Years ago when jobs were plentiful (ask you parents about it), if you had a reallybad boss, you’d do one of two things. You’d hit the streets – literally – in search of a new job, or you’d bite your tongue, bide your time and wait for your pension.  These days when you hit the streets, the streets hit back and pensions have gone the way of the 8-track tape and Betamax (ask your parents about that too.)  So, for many of us, for now at least, we’re stuck with our really bad bosses a lot longer than we’d planned on. So, how do you deal with a really bad boss when leaving just isn’t an option?  The answer is, one day at a time.

My most stressed times dealing with bad bosses came in anticipation of the things I feared they would say and do.  After “disobeying a direct order” (more about that in a future post), I spent an entire weekend tossing and turning, worried that I would show up to work on Monday, only to be unceremoniously escorted out the door by our version of security (the HR manager off her meds).  But after spending my entire weekend worrying about Monday, on Monday my boss never even mentioned the incident.  In fact, she never brought it up again. 

Then there was the time I totaled the company car.  Yes, I totaled the company car…during my second week on the job.  Giving my really bad boss at the time, a man who never required a legitimate reason to scream and curse, the legitimate reason to top all legitimate reasons.  As he screamed and cursed at me at length in his office, I tried to defend myself – citing the helium balloons in the back seat of the car I’d hit, the full moon, and the questionable chicken salad sandwich I’d had for lunch as possible causes of the accident. It was terrible – the sandwich and the meeting with my boss.  So terrible in fact, I thought my job and career were over.  They weren’t. I survived that boss’ verbal beat-down and every one that came after that for the two years I worked for him. Read the rest of this entry »

…called me on the first day of my vacation to lay me off.  This way she said “you can enjoy the rest of your vacation.”  Then there was the boss who, when I handed him my letter of resignation, snatched the letter out of my hand and screamed “get out now!”  Through my shock and (I’m embarrassed to admit now) tears, I mumbled something about the company car, to which he replied “leave it and take a cab home!”   I did take a cab home, and I have the receipt to prove it. 

We all have at least one really bad boss story.  Share yours after the jump.

Share your really bad boss stories (anonymously if you’d like) in the comment section below. If it’s really good, we’ll feature it in a future post.

The best thing about a Really Bad Boss is no longer having one.  This summer I’ve entertained family, travelled, and am even planning another trip.  As I sat preparing for my weekend getaway, I looked back over the summer and all I’ve been able to do.  Granted, money is tighter this year – much tighter – but local getaways, road trips and entertaining friends and family can be both inexpensive and very rewarding.  I thought about the reasons I’m enjoying this summer so much, despite a layoff and my own personal economic crunch. It boils down to this; I no longer have a Really Bad Boss to worry about.

For years my summers havebeen marred by wondering if, when, and how much vacation time I’d be “allowed” to take.  As an adult, seeking permission from other adults to take time off, was nerve racking and frustrating, particularly when they dangled time off over our heads like bread in a famine.  I watched as upper management and CEOs took weeks at a time without so much as a second thought, and frankly it made me angry.  I felt like a kid in elementary school, asking for a hall pass  to handle my business and my really bad boss was the principal, slowly pondering my requests while she enjoyed her own private bathroom, unconcerned and uncaring about the well being of her students.

I’ve told many really bad boss stories, and quite a few of them are dedicated to my power hungry, incompetent former manager who authorized trash can searches and pantyhose checks for lack of anything better to do.   The pantyhose checker is the same boss who called me into her office one day to tell me that my use of personal leave was “excessive. “  Let me clarify a few things for you.  1) She approved and authorized all leave prior to me taking it, 2) I had five weeks leave each year, and had used only two of them and 3) I frequently worked weekends and late hours and had an exemplary record while in her employ.  There was absolutely no practical or rational reason for her to call me to the carpet for requesting leave.  Simply put, she brought up my leave requests because she could. She knew she had the authority to question me, and question she did.  I don’t believe she ever had any intention of denying my requests, but she wanted me to know that if she wanted to, she could.  Read the rest of this entry »

"I did not have sexual relations with that woman"

Politicians are our favorite kind of bosses. They have authority and power over a lot of people, and as luck would have it, quite a few of them are really bad. In light of Marion Barry popping up in the news last week for allegedly stalking a female friend, and as Rod Blagojevich continues to deny what we all know to be true, we thought it’d be fitting to compile a list of seven memorable lies politicians have told us. Can you guess which really bad politicians uttered the following whoppers?

1.       “I want you to listen to me…I did not have sexual relations with that woman…Ms. Lewinsky”.   No guessing games here.  The infamous Clinton/Lewinsky dalliances have long been public information, stains and all.  What makes Clinton’s denial so infuriating is the vehemence in which he initially denied the accusations.  Watch the video here. Then, Clinton famously redefined the term sexual relations.  Only a president could get away with that. Which brings me to our next quote…

2.       “When the President does it, it means that it is not illegal” – Richard Nixon, discussing Watergate in 1978.  From infidelity, to wire tapping to creatively inventing WMDs, presidents are notorious for “bending” the law.  Nixon just summed up what many of them secretly believe. President’s are above the law. But presidents aren’t the only politicians to bend the law.

