March 25 is an important date in the world of Middle-earth; it’s the day Frodo managed to throw the One Ring into the depths of Mt Doom, vanquishing Soron.
So, what better way to celebrate Tolkien Reading Day than by looking at the most legendary workplace fails from The Lord of the Rings trilogy?
Alan Price, CEO at BrightHR, says, “Sauron’s ultimate downfall wasn’t just hobbits, it was catastrophic HR failures. A disappointing lack of a diversity policy in his orc army, the complete disregard for health & safety compliance, and employee wellbeing support or training that simply went AWOL. All of which left him exposed to the wrath of the HSE, the EA, and the FCA—and that’s on top of the combined might of elves, dwarves, and men! Let’s take a look at some of the areas he got wrong.”
The eye of micromanagement
It’s hard to get any work done when your boss is watching everything you do. Sauron’s all-seeing approach might seem efficient but it’s textbook micromanagement. And real-world numbers don’t lie.
71% of workers say micromanagement interferes with their job performance, while 85% report that it negatively impacts morale.
Price says, “It’s no wonder that Sauron’s armies saw terrible turnover, the all-seeing eye was really bad for orc morale. The worst part is that most managers don’t realise they are micromanaging. Remember, there’s a fine line between leadership and looming over your people like a flaming eye in the sky. Effective management and workplaces with high levels of trust see 50% higher productivity, 74% less stress and 106% more energy at work.”
The battle of employee wellbeing
Middle-earth has one of the worst workplace safety records in history – and that’s putting it lightly. With over 220,000 on-screen fatalities, Helm’s Deep, Isengard, and Gondor make even the most chaotic office parties look tame.
Price says, “Let’s face it, if your workplace regularly sees employees trampled by war elephants, set on fire, or catapulted over castle walls, let’s just say you might need more than just a new HR policy… Last year alone, 279,000 UK adults experienced workplace violence. The HSE estimates that in 2023/24 there were 290,000 assaults and 352,000 threats made in the workplace. Whether it’s office conflicts, difficult conflicts, or power-hungry wizards, you need clear policies as the first line of defence for your team and organisation.”
Nazgûl performance reviews
Sauron trusted his elite team of Nazgûl with one job: get the Ring back. They failed not once, but multiple times. Were they the wrong candidates for the role? Or were they just not guided enough?
Price says, “A performance review or two may have been just what the Nazgûl needed to refocus their efforts. A few one-to-ones in Mordor for a clearer sense of purpose, or some SMART goals to align with business objectives might’ve gone a long way. Employees with clearly defined goals are 3.6 times more likely to stay committed. And unlike the Nazgûl, your staff can (and probably will) find alternative employment.”
Isengard: A tower of health & safety violations
If there was ever a workplace in desperate need of a risk assessment, it’s Isengard. Saruman’s industrial revolution might have been impressive at driving profits, but his health & safety standards left a lot to be desired. Some of the major compliance breaches included:
- Open flames throughout the workplace—a clear violation of the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005
- No handrails on walkways—a clear breach of the Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992 which saw several orcs take an unexpected journey to the bottom!
- Open sparks and molten lava—a textbook violation of the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH) Regulations 2002, including exposure to molten metal, toxic fumes and whatever else is bubbling in those pits
Price says, “Saruman’s rush for growth ignored every regulation in the Health & Safety at Work Act 1974 – if Middle-earth had one. With proper performance management, health & safety policies, advice and documentation, Sauron’s forces might actually have stood a chance. Instead, we saw the biggest compliance disaster in Middle-earth history.”
Sources:
Lord of the Rings “Kill count”: https://www.looper.com/1605222/lord-of-the-rings-kill-count/
HSE Violence Statistics 23/24: https://www.hse.gov.uk/statistics/causinj/violence/index.htm
Micromanagement a form of bullying: https://www.forbes.com/sites/heidilynnekurter/2021/06/29/is-
micromanaging-a-form-of-bullying-here-are-3-things-you-should-know/?sh=7b3a7f364467
https://www.capgemini.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/The-Future-of-Work_Final.pdf
https://blog.ttisi.com/how-does-micromanagement-affect-employees
Performance management impacts: https://www.cipd.org/uk/views-and-insights/thought-leadership/cipd-
voice/impact-performance-management-employees/ https://www.consultancy.uk/news/17726/uk-
employees-losing-faith-in-annual-performance-management-cycles
3/5 workers disengaged: https://www.peoplemanagement.co.uk/article/1796442/three-five-workers-
disengaged-costing-uk-economy-billions-study-finds
Employees set goals perform better:https://mooncamp.com/blog/goal-setting-statistics#:~:text=Employees%20who%20set%20goals%20are,their%20organization%20(Bi%20Worldwide)
HSE Statistics 2024: https://www.hse.gov.uk/statistics/assets/docs/hssh2324.pdf
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