Cheer me up please by telling me your worst boss stories

Pleasegivemeyourwisdom · 2023-02-02T22:47:44+00:00

Long story short. My boss stuck the boot in today somewhat. I’m still smarting but have it in hand. cheer me up by telling me your worst boss stories please to make me feel better 🤪

Original poster

Pleasegivemeyourwisdom · 02/02/2023 22:48

Ps, not a journo. Hate the daily Mail!

OP posts:

Peekingovertheparapet · 02/02/2023 22:50

3 months into a job (at a probation meeting) my line manager said ‘I didn’t want to hire you but it’s a democratic process so here we are’

XenoBitch · 02/02/2023 22:54

I was off work with mental health issues. I had even been hospitalised with them. My boss said to me "my dad died, and I am here working" as a way to kick me when I was down.

earsup · 02/02/2023 22:56

Teaching job....new manager, already unpopular among colleagues as hopeless and we discovered her certs were all dodgy, students knew more than her....promoted to manager and if any staff complained she would say " I will treat those that complain and dislike me just like the blacks back home...." She was south african....later left after causing chaos but got a much better job, no idea how with her lack of skills and knowledge. We used to put Ex lax in her drinks, we hated her so much..!!

UWhatNow · 02/02/2023 22:57

My boss gave everyone the morning off except me and we were all expected at another site for a lunchtime meeting. I’d been handling all the phone calls and then had to load up my car with the papers for the meeting. Because I was so busy dealing with things in the office I was a few minutes late at the other site and she berated me in front of all the other staff (who’d all enjoyed a lazy morning with a lie in).

IDontHarte · 02/02/2023 22:58

I've name changed for this as couldn't resist.
I once had a boss who, on finding out a few of us were planning on going to a pub quiz that evening (without him) had a complete toddler tantrum and shouted at us 'you're all a bunch of fucking cunts' then stormed off and shut himself in his office, slamming the door behind him.
When he eventually came out he said he'd had a nap on the floor.
So strange.

earsup · 02/02/2023 23:10

Another teaching job in an FE college...another vile hopeless manager who would time table the staff she disliked with the violent day release kids who were on probation and put them in a room with no panic button....if they left the room to call security, she would discipline them for abandoning the class while chairs whizzed out of windows etc....she also moved onto a deputy principal job out of london, I would quite happily run her over if opportunity arose....made all our lives hell for 3 years !!

mathanxiety · 02/02/2023 23:22

When working in a hotel, ages ago, I had a manager who scheduled staff without any regard for published occupancy rates. I was in a department providing business services for guests (this was back before the days of laptops, emails, etc). We were only needed when large conventions were in town orbwhen occupancy was over 50% as there were always business people staying. But the manager had us all sitting around doing nothing on Christmas Eve, day after Thanksgiving, week after Christmas, etc.

AngelaChasesBestLife · 02/02/2023 23:22

Was in my early twenties and working as a PA to a Head of Department. I used to regularly put in extra hours.

One Friday, my then partner was asked to a meeting late in the afternoon and told he was being made redundant. He'd just left a secure job he'd been in for several years for the job that was making him redundant. He'd been there for a few months so it was very much last in first out. He phoned me at work and was in a state. He asked me if I could leave work early.

It was about 4pm, and I finished work at 5.30. I went into see my boss and asked if I could leave early saying I'd make the time up the following week. I told him what had happened expecting him to be sympathetic. He response was to tell me that there was "a hierarchy of needs," and that my boyfriend's need to see me was lower in the hierarchy of needs then his need for me to be in office.

I left work at 5.30.

eatsleeppaddle · 02/02/2023 23:24

My old boss used to get really upset because some of us wouldn't stay in the pub all Friday afternoon as we had work to get on with. Thought we were deliberately trying to make him look bad. When we did return to work, he'd sulk all afternoon and not speak. It was quite funny, like an episode of The Office. He was so immature.
P.s. The daily mail should only ever be used as toilet paper.

CherryTreeDream · 02/02/2023 23:37

Upon retuning to work after having had a miscarriage, my former boss called me into the office and wanted me to give “reassurance that it won’t happen again”, (her exact words), tried to make me feel like I was irresponsible for trying for a baby with my husband, and ended the discussion by saying “Well, if that was the worst thing that’s happened to you, you should count yourself lucky”.

Horrible, horrible woman.

SouperNoodle · 02/02/2023 23:37

When I was 19, I worked as an assistant manager of a shop.
After my first 3 days there, my boss just stopped coming in so I was running the shop 6 days a week but she was fucking with the books to make it look like she was in full time.
She got paid more than me...for not working.
I was too young and shy to report her to the area manager so I just let it happen and then quit after working myself stupid for months.

Fromage · 02/02/2023 23:51

As a teenager, I had a boss who would just stare at my tits. I would slowly rotate till I faced the nearest wall until the conversation ended ( usually with him trailing off in confusion) I wanted him to say "Er, why are you facing the wall?" because he genuinely seemed perplexed. Then my plan was to say "SO YOU CAN'T STARE AT MY TITS WHEN YOU'RE TALKING TO ME, SIR" which as a gobby adolescent, I would have.

Also, I stole from him, put a tub of prawns in with his spare tyre, and put some amusing typos in the letters he had me write and I would often misspell his name.

No regrets. I was 16/17. He was 35. He got off lightly, the saddo.

BensonStabler · 03/02/2023 00:03

Working in a bar/nightclub in my early twenties, I always worked hard, never off or late, and went over and above to do extra hours, swap shifts, help colleagues etc.

I got along well with all the staff, and customers, and other management. The main boss was a woman in her late 40’s and had no problems with me.

