DEALING WITH A DIFFICULT BOSS Mrs. Mietus Penfield High School

Difficult Bosses:  Destroy Self Confidence  Are Verbally Abusive  Take Advantage of Employees’ Dedication  Lower Morale  Decrease Productivity  Make Unreasonable Demands

Difficult Bosses:  Increase Workplace Stress  Impact Employees’ Dignity  Mistrust Employees  Break Promises  Don’t Communicate Well  Threaten Punishment

Difficult Bosses:  Play Favorites  Micro-Manage  Sexually Harass Employees  Don’t Provide Adequate Training  Don’t Appreciate Employees  Don’t Recognize Employee Accomplishments

7 Tips for Working for a Difficult Boss #1: Arrange to meet with your supervisor several times to find out what s/he expects and needs from you, and talk about how you can meet those expectations and needs. #1: Arrange to meet with your supervisor several times to find out what s/he expects and needs from you, and talk about how you can meet those expectations and needs.

7 Tips for Working for a Difficult Boss #2: Keep a detailed written record of any problematic interactions. Include: - When did it happen? - When did it happen? - Where were you at the time? - Where were you at the time? - What did your boss say to you? - What did your boss say to you? - How did you respond? - How did you respond? - What happened next? - What happened next?

7 Tips for Working for a Difficult Boss #3: If you're cursed at, threatened, physically or sexually harassed, or otherwise being treated abusively, take your written record of the event to both your company's personnel department and your boss's manager. #3: If you're cursed at, threatened, physically or sexually harassed, or otherwise being treated abusively, take your written record of the event to both your company's personnel department and your boss's manager.

7 Tips for Working for a Difficult Boss #4: Don't blow up, slink away, or whatever else you instinctively do when people are angry at you. Losing control makes you look bad, and walking away makes you look like you're challenging your supervisor's authority. #4: Don't blow up, slink away, or whatever else you instinctively do when people are angry at you. Losing control makes you look bad, and walking away makes you look like you're challenging your supervisor's authority.

7 Tips for Working for a Difficult Boss #5: Talk to your boss about the specific behavior in question and tell her/him how it makes you feel. You can soften your comments and avoid defensiveness by introducing your statements with "You may not be aware..." or "You may not realize..." or "You may not intend..."

7 Tips for Working for a Difficult Boss #6: Keep a written record of your accomplishments either weekly, monthly, or yearly so when you have a performance review, you can give specific reasons for deserving that raise.

7 Tips for Working for a Difficult Boss  #7: Talk with a someone you trust outside of your workplace. They might have dealt with a boss similar to yours and can give you some great advice.

It Is Time To Quit When…  Your stress level is so high at work that it is affecting your physical or mental health and your relationships with your friends and family.  Your employer practices unethical behavior towards customers and/or employees.

It Is Time To Quit When…  Despite many conversations with your boss, you still feel unchallenged, need more responsibility, and seek opportunities that just don't exist for you in your current organization.  Your employer is not following state labor laws.

It Is Time To Quit When…  Your employer is violating OSHA rules or other laws that regulate that particular industry.  You dread going to work.  Despite your complaints, your boss still treats you unfairly.

It Is Time To Quit When…  Your values are at odds with the corporate culture.  Your relationship with your manager is damaged beyond repair.  Your life situation has changed.

It Is Time To Quit When… Your company is experiencing a downward spiral, losing customers, losing money, and rumors abound of possible closure.

What Would You Do? Take This 12-Question Quiz: Can You Handle a Bad Boss? Found Online at: NEW.htm NEW.htm

References  1997, 1998 Center for Psychiatric Rehabilitation, Boston University  Quiz: Can You Handle a Bad Boss?  Bad Bosses and How to Handle Them By BARBARA MOSES Globe & Mail May 6, te=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.bbmcareerdev.com%2Fbad_bos ses.html te=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.bbmcareerdev.com%2Fbad_bos ses.html  Top Ten Reasons to Quit Your Job By Susan M. Heathfield By Susan M. HeathfieldSusan M. HeathfieldSusan M. Heathfield c.htm