LENNAR CORPORATION – THE BEAST WITHIN
Sam had numerous conversations with Lennar Corporation manages including Oscar T. Mathison (Director of Construction), Robert Swanick (Division Vice-President), and Jim Neilsen (Division President). In every case those exchanges ended on a negative note with Lennar Corporation managers demanding that Sam perform duties for which he would not be properly compensated. The following is a negative encounter as told in Sam’s words.
During the exchange between Oscar and me, which could hardly be called a conversation, I reminded Oscar that both he and Robert Swanick refused to promote me to a position commensurate with the duties I performed with the claim such a position didn’t exist. Having said that both Swanick and Oscar dogmatically insisted I must continue to perform the duties of a position they assert is non-existent. Nevertheless, Swanick and Oscar held a strong desire to change my job title to Customer Care Associate even though that position is nowhere to be found in the Lennar hierarchy. To me that was nothing more than a demotion and I would still be required to perform higher graded duties while Oscar and Swanick collected the credit, honors, and bonuses. I made it clear I was not interested in a demotion and I certainly did not want to be a Lennar Corporation slave drone.
When Oscar found himself boxed into a corner of his own making he could only say, I am sorry you feel that way Sam. Oscar’s expressions of sorrow didn’t wash with his belligerent and combative posture. Oscar couldn’t care less about me as a human person and I made it clear I was well aware of that fact. In his typical I don’t give a damn attitude Oscar responded that usually when people are disgruntled they quit. I asked Oscar whether he wanted me to resign; again he repeated that is usually what people do when they are very unhappy. There wasn’t any mistake that Oscar recognized the situation he was instrumental in creating; nevertheless, he refused to seek a resolution, to do so would reduce his slice of the plump pie.
Oscar was being extremely evasive and I inquired what he meant; however, I was not prepared for the off the wall response I received. “That database you created, I realize you created it on your own I didn’t ask you to do that.” When I began work on the warranty backlog Oscar told me, “Do whatever it takes;” therefore, he did in fact instruct me to create a database since doing whatever it takes gives broad authority. I asked Oscar how I would manage such a large paperwork blob without a computer, again Oscar responded with an asinine answer. “Just like everyone else did in the past from page to page.” I very much wanted to ask Oscar if he was completely daffy since the amount of paper left by his inept leadership would slow progress down to a snail’s pace. Oscar’s refusal to recognize my initiative, dedication, and me as a human person was a clear indicator of his true self. I saw Oscar in a new light that day, a pathetic excuse for a man and a cowardly supervisor who views the universe as revolving around him.
Not only is Oscar arrogant he also possesses a nasty mean streak, which seems to be typical of Lennar Corporation managers. I attempted to impress upon Oscar that I worked hard and diligently to extract Lennar Corporation management from the mess it created, but Oscar would not have it. Oscar insisted I could not be promoted, but he held the expectation I would perform the duties of a position that was according to Swanick and him is non-existent. I said, you expect me to do the work without proper compensation and Oscar responded, “You’re not a builder so you would never be running units.” I realized what Oscar really meant since never is a very long time and I inquired whether he expected me to continue cleaning up others incompetence and laziness. Oscar responded, “In warranty, yeah.” The official demotion Swanick and Oscar attempted to impose upon me failed; however, the unofficial demotion to clean up boy was in effect, and my feelings and objections on the subject were rejected. In a daring move I said, “It seems to me I am being rewarded for excellence with punishment.” Oscar’s response was little more than his usual unintelligible psychobabble, “Did you express yourself in here Sam? The summary on my side, you got a place to express yourself. You don’t have any goals you’re totally.”
It seemed to me Oscar attempted to extract himself from the sticky situation he and other Lennar Corporation managers created, but he did so very badly. “At the time you came on I was in a very bad way.” Oacar’s very bad way was the end product of laziness and incompetence that yielded four years of warranty neglect, nearly insurmountable escrow issues, and new home construction debacles on a grand scale. Despite the fact I resolved many of those issues in a very short time Oscar held fast to his refusal to acknowledge them nor would he honor them. His comment was, “You’re an hourly person, you did all those things and you went home.” That was the most insensitive and cruel remark to escape Oscar’s lips thus far and I knew I was viewed as a material object (robot) whose only purpose was to perform so others could reap the benefits.
Oscar’s lack of human compassion seemed to be a bottomless pit; his final comment regarding rewarding me with a promotion commensurate with the duties I performed was his usual lackluster dribble. “That’s how we created this position as a construction coordinator, a helper to the builder.” In Neilsen’s words that certainly is strange, the truth of reality is I performed at the level of a Senior Construction Manager without any assistance from any builder and without oversight from any Lennar Corporation manager including the self professed infallible Oscar, yet Oscar insisted I was merely a helper.
Near the end of his emotional and psychological beating Oscar said, “I know you don’t feel good,” meaning he recognized I was suffering emotionally and psychologically; however, Oscar continued on the road of abuse without faltering. The bullying I received from the gutless coward I knew as Oscar was unconscionable and without cause and from my advantage point such abuses are the preferred method Lennar Corporation managers employ to achieve their goals and hidden agendas.
When Oscar’s emotional and psychological assaults failed to strike pay dirt, he called in the big gunslingers, Jim Neilsen and Robert Swanick. I was forced to attend a so-called meeting at the corporate office; however, as I did with Oscar I recorded the exchange. Neilsen began his clearing of the air by telling me Lennar Corporation doesn’t have any plans for field warranty managers. When I stated I performed the duties of a warranty manager for the past two years Neilsen insisted I only performed the duties of a construction coordinator. However, Oscar previously admitted builders are held responsible for warranty service; therefore, Neilsen was spinning a very large web of fabrication.
I raised the issue of the four-year backlog of warranty issues and the fact I eliminated it in one year to which Neilsen responded, “Right.” Immediately following his statement of agreement Neilsen said, “Yeah, that’s certainly a strange situation for entry level in the company [Lennar Corporation].” There it was, Neilsen acknowledged I performed well above my grade level, but he too would turn on me as would a rabid dog. I wholeheartedly agreed, it was strange and a great deal more, but no matter what I said Neilsen would not back down from his position. At the end of the exchange I asked whether Neilsen would consider creating a field warranty manager position. His response was summed in one word, “No.” I inquired why he wouldn’t consider such a position to which Neilsen said, “Not now.” Again I inquired the reasoning for the denial of equality, “Because we don’t have a need for that,” Neilsen retorted. It didn’t matter what I said, the exchange was counterproductive and very much like peeing into the wind. Neilsen said Lennar Corporation didn’t have a need for a field warranty manager, but like his subordinates, Swanick and Oscar, insisted I must perform the duties of a position that didn’t exist and a position that was not needed. The confrontation ended as usual on a negative note and Neilsen’s constant use of the word ‘we’ clearly spelled out an us/them relationship between Lennar Corporation management and me. A relationship whose roots were firmly established in Lennar Corporation’s Management By Greed philosophy.
It’s sad, but true Lennar Corporation management treats human beings as though they are emotionless objects that are best used to serve the interests of those in positions of authority. Sam is a real person with real emotions and real aspirations; however, the damage inflicted upon him will remain till death do they part. Also see Lennar Corporation – Death Star and Lennar Corporation – Hell’s Fire and Lennar Corporation – The Dark Side and Boycott Lennar Corporation.
You can reach Lennar Corporation President and CEO Stuart Miller at stuart.miller@lennar.com
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