Who is Mr. Hansen from Factotum and what is their importance?

Henry Chinaski's boss at a Los Angeles auto parts warehouse, somber, red-faced Hansen once calls Henry in to ask about two coworkers' intelligence, as a test to see if Henry knows Alabam is boosting pedals. For playing dumb, Henry gets a $10 a week raise. When Hansen calls Henry in to fire him for showing up late every day, Hansen agrees to pay a full week's severance. Henry assures him that he has never made it with Hansen's secretary, Carmen, whom everyone knows has been having sex with the boss on the sly.