Posted by denised in He also blamed her for misplacing a letter that was in his briefcase the entire time and lectured her about her “weight problem.” It’s real life, it’s really bad, and it’s another really bad boss tale submitted by a reader…
Four and a half months ago I left an ugly and unproductive work environment and even accepted a pay cut in my new position just to get away from an egotistical boss with small man syndrome. Talk about out of the frying pan into the fire! After months of bipolar style ups and downs in our working relationship, my boss fired me last night since I refused to quit. He asked me to finish out the week so I could appropriately hand off all my pending work. This morning when I came in he asked if he could buy me a cup of coffee and proceeded to tell me that he’s willing to overlook the conversation (WHEN HE FIRED ME) yesterday and move on from here.
A bit of background… I am a seasoned professional that actually knows a lot more than my boss about the products he sells. I was previously an account manager but took this assistant position with the understanding that I would eventually be an associate. I also accepted the position based on having health insurance after three months.
Shortly after my employment, the temper tantrums from my 62 year old boss began. He likes to tell me frequently that I should not do things “my way” and that I need to consult him on everything because these are not my clients, they are his. Yet, if I consult him too much he gets grumpy and tells me he hired me for my expertise so he shouldn’t have to answer all my questions. One hissy fit was so bad that I actually teared up a bit. I’m not talking racking sobs, I’m talking eyes welling only. He sent me to the bathroom to calm myself down and waited til the next day to berate me for my “unprofessional demeanor” and for making him look like a meanie to the rest of the office. So far I have managed to successfully avoid so much as the slightest sign of human feelings, even through the lecture about my “weight problem” and how I’m a “beautiful girl” so I shouldn’t let it bring my self esteem down if my “husband doesn’t mind” me the way I am.
I am frequently blamed for things outside my control. On one occasion, he chastised me for losing a letter from a client that he gave to me. He could not tell me when he gave it to me, but insisted that I lost it and that was simply unacceptable. Fast forward two hours of storming around and yelling at me and he discovered the letter was written TWO YEARS before I came to work for him and HE had it in his briefcase ALL ALONG.
So now I sit here debating my sparse options, unable to quit because the economy is rotten and I have a family depending on my paycheck. At least if he’d stuck with his impetuous firing yesterday I would have received unemployment benefits to tide me over until I find a new position. Instead I am being forced to swallow my pride and integrity yet again and accept his offer to “move on”. What I wouldn’t give to be able to tell him off or at the very least, get some of my dignity back by being able to walk away.
If you’ve got any words of wisdom or encouragement for our reader, or if you’ve been in a similar position yourself, share your story in the comment section, or email me at denised(@)reallybadboss.com. (Leave out the parenthesis)
