We all look for a real leader in our boss. The one who can have our backs, who motivates and inspires. It’s a person you can thoroughly trust, learn from, and grow together with professionally.
The truth is, in reality, exactly the opposite can happen. Our managers, bosses and supervisors can downright make our life a living hell. And having in mind that we spend 40 hours a week and 2,080 working hours a year with them, this is a huge lump of our life to spend in misery.
Below we wrapped up some blood-boiling examples that demonstrate what real leaders should not do or say. We also spoke with Dr. Gleb Tsipursky, the best-selling author andCEO of Disaster Avoidance Experts who shared some key signs of a bad boss, as well as how to be a great leader to your team.
More stories about annoying bosses can be found in our previous featureshereandhere.
#1 Very Inappropriate Joke
#3 Terrible Boss Regretting
When you work in a toxic workplace, you may get used to it. In fact, it may even be impossible to pinpoint the reason why you don’t like being around your boss, or why everything they do seems to cause a negative response in you. In some cases, however, the signs that your boss should take on leadership courses, or part with leading their team altogether, are more than obvious.
Dr. Gleb Tsipursky told We via email that micromanaging is one of the key signs of a bad boss. It includes things like “Constantly checking on employees, not delegating responsibilities, and not trusting their team, which can lead to employee frustration and decreased productivity.”
#4 I’m Still In Shock
#5 I Just Found Out I’m The Single Lowest Paid Paramedic At My Ambulance Company, Despite Having The Most Experience By Several Years
#6 Please Note The Timestamps. Any Suggestions On How To Deal With This Outrageous Unfairness?
A bad boss, Dr. Gleb argues, can be also described as someone who lacks communication, fails to provide feedback, set clear expectations, or listen to employee concerns. This can create a negative work environment and result in misunderstandings. Playing favorites is another sign to look out for. “Favoritism can lead to resentment among employees and can create an unfair work environment,” Dr. Gleb explained.
#7 My Fiance Called In Sick. Her Boss Called 911 And Told The Police She Was On Drugs. Is This Legal?
#8 My Store Manager Yelled At Me Because I Can Barely Afford To Eat
#9 I Got Fired For Telling The Boss “How To Do His Job” When All I Did Was Say, “We Can’t Obstruct A Fire Escape”
Moreover, “a bad boss may blame others for their mistakes, fail to take responsibility for their actions, or fail to hold themselves or their team accountable for their performance.”
Similarly, a lack of empathy is another warning sign. “A boss who is insensitive to the needs of their team may not be able to effectively support them or address their concerns,” Dr. Gleb explained.
“A boss who makes poor decisions or fails to make timely decisions can negatively impact the team’s performance and morale,” he added.
#10 My Boss Thinks I Should Skip Seeing My Probation Officer And Go To Jail So He Can Have A Day Off. He Thinks My Labor Should Be More Important Than My Freedom
#11 I Left My Job Shortly After Receiving This “Prize” For My Good Work
#12 I Felt Sick, So I Did A Test For Covid. My Boss Responded With This
Dr. Gleb’s advice for employees who work for a toxic boss would be to first document instances of toxic behavior. “This can be useful if you need to bring your concerns to HR or if you decide to leave the company.”
Trying to address the behavior directly may be also a way to go. “You can try to have a conversation with your boss to express your concerns and find a solution. However, this may not always be possible or effective,” Dr. Gleb said.
In some situations, seeking support is crucial. “Talk to a trusted colleague, mentor, or friend about your situation. They can offer advice, support, and a different perspective.” In more extreme cases, Dr. Gleb argues, employees should consider leaving. “If the situation is truly toxic and your boss is not willing or able to change, it may be best for your well-being to find a new job.”
#13 The Audacity Of The Boss
#14 The Fire Exit At My Job Has Been Blocked Like This For Months, And My Boss Threatened To Fire Me After He Saw Me Taking This Photo
#15 After Helping Them On Short Notice Many Times, I Finally Learned That My Day Off Is My Day Off
The good news is that there is always a way to learn to be a good leader for your team, Dr. Gleb assured us. Seeking feedback is one of the first steps to take. “Ask your team for feedback on your leadership style, communication, and performance. Use this feedback to identify areas for improvement.”
Learning leadership means you also have to develop self-awareness. “Reflect on your own strengths and weaknesses as a leader. This can involve taking personality assessments, soliciting feedback from colleagues, or seeking the advice of a coach or mentor,” Dr. Gleb explained.
