Page 6 | Craziest things a boss has done

YouShouldBeDancingYeah · 16/05/2024 20:34

FearMe · 15/05/2024 21:22

All male. All different people. I don't know why I tolerated this shit but I did get my own back at a later stage.

Used to sit in his office and yell my name to come in rather than come to the door and speak to me. Once got so enraged that I was ignoring him that he fell off his chair.
Made a speech when I was moving to another dept and mentioned my large breasts.
On the way to an important meeting with a stakeholder on a big project, pulled car over, locked the doors and asked me if I was on his side or not.
Persuaded reps from a company that was selling us a huge deal to go out for lunch and leave their briefcases behind then got one of our team to go through the cases looking for info to help with negotiations.
Asked me to do overtime to type up his thesis when I had recently had an accident where I had multiple stitches in my hand. Then bought me a box of chocolates as recompense, and a couple of days later handed me his expense claim for the chocolates. I was the one who processed expense claims.

That's just my early work years, I'm sure I have more.

It would be a whole seperate post/ different topic for one company that I worked in where I managed mostly men and my (male) boss was a total dickhead.

Wow! Did you have the same boss as me? I have a similar story about having to type a thesis and only getting an (expensed) small box of chocolates as a reward!!!

Newestname002 · 16/05/2024 20:59

GerbilsForever24 · 16/05/2024 11:16

@GirlOfThe70s ooh, that reminds me. Same boss I posted about originally... his PA was off or he was between PAs, I can't remember. Either way, we had a temp in. Super efficient, very pleasant, very young woman - couldn't have been older than 23. He had a meeting externally which she'd put in his diary, including the address and she'd added a link to a map as well (proactively - this was before calendars automatically offered this option).

He rang into the office in a complete state because he didn't know where he was supposed to be/couldn't find the place. He was screaming so loud that the people sitting next to her could hear both sides of the conversation. The rest of us just heard her say politely, "the address is 3 Oak Road - it's off Maple street... I can't direct you because I don't know where you are. Can you see the map?..... You need to click on the link and it will take you to google maps......" etc. Anyway, apparently he was swearing at her and telling her this was not fucking acceptable etc. We were all agog when she said, "Please don't speak to me like that" then a pause while he yelled some more then "I won't be spoken to like that" and she put the phone down.

Anyway, she then called the agency that placed her with us, told them she wouldn't be staying ... and calmly walked out after politely saying goodbye to the rest of us and assuring us that her agency would not be sending anyone else to work for him. Which they didn't!!!! They had to use an entirely different temp agency to get someone new in. How we all cheered!

My word! What I wouldn't have given to have her self-confidence at that age- or any decade since, actually. 🌹

NeverDropYourMooncup · 16/05/2024 21:08

In the many years and many jobs, I've had the
timed how long for toilet breaks,
banned from eating or drinking,
somebody standing outside the cubicle door because I'd 'been gone for so long', told that nobody takes breaks,
told I wasn't allowed to leave site in case there was an emergency when I wasn't at my desk,
told I had to stay at my desk for breaks in case something happened,
told if I was at my desk for a break that meant I'd given up my chance for a break and I had to be seen to be working,
berated for wearing work appropriate wear because it didn't match their completely different role and only men needed to wear PPE when carrying things/shifting heavy equipment,
told that asking for help with carrying a 45kg load up three flights of stairs was unprofessional because 'a man can do it' -
assorted emails and calls at all times of day and night

but the maddest thing was coming back after a huge inflammatory disease flare (which they had referred me to OH for 'to see whether any of this is true') to find that not only was I supposed to move five rooms of heavy equipment up two flights of stairs and place onto a 5 foot raised surface with no stair access (so lifting it all above my head) by myself in an hour, they'd locked the lift because 'that's only for people in wheelchairs'.

Newestname002 · 16/05/2024 21:32

peachie82 · 16/05/2024 12:35

Many years ago my male boss came up behind me and put his penis on my shoulder. He also asked me to shave his back for him (I didn’t) and deliver toilet roll to him while he was sat on the loo (I did).

Urghh! 🤮

Newestname002 · 16/05/2024 21:36

peachie82 · 16/05/2024 12:35

Many years ago my male boss came up behind me and put his penis on my shoulder. He also asked me to shave his back for him (I didn’t) and deliver toilet roll to him while he was sat on the loo (I did).

There was a well known TV personality who apparently used to put his penis on assistants' shoulders - I wonder if you're referring to him? His initials were JB, he was in a long running TV series and other TV programmes 🌹

Hereallweek · 16/05/2024 21:52

DrJonesIpresume · 15/05/2024 23:27

My boss used to send his PA (my friend) out shopping to buy birthday cards and presents for his wife, because he couldn't be bothered said she would know what his wife would like better than he did.

