Corporate Hexing: Using Voodoo on Abusive Boss

One of the main reasons given by entrepreneurs for striking-out on their own is job frustration. However, before reaching the "I'm gone" point, venting your frustration by using voodoo is on the rise for appeasing workplace stress.

Sticking It To The Boss

The use of voodoo dolls, it seems, can provide employees a sense of justice without confronting an overbearing boss - even if preformed on an on-line doll.  Two separate studies, recently released by Canadian Universities, found that even a symbolic gesture against an abusive supervisor restores a sense of justice.

Respondents were asked to recall a personal less-than-pleasant workplace interaction. Some of the participants were instructed to stick pins on an on-line voodoo doll (which was labeled with the offending boss's initials).  Those that used the doll, universally, reported feeling a sense of justice vs. those that were not given the voodoo doll option. The dolls were a symbolic retaliation against their supervisors. It seems employees care about justice and consider it a fundamental human need. A secondary outcome of using the dolls accrued to the benefit of the organization, as it reduces workplace stress and improves the work environment.

The researchers noted that there must be a way for employees to restore their sense of justice without sabotaging the supervisor. While employers must ascertain the reason for the employee frustration and ensure that everyone is treated fairly.

Well, if it works ... do it. I could be that a little hexing goes a long way.

Stay in touch,

Jim Lavorato