What makes a bad boss bad?
- I think what makes a boss bad is their attitude, how they treat their employees. Also, if a manager does not know his or her job and they are blaming their employees for everything, they should not be in a position of authority in the first place. Any manager who does not have respect for all people, is a poor manager and needs to be let go. Managers are the people in a place or business that set the example for everyone else who works with them. If they don't follow rules that they place on their employees, I don't see how they can expect it from those they employ.
- —Guest Nicole .M
I worked for a bully
- I have been with the company for 5 years now. The person who worked in my position left after 1 year and the one before that worked for 10+ years. They were both miserable, so I've been told, and so am I. I cannot wait to get out of here and after reading your posts. I have decided I am going to make this a priority. Luckily, I won't let my boss get to me but it definately not a pleasant work environment to be in even though I enjoy the work that I do. My boss does own the company so I am limited in what I can do here. But I can leave, and plan to soon.
- —Guest Mass
Yelling and Screaming
- Horrible bosses drain you dry. I spent several months working for someone who screamed and yelled for every single misstep. You literally had to wipe your face from his spit after nearly every time he came to your desk. Given you never received any training, and given that you were treated like this because of any small mistake, or what he thinks is one (ex. you used a synonym instead of the word he thought of in writing a letter), the office was filled with yelling 6 or 7 times per day, and it made your knees tremble even if it wasn't you. He never praised. You had to work overtime and weekends with no additional pay, but if you asked for a day off, you got a reduction. But, the yelling was still the worst. During the time I was there, every single person in the office had cried. We had a person who was carried out with a nervous breakdown by an ambulance. I quit when my health made me, and it still hurts to think of that place and person, and my confidence is still shaken.
- —Guest Box
Bad Boss
- I took a job knowing my boss was going to be something else; she fired a girl who was dying of cancer after she hired me and the girl did die. I kissed butt and did everything to make her happy. My coworker and I made it about 3 years doing this and then a major mood swing happened. We would get screamed at and abused. We complained to the new HR manager which made matters worse. My coworker had to move and my manager wouldn't even let her work out her notice. I knew I was the next target. This person set you and I think she was so unstable and afraid that you might know more than she did. She turned key people against me. (I heard her talking when she didn't know I was around.) Yet, the day came and she fired me. I knew it was coming and it did happen. The bad thing is being treated that way for over 4 years didn't help me. I have been out of work almost a year and I'm in my late 50's. I am really having a problem finding a job. I never missed work, never was late to work. It sucks.
- —doodle14
Manipulative boss
- She lives everyday to catch someone making a mistake so she can let that person know she is in control. She takes the credit for your suggestions and then confronts you to say you need to be involved and make suggestions. She can talk to you any way she wants because our office allows her to.
- —Guest 9 year employee
Freed from Boss from Hell
- I worked for a company, where we were not paid commissions due and our bosses made us feel like we owed them for being placed at their company. Seven of us left and needed psychological help to overcome the torment and abuse we endured for 4+ years. I heard one now sold out his own partner. I pity such sad, pathetic bullies. One day, he will see the gutter! They change you, but taught me how not to treat my staff.
- —Guest Jill
Good or bad bosses
- A boss is only a boss if they have knowledge, have management skills, aided by knowledge or qualifications in the relevant area. Importantly, if they have to belittle and disempower staff, break staff confidence and self esteem, they are not a good boss. As a consequence, disempowerment demotivates, destroys, deskills and staff become depressed and ill. This is not management?
- —Guest Retna
Bad boss at my first job
- I am currently at my first job after university and have a bad boss. She already broke a promise to me, she does not treat all employees fairly - she is always defending one employee who other employees find very difficult to work with. Overall, she is very sarcastic and handles customers really, really badly. She is a bully and is always trying to get to know things about your personal life, just to tell it to other employees. She is always telling other employees' private stuff to me! I don't want to know it! And, I am sure that she is doing the same behind my back. A colleague and I are responsible for a specific area. We always meet deadlines and she has told us that we are doing good work, just to tell us the next day that she is going to start holding performance meetings and that all our work done for the day will come to her desk. Really, it feels like she is implicating that we are not doing our work! We have confronted her and it turned out to be a disaster. It's time to move on! (Sorry that your first career job is turning out so unfortunately. Do move on - quietly searching. Life is short.)
- —Guest Moonfairy
Evil tyrant
- My current boss is deeply insecure and needs to constantly put others down in order to feel good about himself. He shouts, swears, bullies and insults everyone. It's a wonder he's still in business.
- —Guest Mot
What makes a bad boss
- When they yell and holler at you and show no respect.
- —Guest cher
Lies, Lies, Lies
- Any boss who tells and keeps on telling lies is never liked and is never trusted by any employee. He sounds more like a politician rather than a boss.
- —famulla5
The Queen Boss
- The Queen Boss loved her #2 person even though the #2 did no work aside from writing in her personal blog or making personal phone calls during th day. Or Queenie would spend the day instant messaging with #2. Meanwhile, the rest of the peasants would have to do their work without the benefit of decent pay. Also, I am a college educated woman with a host of qualified experience, yet Queenie and #2 are oblivious to what I do on a daily basis. I cannot wait to leave.
- —Guest Guest Cam
Boss was so bad he caused post traumatic
- I only lasted 6 months with my horrible boss and quit without having another job. The pig in sensible shoes derived pleasure in belittling, torturing and degrading his employees. The sad part was that turnover in his department was always high but because he delivered high returns, management looked the other way. Every day was a new torture. Either I was stupid or lazy or a bitch. I would have panic attacks and breakdowns when I had to go to work. Finally when he and two other bosses ganged up on me, I left and never looked back. It took me 2 years to get my confidence back.
- —Guest Guest Andy
Frustrated
- I'm dealing with a woman administrator who has used bullying, intimidation and threats to make her point. This caused another employee to go out on a stress leave. Part of the solution was a good faith measure to have her take a "sensitivity class". Her management style needs to change and I cannot find a seminar to send her to, or a trainer who can teach our administrative team how to be sensitive to their employees' needs. When I hear things like, "Oh well" or "If I have to show you how to do it, I guess I really don't need you". Another one is, "you can't have another day off. Haven't you had enough time off this year?" Employees who are hurting shouldn't be made to feel threatened or intimidated when they're already at a low spot. Our problem administrator can't accept the fact that she is rude and intimidating. She is taking the course I select because she has no other choice. (A course will not change this person. Disciplinary action up to and including termination might. Otherwise, you will be coaching her for a very long time.)
- —Guest David
Husband to the tortured
- My wife has less than 10 years til she can retire, and she counts every day. Her supervisors bully her on a regular daily basis. Many times she cannot discuss her day because of the pain and crying it stirs up again. Who will hire a late 50year old at a new job? She has to stay and pray that the bullies will move on in the company away from her. They resent her and another older employee just based on age. This strains on our own relationship at home. We are a 2 income household. We the spouses, of you all, pray for your relief from the tyranny.
- —Guest Husband
