# Possible mutiny at my company (what to do?) **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [June 2, 2014, 4:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/possible-mutiny-at-my-company-what-to-do/689844 "2014-06-02T16:23:07Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 15\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![YogSothoth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/8edcca/32.png) [@YogSothoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/YogSothoth)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2014, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/possible-mutiny-at-my-company-what-to-do/689844/61 "2014-06-05T18:29:13Z")
> [@msmith537](#): > > Ned Stark thought there should be a fair and open process of evaluating executives to assess their continued employment. I don’t watch GOT so that means nothing to me ---
**Author:** ![jacobsta811](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jacobsta811/32/2893_2.png) [@jacobsta811](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jacobsta811)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2014, 6:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/possible-mutiny-at-my-company-what-to-do/689844/62 "2014-06-05T18:55:22Z")
> [@nicky](#): > > Well this changes everything > > Your duty is to either > > 1. Do your very best to persuade your colleague to keep quiet for now while yous all come up with a more workable plot for a coup d’etat. > > 2. Help your colleague attack the CEO There’s always a 3rd option. In this case, in addition to keeping your head down or 1/2 above, you can always switch it around and preemptively stand on the CEOs side by letting him known in advance and saying that you support him. ---
**Author:** ![msmith537](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d9b06d/32.png) [@msmith537](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/msmith537)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2014, 7:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/possible-mutiny-at-my-company-what-to-do/689844/63 "2014-06-05T19:16:12Z")
> [@YogSosoth](#): > > I don’t watch GOT so that means nothing to me I’ll let you Google the specifics for yourself, rather than spoiler it. Just in case you eventually want to watch the show or read the books. The point is, while you may be correct that the corporate system contains elements of corruption and unfairness (as all systems do), the OP should act on what “is”. Not how you would want it to be. The reality is, you can’t “sort of” plan a coup. And “bitching out” a coworker is typically not a terminable offense for the CEO. The Director had better have something a lot stronger than that. As someone already pointed out, unless this Director has some news or information that will sway a board that already wants to get rid of the CEO, it’s just basically a fancy way to tender your resignation. Think how you would react if someone threatened your job and you had the power to fire them? I’d take a strong interest in them not being at the company anymore. And really your idea is silly anyway. Why should one Director have a particular say over anyone else in the company, just because the CEO yelled at him one time? Who decided the OP’s colleague represents the will of the rest of the employees? ---
**Author:** ![RaftPeople](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/6f9a4e/32.png) [@RaftPeople](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RaftPeople)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2014, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/possible-mutiny-at-my-company-what-to-do/689844/64 "2014-06-05T19:53:34Z")
> [@Winston\_Smith](#): > > Two things. One, we’re a small company. Two, I’m the de facto operational leader of the company, and the Director in question _may_ be contemplating this move because of a very public and very unpleasant encounter I had with the CEO a few weeks ago, in which the CEO publicly dressed me down in a very unprofessional manner for something very petty that happened almost a year ago. This company was on the brink of failure and I was able to save it. The general perception is that the CEO is not a good leader, and lashing out at me may have been the last straw. Why would you leave out such a relevant chunk of information from the OP? It completely changes the calculations regarding whether you should either tell the person not to or proactively talk to the CEO about what he is going to do. ---
**Author:** ![Boogly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/f4b2a3/32.png) [@Boogly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boogly)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2014, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/possible-mutiny-at-my-company-what-to-do/689844/65 "2014-06-05T20:49:46Z")
Or you can go total corporate. Tell the CEO that someone, or people, is gunning for them and wants to get the CEO fired and even with all the rumors flying around from sources (multiple sources) that you can’t name that you still back the CEO. Tell the Director that you’ve told the CEO so that you can both watch the CEO fret and worry about all of the rumors that the CEO isn’t hearing. Sit back and see who comes out on top and look them in the eye and say ‘You are the wind beneath my wings.’ Or ask if the Director is taking steps because of what happened to you. If so, let the Director know that you’ve moved on if you have. Or STFU and keep your head down like mortars are inbound. ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2014, 9:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/possible-mutiny-at-my-company-what-to-do/689844/66 "2014-06-05T21:56:38Z")
Take 50% of any accumulated leave. Come up with an excuse. After your return, see how much has changed. Be prepared to use up the remaining 50%. But **be elsewhere.** This ain’t your fight. ---
**Author:** ![Fuzzy\_Dunlop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/848f3c/32.png) [@Fuzzy\_Dunlop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fuzzy_Dunlop)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2014, 10:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/possible-mutiny-at-my-company-what-to-do/689844/67 "2014-06-05T22:11:35Z")
> [@YogSosoth](#): > > Only someone who IS 12 thinks this cannot work, or is not a good plan. Past a certain point, corporate bureaucrats seems to think everything is supposed to work like it does back in high school. Get in with the popular kids, stab people in the back, make secret deals and have your own handshake. I’m trying to get them to act like mature adults, you’re trying to make them go back in the clubhouse and shut the door I’m not 12, but I’ve been a C-level executive at several companies and yours is easily one of the dumbest most naive ideas I’ve ever heard. Have you ever actually worked for a company? ---
