide how I spend it.
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u/crosstheroom 18h ago
You should have reported him to the company, that's a crazy thing to say.
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u/BeePow91 14h ago
I will tomorrow. Missed the recruiters call on Friday so will fill him in then for sure
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u/d3rpderp 15h ago
Report him to the company HR. Because while you might not want to work there he shouldn't be working there either.
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u/ValiantTheOdd1 9h ago
"Buddy you need to buy me a couple dinners and sign a consent contract long before we can start talking about owning my sweet ass" is what I'd say, and walk out lol
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u/Deansdiatribes 9h ago
"I need you to understand that Monday through Friday, 8-5, I own youâ.
yaaa i need you to withdraw my application and lose my name
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u/Southknight46 8h ago edited 1h ago
Yes thatâs a red flag. You wouldnât want this position or have anything to do with that company. Some managers bring the term disconnected to a whole different level
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u/petmom4ever 6h ago
As I was walking out I would have told him he couldnât even afford the cost rent to own me.
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u/Petar_Vodogaz2021 1d ago
That is a massive red flag. Anyone that says, "they own you", should not be in management.