And you thought your boss was tough.
T.J. Rodgers, head of Cypress Semiconductor, puts on what he calls a "drooling psycho face" to harangue employees, Fortune reports.The magazine said Warnaco's chief executive officer, Linda Wachner, once kept an executive waiting for three days, then dismissed him after a two-minute meeting.
Steve Jobs, of Next Computer, was said to have addressed workers in a way that family newspapers could only describe thus: "!$&?+!%/;)!"
In an issue going on sale Oct. 4, Fortune crowns what it calls the seven "roughest, toughest, most intimidating bosses."
They include Wachner, the only woman heading a Fortune 500 company, who was reported to have told an executive: "You'd better start firing people so they'll understand you're serious."
Wachner, in a telephone interview with The Associated Press, said, "That was in a turnaround situation." She couldn't recall keeping the other executive waiting for three days.
Jack Connors, founder of the advertising agency Hill, Holliday, Connors, Cosmopulos, was described as flying into rages that cowering employees call "Jack attacks."
The article, made available this week, quoted Connors as conceding he was demanding. But he added: "For everyone who takes a few shots, I can provide you with 20 people who can tell you about the good things we've done."
Rodgers confirmed that he had delayed executives' paychecks if they didn't review employees on time. "I stand by that," he said, but added that it only happened four times - once to himself. But he admitted to only one occasion when he made a "drooling psycho face" to harangue employees.
Herbert Haft, who is embroiled in a family feud over control of the Dart Group Corp., threatened to bankrupt his children and grandchildren if they didn't follow his every demand, Fortune reported, citing court papers filed by his estranged wife, Gloria.
Haft's lawyer, Michael Klein, objected to taking allegations from a divorce proceeding at face value. Anyway, he said, "It has nothing to do with Herb as a boss."
Jobs, of Next Computer, berates employees for not working faster and made one worker go through 37 shades of green before settling on the corporate color, Fortune said. There was no immediate comment from company officials.
Tough Bosses No. 6 and 7 are brothers Harvey and Bob Weinstein of Miramax films, described as hotheads who throw phones and knock over chairs.
Harvey Weinstein once fired an employee for making a mistake during a company softball game - although he was rehired, Fortune reported. It said he didn't recall the incident.
A spokeswoman for Miramax did not immediately return telephone calls.