That took a sudden nosedive, as a bouncer there asked me out on a date, I said no, but he continued to flirt and chase after me for a month (all this was always after work hours not during) and it turned out this woman had been obsessed with and had a hard crush on this guy for around 2 years, he was closer to my age in his late twenties and had made it clear to her many times he has no interest in her, everyone knew this. I didn’t.

This manager couldn’t bare me getting all this attention she’d kill for from “her man” so one night at the end of the shift, she come up to me with a big smirk on her face and took pleasure in telling me I was “fired for stealing” as after cashing up the bar me and 4 others were on that night, it was conveniently £10 short and she “knows it wasn’t them” as they’d worked there longer and were her friends. She then had the last laugh by asking the very bouncer to escort me from the building in front of everyone!

I was stunned and so angry! I have never stolen anything in my life! I told them this. I had been there for 7 months without issue. Then as soon as he pays me interest I’m gone! 🙄 pathetic lady. I know it was her from the looks and pleasure she was taking. I had it confirmed by other staff i kept in touch with months later that she admitted and was bragging about setting me up to get rid of me and laughing about it.

I lived alone and not long out an abusive relationship, I wasn’t interested in that man or any man! I was also desperate for a job/money and i couldn’t get a reference from her following that either obviously.

scoobydoo1971 · 03/02/2023 00:30

I had a boss once who was Miranda Priestley (The Devil wears Prada) down to a tee. Her gestures, clothing, expressions were all there. A bitchy icepick who never had positive words to say about any of her colleagues. With mature eyes, I now realise she was riddled with insecurity and jealousy about anyone and everyone. Paranoid and vile. I would feel sorry for her, but she was utterly cold. She said she regretted having kids and had subcontracted them to 'second mother' (i.e. the nanny). She would work unpaid hours just to stay in the office and not have to see her primary school age children. Her husband put them to bed. She made the department secretary cry by leaving a lonely hearts column on her desk once lunchtime, and suggesting that was her best hope of ever getting a boyfriend with such bad acne. She left cut out coupons for veet on my desk (had a slight hair problem due to polycystic ovaries), and told me she always knew I had arrived by my 'thundering sound' coming down the corridor. I just couldn't give a care when she thought, but I heard rumours of stuff she had done to other people that made me shudder. She stalked me when I left that job as she couldn't cope with losing control and anyone defying her by telling her to stick her job somewhere warm. Absolutely crazy woman, and walking out of that job was the best day of my life.

Hups · 03/02/2023 00:49

A few years ago my former boss sacked one of my colleagues for gross misconduct, but expected said colleague to work a months notice because it would leave us short staffed 😂

Original poster

Pleasegivemeyourwisdom · 03/02/2023 07:16

You guys have DEFINITELY made me feel better!

wowsers, some of your bosses were crazy - I’m really sorry you guys suffered that 😨

OP posts:

BenCoopersSupportWren · 03/02/2023 07:18

Pulled a knife on me in the office kitchen…

cunderthunt1 · 03/02/2023 07:19

My old boss got nicked for trying to meet underage girls on the internet

pennylanestrawberries · 03/02/2023 07:26

Wow some of those stories are awful!

My worst one was a boss who got really drunk in the pub after work one night and told me he knew my “type” which was apparently “private girls school, oxbridge, everything handed on a plate”. And that he couldn’t respect people like me as we’d never had to work for anything.

It would have been incredibly rude even if it were true, but I am from an ordinary background and went to a comprehensive!

SunshineLollipopsAndRainbows · 03/02/2023 07:39

I got bullied at a vets surgery - the woman wasn’t the Manager but was my superior on reception. It was like she was deliberately setting me up to fail. It didn’t turn out to be the job for me anyway but I would have quit because of her. She was pregnant & the only time she was nice to me was after I’d had a miscarriage. She did at least have the grace to look ashamed.

MummyofTw0 · 03/02/2023 07:39

Gosh there is some crazy bosses here

riceuten · 06/08/2023 15:53

Recently, a boss who offered me a job (full time, establishment) and on the first day of work, gave a 6 month fixed term contract and said ‘we’ll see how we go, then, eh?’.

Er, no. I gave his PA my computer, ID badge, and lanyard back, and said my old employers would be happy to have me back. I was halfway home before I got a call asking me to come back to the office, where a full time, establishment contract had miraculously appeared. I’d like to say this had a happy ending but 2 months later I actually left again, for this and many other reasons.

Iamplastic · 06/08/2023 16:18

Almost entire team quit just after lock down due to boss. New team leader was brought in. Team leader built team up from the ground up to be one of the best performing teams. Team leader was then managed out by boss. Deputy still just about clinging on but is feeling they are next. They won't do anything about the boss, as they are harsh and will be the big meanie for the big big boss, so they don't have to deal with the underlings shit. It's frustrating as good people are leaving, this person has no idea how to manage a team and some of their actions are batshit.

MrsDanversGlidesAgain · 06/08/2023 16:34

Had a phone call from DB in Oz that DM had been diagnosed with terminal cancer. Told him I'd organise a flight over, spoke to manager and said I'd need time off (I was long term temping). That was first thing in the morning.

Come 5pm - just clearing up to leave and he looks at me and says 'Well, I hope your day's been better than mine!' No, not really.

When I was away he did sod all about my work so I came back to two weeks backlog. When she died a couple of months later the compay kindly let me have another two weeks for the funeral, HR manager said don't worry about the work, we'll cover it. Came back to two weeks backlog.

Same manager when I asked if he could see his way to an uplift in my rate said he'd think about it (had worked there for two years at that point). Didn't hear anything for weeks - when I asked him he said he'd decided not to give me an uplift but knew I'd be upset so decided not to tell me.