#16 A 15-Year-Old Kid Was So Tired From The Workload That He Just Fell Asleep On His 10-Minute Break. After Boss Saw That, He Said: “Make Sure He Doesn’t Get Paid For That”
#17 Boss Told Me I Have To Come Into Work Because They Need Me
#18 Boss Changed Her Mind Very Fast
Dr. Gleb argues that trust is critical to effective leadership. So anyone who wants to become a better leader has “to work to build trust with their team by being transparent, following through on commitments, and acknowledging your mistakes.”
A good leader needs to provide their team a clear direction. Dr. Gleb’s advice is to set clear goals and expectations for your team and communicate them effectively. “This can help your team understand their role and how their work fits into the bigger picture,” he said.
#19 No Compassion At All
#20 Boss Fired Me For Taking Approved Vacation Time. After That, He Denied My Unemployment. Three Weeks Later, I Got Asked To Sign A Non-Disclosure Agreement
#21 My Boss Screwed The Only Window At Our Office Shut, So It’s Impossible To Get Fresh Air
He wanted to save money by not using the heater, which we never use cause it’s so hot in here anyways, so he decided to screw it shut. This can’t be legal. Right?
Last but not least, a leader should never take their team for granted and should put effort into developing it. “Invest in the development of your team by providing training, mentoring, and coaching. This can help them grow their skills and improve their performance,” Dr. Gleb concluded.
#22 My Boss Asked Me If I Could Change The Day I Put My Dog To Sleep
#23 My Boss Actually Wrote This On My Last Check
He didn’t give a 2-week notice, was very inconsiderate, and quit for no reason. Vegan who likes cancer, not meat, coward. He got free rides to work for five months. Self-centered and never amount to anything!
#24 I Lost My Job Of 3 Years Because Of This
#25 Boss Gave Me Cash And Called It A Bonus. Months Later, He Took It Out Of My Paycheck
#26 I Walked To Work In A Thunderstorm, But My Boss Forgot To Tell Me We All Have Today Off
#27 My Boss Told Me To At Least Try Shoveling Out And Come In Today. Red Car Is Mine. Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada
#28 My Boss Posted This Job Description On Facebook And Then Commented On This A Week Later. I Wonder Why No One Applied
#29 Stop Stealing My Electricity
#30 My Boss Shared This Without A Hint Of Irony In Our WhatsApp Group
#31 I Told My Boss I Quit, And He’s Not Going To Pay Me
#32 My Partner Asked If They Would Be Getting Paid For A Mandatory Work Meeting On Their Day Off
What makes it worse is this place doesn’t do holiday pay despite it being a legal requirement in the UK.
#33 Recently Posted At Work
#34 My Boss Wouldn’t Let Me Go To Turn Off My Headlights, Even Though You Could See It Through The Window That They Were On
#35 My Coworker Had A Dispute With The Owner. This Is How The Owner Replied On The Group Chat
#36 I Didn’t Bring Lunch To Work Since My Employer Was Providing Pizzas. Two Slice Limit On Pizzas They Cut Into 16 Slices
#37 I Make $15 An Hour
#38 Employees Were Treated Like Middle Schoolers
#39 The Employer Doesn’t Let Workers Use The Air Conditioner As A Heat Wave Comes Rushing In
#40 I Am So Done With This
#41 My Boss Posted This Right After They Mandated Mandatory 6 Days And 11 Hours Work Days
#42 My Boss Told Me To Go And Rewire An Old Electrical Cabinet At This Factory. He Didn’t Tell Me That Everything Was Covered In Sewage Liquids
#43 My Boss Texted Me In The Middle Of The Night
#44 My Boss Called Me In Early, And Said The Line Needs To Be Cleaned Up. He Set Up The Line This Morning And Made All This Mess
#45 My Job Involves Walking For Hours At A Time. We Also Don’t Get Breaks At All. Even For 12+ Hour Shifts
#46 These Meals We Got At My Job For Shifts Up To 12 Hours
#47 The Same Thing Happened To My Friend Michael Scott When He Had Bruce Springsteen’s Tickets
#48 This Is How My Mom’s Employer Shipped Her $2000 Work Laptop
#49 I Messaged My Boss That There Was A Small Leak, And He Told Me To Put A Bucket Under It. A Few Hours Later, The Ceiling Tiles Collapsed During A Rush
#50 Boss Called My Dr. Because I Tested Positive For Covid
