Some Bad Boss Stories - Part 2

2 hateful bosses
by Katie - (VA)

I worked at a *name removed* store for 3 1/2 months, and I had this fake two-faced boss from hell, whom hated me since day one. She would talk down to me like I was a stupid kid, kept saying how fat I was and shouldn't be wearing anything black and force me to do stuff I couldn't do. She would always put me down and even cut my pay after confronting her the first time. She had sidekick, whom was just as bad, but knew how to talk her way out of things. They tried everything to get rid of me by making up ridiculous things like, I didn't fold the shirts in a certain way, or I was hitting on the male customers or I kept giving them attitude, anything that came to their minds. One day, they called me into their offices during my lunch break, and they made up another story about my boyfriend at that time and I making out in the bathroom and me performing a lewd act. I tried to defend myself by telling them it never happened. They kept badgering me with lie after lie about it, and again I would say it wasn't true. They didn't seem to care, and suspended me for a week with no pay. Feeling defeated, I started to cry, and one of them said that I was weak, and the other made an evil smile, like she was so happy that she finally "got rid of me". A week later, I came back and did my work as usual with no problems. Until the head boss saw me and gave me the most evil look possible and slammed her office door. I ignored it, and continued with my work. They would harass me weeks after that.

Then the day, I was one of many that got laid off from the company, due to budget cuts. The head boss called me into her office, and told me with a big smile on her face. Fed up with her constant hatred towards me and harassment, I finally got my time to confront the devil incarnate, telling her that she could go f-- herself and go to hell. I called human resources and filed a complaint on those two. I had a VERY hard time finding a job after that because I had to put down the company's name and supervisors. They would tell the hiring manager that I wasn't professional and was a horrible worker, and would perform lewd acts to every guy there.

Few months after that, I heard through the grapevine that those 2 evil women got canned because they treated everyone like crap, and got so many complaints about them. So, I wasn't the only one. To this day, I still don't know why they hated me so much, that they tried to ruin my life. They were just plain AWFUL!

My Crazy Boss... part deux!
by Sharon - (New York, NY)

It's hard to believe that I wound up working for a woman who's twice as bad as the boss before her, but it's true. So, that will make a total of 9 years working for two of the worst bosses in the world. Gee, I really know how to pick them.

My latest boss is best described as a large shot of Anna Wintour, 3 parts ADD, and a splash of alcoholism -shaken violently, not stirred.

Since it was slightly inappropriate to ask "Anna" if she had any crazed, self-absorbed, booze-hound tendencies during the interview, I accepted the position and started working as her personal assistant a little over 5 years ago. I soon found she was all that and then some. Examples:

1. Listening: Anna is completely devoid of ausculation, and blatantly interrupts everyone in mid sentence.

2. The Meeting: This will involve her Blackberry and the many texts she types, or calls she takes from her husband, children, nanny, etc., as you go over the week's agenda and to-do lists. Also, answering emails on her PC and a story about her crazy neighbor. Before you make it to item #2 on your list, she's off for the drunken luncheon meeting.

3. Planning: not a priority for Anna. It's more of an OMG, we have to get this done by 4:00pm today approach. Of course, it was on the to-do list and added to her calendar with many pop-up reminders. I'm pretty sure she enjoys the drama of the deadline.

4. The Event: Accompanying Anna to events that involve some travel is just fun fun fun. She insists on driving and must stop at the hotel bar for cocktails before heading back home. This is just too scary to talk about and I've made every excuse not to go with her since the last horror ride.

5. The Wizard of Oz: For me, the worst offense of them all... the screaming. Anna has zero patience - if something isn't working for her, she will unleash the Wicked Witch of the West voice on me. Usually during my day off, or at 11:00pm at night - combined with one of her happy hours. I also get those calls when she's had a fight with a family member as well.

So, why have a lasted 5 years? I'm not sure. I do like the job itself - it's really diverse, flexible schedule, good pay, ok benefits. But as she mentioned to me in a recent screaming match, "I AM THE JOB!" My reply was, "And therein lies the problem!" That conversation ended as soon as I mentioned that I will leave her if she does not stop abusing me. She's been fairly good for two weeks, but I feel she's about to blow!

That's my story - sad but true. I will eventually leave and hopefully on good terms... I will need that dang reference.

In the meantime, my doctor prescribes me anti-anxiety medication and I try to meditate when I can, but the racing thoughts are too powerful to stop and relax these days.