**Author:** ![YogSothoth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/8edcca/32.png) [@YogSothoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/YogSothoth)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2014, 11:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/possible-mutiny-at-my-company-what-to-do/689844/68 "2014-06-05T23:25:26Z")
> [@Fuzzy\_Dunlop](#): > > I’m not 12, but I’ve been a C-level executive at several companies and yours is easily one of the dumbest most naive ideas I’ve ever heard. Have you ever actually worked for a company? Is your company bankrupt from mismanagement by now or an evil, souless corporation who think nothing of kicking elderly people from their homes and suing children? My plan presumes maturity and a healthy couple of decades into adulthood for all involved. The only way it wouldn’t work is if people like and perpetuate the backstabbing because it favors them. ---
**Author:** ![Fuzzy\_Dunlop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/848f3c/32.png) [@Fuzzy\_Dunlop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fuzzy_Dunlop)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2014, 11:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/possible-mutiny-at-my-company-what-to-do/689844/69 "2014-06-05T23:48:44Z")
> [@YogSosoth](#): > > Is your company bankrupt from mismanagement by now or an evil, souless corporation who think nothing of kicking elderly people from their homes and suing children? My plan presumes maturity and a healthy couple of decades into adulthood for all involved. The only way it wouldn’t work is if people like and perpetuate the backstabbing because it favors them. No, we missed out on kicking the elderly and suing children, but they company is doing fine in spite of the missed opportunity. Your plan isn’t even related to any of the things you’re ranting about. It’s so naive you’re not even wrong, it’s just daft. We’re talking about a business not the local Lions Club. ---
**Author:** ![handsomeharry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e9c0ed/32.png) [@handsomeharry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handsomeharry)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2014, 1:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/possible-mutiny-at-my-company-what-to-do/689844/70 "2014-06-06T01:53:03Z")
> [@YogSosoth](#): > > Handle it like adults? > > Call a meeting and say that a director has a problem with how the CEO’s managing the company and would like to the Board to vote in favor of ousting him. Let each side present their arguments on why he should go/stay and solicit opinions all around. After the meeting, research the possible positives and negatives of making such a move, along with maybe getting the input of candidates that might replace the CEO and their plans on governing the company should it fall to them. Have all the department heads weigh in, take a poll of employees, and then have a vote of the Board on the final decision once all the facts come in. Methinks somebody broke into my crack stash… Worst advice I’ve heard of-unless it is a whoosh, and, then, it is a fine joke. ---
**Author:** ![handsomeharry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e9c0ed/32.png) [@handsomeharry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handsomeharry)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2014, 1:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/possible-mutiny-at-my-company-what-to-do/689844/71 "2014-06-06T01:54:40Z")
> [@Fuzzy\_Dunlop](#): > > No, we missed out on kicking the elderly and suing children, but they company is doing fine in spite of the missed opportunity. > > Your plan isn’t even related to any of the things you’re ranting about. It’s so naive you’re not even wrong, it’s just daft. We’re talking about a business not the local Lions Club. I also don’t think he answered you question, in re, actually working for a company. I don’t think that \*\*Yogsouth’s \*\* plan has any business in the real world. ---
**Author:** ![handsomeharry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e9c0ed/32.png) [@handsomeharry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handsomeharry)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2014, 1:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/possible-mutiny-at-my-company-what-to-do/689844/72 "2014-06-06T01:58:00Z")
> [@RaftPeople](#): > > Why would you leave out such a relevant chunk of information from the OP? > > It completely changes the calculations regarding whether you should either tell the person not to or proactively talk to the CEO about what he is going to do. Yep. This BIG TIME. Anything else that could be relevant, such as murder, embezzling, kidnappings, Taliban involvement? Are you still employed there? Are you paying the other guy to make this stink? You normally post good/great stuff-what happened? ---
**Author:** ![msmith537](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d9b06d/32.png) [@msmith537](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/msmith537)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2014, 2:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/possible-mutiny-at-my-company-what-to-do/689844/73 "2014-06-06T02:04:31Z")
> [@Fuzzy\_Dunlop](#): > > No, we missed out on kicking the elderly and suing children, but they company is doing fine in spite of the missed opportunity. > > Your plan isn’t even related to any of the things you’re ranting about. It’s so naive you’re not even wrong, it’s just daft. We’re talking about a business not the local Lions Club. It is surprisingly similar to Ned Starks plan. Probably with similar outcome. ---
**Author:** ![handsomeharry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e9c0ed/32.png) [@handsomeharry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handsomeharry)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2014, 5:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/possible-mutiny-at-my-company-what-to-do/689844/74 "2014-06-06T05:24:37Z")
> [@handsomeharry](#): > > You normally post good/great stuff-what happened? This is harsher than I meant it to be, and, as such, totally out of line. It was directed at **Winston Smith** , and, **WS** , I do apologize. ---
**Author:** ![Winston\_Smith](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e95f7d/32.png) [@Winston\_Smith](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Winston_Smith)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2014, 9:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/possible-mutiny-at-my-company-what-to-do/689844/75 "2014-06-06T09:37:15Z")
> [@handsomeharry](#): > > This is harsher than I meant it to be, and, as such, totally out of line. > It was directed at **Winston Smith** , and, **WS** , I do apologize. No worries. I haven’t been posting much lately, so it may take me a week or two to ramp back up to greatness. In the mean time, you’ll just have to settle for mediocrity (but remember: as Dopers, our ‘mediocre’ is everyone else’s ‘superlative’ so it should still be pretty awesome). [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/possible-mutiny-at-my-company-what-to-do/689844.md?page=3)