Archive · 20 Jul 2026
The Rise of the Chief Suspicion Officer
There's a new kind of manager called the Chief Suspicion Officer (CSO).
This person doesn't trust employees and always asks for proof when someone says they're sick or can't come to work.
For example, one employee was told to get a doctor's note for a fever, and another was denied working from home because of heavy rain.
The CSO thinks this protects the company, but it actually makes employees feel bad and less engaged.
Trusting employees more can lead to better results, but the CSO still demands proof and doesn't trust anyone easily.
It's like having a manager who always thinks you're lying.
The Chief Suspicion Officer (CSO) is an unofficial role that embodies a management philosophy of universal distrust.
Recent examples include demanding a doctor's certificate for fever and denying work from home due to heavy rain.
The CSO's approach leads to low employee engagement and candor, as employees feel they are not trusted.
Defenders of the CSO argue that some employees abuse sick leave, but most organizations understand that a small amount of misplaced trust costs less than universal distrust.
The best managers trust their employees, leading to longer retention, more volunteerism, and less need for policing.
- Who
- Chief Suspicion Officer (CSO) and employees
- What
- A management philosophy of universal distrust
- When
- Recent examples occurred this month
- Where
- Two cities in India (one unspecified, the other is Pune)
- Why
- To prevent employees from taking advantage of sick leave or work from home policies
- Role
- Chief Suspicion Officer (CSO)
- Primary Principle
- Every employee is a potential conman until proven otherwise
- Recent Example 1
- Employee asked for doctor's certificate for fever
- Recent Example 2
- Employee denied work from home due to heavy rain
- Impact of Distrust
- Low employee engagement and candor
- Defenders' Argument
- Some employees abuse sick leave
- Best Managers' Approach
- Trust employees and respond with 'Get well soon'
- Diagnosis for CSO
- Acute deficiency of trust