What can I do about my abusive CEO?
I work for a small company of around 35 people. The owner (CEO) is in her 70s and has almost daily tantrums, in which she will hurl abuse at employees, threaten to sack people and close the business all at the top of her voice.
She is also very touchy. There have been more instances than I can count where she has touched me inappropriately (backside, squeezing my upper arm, stroking my back with her nails).
I've now seen part of an email chain where she (I assume jokingly?) told a customer that she is "going to pick up a stick with a big nail in the end and beat [me] to death". I was not CC'd in this, but found it after a customer replied and I was added in. This has deeply unsettled me, specially after she bragged about her attempted murder of her ex husband as if it were a fun anecdote.
I have looked into support that I can get and it seems that because of the company's size, they are not obligated by law to have an HR department or even a dedicated HR person. They have taken advantage of this and made her the HR person.
I also know about ACAS, but they are only an advice service and can't actually help me in this situation.
Other than leaving for another job (I'm trying!!), is there anything I can do? I feel backed into a corner. My direct boss is the COO (also happens to be her best friend) and is very unreasonable. Most other employees are either massive brown-nosers or scared to contest her behaviour.