Readers Respond: What Makes a Bad Boss - Bad?

Want to avoid becoming a bad boss? Afraid that you may already be considered a bad boss? Just want to commiserate with other people who have bad bosses? Here are your thoughts about what makes a bad boss, well - bad. Have more thoughts about bad bosses? Share them here. See what others have said about their bad boss.

Dear Readers: Comments that defame an individual by name and company name will be deleted. We're just looking for the characteristics of a bad boss and your experiences with bad bosses, not names. Thank you for your participation and cooperation. Susan

See More Reader Responses.

Dream job turned into a nightmare

Dream job was a perfect fit for me. Little did I know how unorganized and mismanaged with a lack of leadership, direction and support. I became a casualty of the psycopathic boss, he fits the definition all the way. Add government slowness and no accountability; that program would never make it in the private sector. Complete waste of tax dollars with no remorse. My boss was an example of how not to act and what not to do. I saw through all of his lies and he was threatened by my knowing more than him and having proof of his incompetence. Unemployed but healthier, I have never worked at a more toxic environment that gave me panic attacks and worse. The problems will always be there. Getting out is the only answer. At least I can get unemployment til I find a job.

—Guest Still recovering

Bad Boss even at the state level

Bad bosses have an effect on everyone especially if they work in health care. I just had the worst experience of my career due to a work place psychopath boss that fits the true meaning to a tea. My health was affected, had anxiety attacks thought I was having a stroke and went to the ER, even was suicidal. I was let go because I wasn't able to be quiet about his lack of leadership, direction, and support and not to mention his lies, deflecting all blame, never held accountable for his lack of actual work. It was like he was doing everything the opposite of how a boss should act. Good thing there isn't that many people like him. Hope to never have that experiance again.

—Guest Fred

My boss sucks!

My boss never had any training when it comes to managing or communicating with others. He hires stupid people who don't know the job. He treats me differently and ignores me when I say something he doesn't agree with. He tells employees that he is too busy to deal with anything. His home life sucks, so he takes it out on me and I'm sick of it. He helps certain people get ahead and makes excuses for their laziness and incorrect work. The few ones who care about the work have to do that work over. It's a waste and it's frustrating to see on a daily basis. Managing is not his cup of tea!

—Guest Freedom

Hate my boss

I hate my boss. She doesn't listen to anything and can't wait to have a go at employees. She thinks she's the best and the rest of us work to lick her feet. I hate it and can't wait to move on. Trying to find a job!

—Guest Sard

Bias rules

I have two bosses who are biased when it comes to rules. The rules and policies are flexible for everyone else except me since I have no children. This has been happening for years. I only stay hoping things will change for the better. Is there anything I could do to prove their discrimination ? Thanks. (You can talk to your state department of labor to see if you have options. With any discriminatory situation, you need to document each instance with date, time, and witnesses. You can talk with an employment law attorney. Report it to HR if you have one.)

—Guest Chum

Misery loves company

My boss hires relatives and people who do her favors (such as supply her with weed). She jumps to stupid conclusions. Has no compassion for our residents. Takes seven smoke breaks or more. She is tacky and unprofessional. Does very little real work. She yells at the good workers and surrounds herself with shady employees. She's an accident waiting to happen. All of this in the field of geriatric nursing - all we can do is pray.

—Guest unrelated

Frustrating Boss

I have been working at a small auto dealership for about a month now, and my boss seems to think I'm an idiot. He knew when he hired me that I hadn't been in any office position before, and said that if I had any questions to ask, to feel free. Yet, whenever I ask, he treats me like I'm stupid. Also, this past Saturday he gave me the day off out of the blue to be nice. Then, the only other guy that was there that day ended up having to see his mother in the hospital. My boss was left there alone, but instead of calling me to come in, fussed at me when I got back on Monday saying that it'll never happen again. Today, I had a customer on the phone and wasn't aware that my boss was in the bathroom. He told me to put the guy on hold, but the guy insisted on calling back. My boss gets back in his office and starts screaming to put him on hold, when I'm obviously trying to do that, but the guy won't shut up. After that happens, he's like,"Do I really have to yell at you this early?" Frustrating...

—chjmusik

Bad boss

Some bosses just behave to please people upstairs. Some don't have their own views but "follow" wind direction and waves in the ocean. I have been at Management level for so long to see these happenings. But sad to say, the higher management (some) like this kind of character. But not me...

—Guest Deezulrazak

Never work under Lady Managers

I had couple of very bad experiences working for lady bosses. Most of the things are common like doesn't know ABCD of people management, very poor in decision making or takes wrong decisions and plays the blame game. They become biased quickly. One major common thing which I found is that they are a failure in their personal lives so never understand the personal values of their team members. Very egotistic, never accepts their mistakes. Poor handling of vendors and has very awful interpersonal skills. She spoiled the unity of the team and used the "divide and rule policy" within the team. So, all of these things made me quit the organisation before the organisation itself got shut after a month. Courtesy, inefficient bosses.

—Guest Vinu

Idiot supervisor

I work in a department with a supervisor who thinks he's smarter than most of the people in his department. but doesn't realize that he's not viewed that way at all by the employees (immature, talks out of his butt most of the time, makes odd "clucking" noises constantly, extremely anxious and insecure). Extremely ineffectual in his role - example: delegated supervision of an incompetent employee to another one of his employees who was not even a permanent employee and was on the lowest pay grid level rather than deal with the incompetent employee himself. His latest: hanging a notice clearly intended for supervisors on the employee notice board that says "How to deal with bad employees". Another of his favorite cowardly management techniques, along with making snide comments while talking with other employees loud enough for his intended target to hear and understand the comment is directed at them. A real gem this guy and such a team builder! #TotalSarcasm

—Guest Poorly managed employee

Unsophisticated Manager

She loves employees who curry her favor, informers, and relatives who report to them. She chooses favorite employees and covers up and makes excuses for the poor work of the incompetent favorites. She ignores selected people and discriminates against many employees. Fails to communicate, and may not even have expectations, timelines or goals. She changes her mind frequently leaving the team off-balance and changes expectations and deadlines frequently. Uses disciplinary measures inappropriately when simple, positive communication would correct the problem. She tends to fake ignore employees until there is a problem, then pounces. Speaks very loudly, rudely, one-sidedly to team. She doesn't provide the air time for staff to respond to accusations and comments. She intimidates people and bullies the team. She allows other employees to bully other members. She is quick to blame teammates when something goes wrong. Fails to provide rewards or recognition for positive employee performance.

—Guest jumping jack

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