The Lying King - Rod Blagojevich

3.       “…those simple values that they teach us in Sunday school, the Golden Rule…those are the things I’m going to keep fighting for…I haven’t let you down.”  There are at least two lies in this sentence, and it’s a wonder Rod Blagojevich didn’t get struck by lightning immediately after saying the words “Sunday” and “school”  in the same sentence. The foul mouth, helmet headed former Chicago governor uttered those words on his last day in office.  He didn’t mention that he actually slept through most of his Sunday school classes or that he wouldn’t know the Golden Rule if it tried to comb his hair. And yes, Blago, you did let us down and probably God too. Speaking of God…

4.       “it is my hope that I am able to follow the example set by David in the Bible - who after his fall from grace humbly refocused on the work at hand” We collectively gave Mark Sanford the side eye for that one, particularly since there’s no mention of David going AWOL in the Bible and then crying at a press conference on his return from Argentina five days later.  No mention of David skipping out on Father’s Day either.

5.       “The story is false. It’s completely untrue, ridiculous…made up” – Former senator and one time presidential candidate John Edwards denying an affair with a campaign assistant.  When it became clear that he did have the affair, Edwards gave a contrite interview on ABC, admitting to repeatedly lying about the affair even during his presidential campaign.

6.       “…they were misconstruing my actions.”   Here’s a hint, he’s got the widest and most inappropriate

The "misconstrued" Larry Craig

 bathroom stance in the history of bathroom stances.  That would be former Senator Larry Craig.  And which actions did the cops misconstrue? It may have been when he hovered around the entrance to the men’s restroom, a well known gay pick up spot. Or did the arresting officer occupying the stall next to him misconstrue his intricate foot tapping, hand swiping routine? I’ve discussed this with several of my male friends, and NONE of them have ever, even accidentally, done any of the things Craig did in that public restroom, much less all of them. Seriously Craig?

7.       “Occasional cocaine use” While I couldn’t find the actual quote from Marion Barry, his attorney did admit that Barry was an occasional cocaine user. Because occasional cocaine use is so much more acceptable than crack use, which Barry had been caught on tape engaging in. No worries for him though, because after serving a six month prison sentence, Barry was re-elected as Washington D.C.’s mayor.

In the end, politicians who lie for a living do so because a lot of the time, they get away with it.  Sure some lose their positions of power, but many others stay in power and in a few years their trespasses have been forgiven and forgotten.   If only the world was as forgiving towards the rest of us. 

This week in Really Bad Boss…

• The fall and fumble of Roland Burris – He’s not running for a second term. He realizes he’s way out of his league.
• The CEO is drunk, the VP is insane and the HR Manager is off her meds – 10 things Really Bad Bosses do to lose our respect.
• Inmate #61727-054 – Madoff finally gets to live among his peers.
• Fried chicken and potato salad are the best ways to encourage diversity in the Republican Party – Someone forgot to tell Michael Steele he should be offended by racist stereotypes. His ignorance gets him the Really Bad Boss Tool of the Week award.

Michael Steele's keepin' it real

RNC Chair Michael Steele continues to do everything in his power to attract minorities to the Republican Party.  And by attract, we mean swear them off for life.  He seems to be aiming for a Really Bad Boss Lifetime Achievement Award, and if he keeps it up, he’ll get several.  In his seven months as RNC Chair, Steele has done the following:

• Suggested that hosting hip hop rallies was the key to recruiting a younger, more diverse following for the Republican party.
• Said Limbaugh’s words were “incendiary” and “ugly” and then ate his own words after having them shoved back down his throat by the puppet master himself.
• Referred to the stimulus package as a lot of “bling bling”, planned an “off the hook” strategy to attract minorities and, referred to “one armed midgets” in one of his speeches.
• Declares there’ll be no more apologizing from the Republican Party, and then fearfully continues to apologize to Rush Limbaugh on the rare occasions when he has an original thought.
• Thinks that fried chicken and potato salad will attract diversity to the Republican Party.  In the same interview, refers to the end of slavery, but doesn’t seem to believe it himself.

All this and he’s only held the position for about seven months. For his sheer ignorance and intense stupidity, Michael Steele gets this week’s Really Bad Boss Tool of the Week Award. He’s earned it.

Oh dear, not him again. He referred to the end of slavery in this interview, but we don’t think he really believes it. We asked Limbaugh to tell him, but it turns out, he doesn’t believe it either. The RNC’s biggest mistake continues to embarrass himself by simply opening his mouth. Remember my post, Thou shalt not Steele? Well, this is why.

In a meeting with a group of young Republicans, Steele was asked by a blogger how he would reach out to “diverse populations.” Some ignoramus in the audience shouted “I’ll bring the collard greens” and Steele immediately reprimanded the culprit for his ignorant, stereotypical response.  No, of course he didn’t.  Steele chimed in with “I got the fried chicken and potato salad.”  Yes, he did, and it’s on tape. 

He went on to explain that the Republican Party fought to end slavery, feeding the slaves fried chicken and potato salad to keep their spirits up.  Ok, he didn’t say that last part, but he was probably thinking it. He also interspersed his comments with words like “yall” and “my mama” because, as we all know, “diverse populations” in addition to enjoying fried chicken and potato salad at hip hop rallies,  also refer to people as “yall” and their mothers as “my mama.” Idiot.