A former boss of mine regularly got his mistress to buy birthday and Christmas presents for his wife. And would set off with her for business meetings then get lost / stuck in a motorway holdup etc and be conveniently gone all day.

All three worked in the same office. That is, until the entire office, including his wife, cottoned on and she got both divorced and a new job.

BlackCatsandBlueMoons · 16/05/2024 22:04

I worked in a dog grooming salon and the baliffs turned up one day. The owner hadn't been paying rent.

She also went on 'holiday' to France and never came back! Myself and another minimum wage paid employee had to run the place.

I quit when our pay didn't arrive one day and she said she 'couldn't believe we had the audacity' to demand our wages.

Absolute nutcase.

May2024 · 16/05/2024 22:37

AStrawberryTart · 16/05/2024 09:29

I worked for a large ‘green’ energy company. The CEO and his wife used to sign in and out of the visitor book at stupid times ie sign in 00.20 sign out 01.30. We went in one morning and every desk drawer had been gone through and anything he didn’t approve of being kept in desks was left on top of them. I had the audacity to have jelly belly beans, panty liners and tampax in my drawer which were left on top of my desk. Everyone had a WTF look on their faces that morning and the office was eerily quiet.

He also wouldn’t agree leaving dates for anyone handing their notice in, you couldn’t leave until he decided you could which was weird as we all had a one month notice period. He would fly into the most awful rages if you asked him for a reference too. I never gave him the opportunity, I found another job and emailed my resignation never to return - someone that left before me gave me a reference.

What he didn’t know was the IT guy had set up a chat thing where some of us that weren’t running back to the CEO with stories were on. I’ve never been so glad to leave a work place.

I think I know who this is! Heard lots of stories about him.

AStrawberryTart · 16/05/2024 22:40

May2024 · 16/05/2024 22:37

I think I know who this is! Heard lots of stories about him.

Show quote history

He’s well known in the field and known for being a controlling arse. I felt so sorry for his PA she was terrified of him and his wife.

DrJonesIpresume · 16/05/2024 22:46

BillStickersWillBeProsocuted · 16/05/2024 16:32

I've never worked in an industry that has Personal Assistants, but I thought that was exactly the sort of things they were there for? To assist however needed to allow the boss to concentrate on their job? Have been putting too much stock in what I see in films?!

Show quote history

Would you want your DH to take the trouble to go and buy your birthday card and present, or would you like him to delegate it to his subordinate? When I say PA, more of a secretary really. We are going back a few years now.

CurryandSnuggle · 16/05/2024 22:50

My boss was spanking everyone’s bum on a work night out, told me I had “fucking massive rack” and called everyone slags 😂 on a work night out.

Totally different sober!!

May2024 · 16/05/2024 23:05

@AStrawberryTart DV?

peachie82 · 16/05/2024 23:08

Newestname002 · 16/05/2024 21:36

There was a well known TV personality who apparently used to put his penis on assistants' shoulders - I wonder if you're referring to him? His initials were JB, he was in a long running TV series and other TV programmes 🌹

Show quote history

No that’s not him, he was just a small town bar owner.

Mugaloaf · 17/05/2024 04:48

MegsNaiceJam · 16/05/2024 00:55

Worked for a company that was taken over by an American company. They had the sales team jog around the car park in a morning “to get their adrenaline pumping for the day ahead”. Then if they hadn’t made a sale by the end of the day (it was all sales men as no woman put up their bullshit) they would cut whoever’s tie off and pin it the notice board.

Another boss didn’t allow us to buy tippex because we weren’t allowed to make mistakes.

Another manager didn’t allow any one to listen to a radio because he didn’t like radio waves coming in to the building 🤣

Too funny. Especially the ties. 😂😂😂

Stormyweathr · 17/05/2024 09:30

GerbilsForever24 · 13/05/2024 11:55

Inspired by the "craziest reasons to sulk" thread, I thought it might be entertaining (and cathartic?) to do similar with bosses? The weird/crazy/irrational things a boss has done?

I'll start with a male boss with a team of 7 women. He would regularly send his PA or the most junior member of the team into the bathroom to "find" anyone who was in the toilet when he wanted to speak to them.

[no, as a rule, no one was spending hours in the toilet - we were hard working, conscientious, busy people. Also, it was a very busy office so it wasn't unusual to hold the need for a bathroom break to unacceptable levels.] He did this on more than one occasion to almost everyone in the office except me (most likely because he knew I'd have taken it straight to HR).

My boss in a review once told me I had hit all my targets (really intense 6-7 in total and some at 98%) I had been with the company 3 years

he then gave me my overall score and advised he would be marking as having performance needs as I had should be over achieving, I had colleagues with the same stats who had been there a year who got a glowing overall mark and praise

discrimination at its best. I took it straight to the union who advised said boss should have set higher targets if he felt like that but with the caveat that would also be discrimination as I was doing the same job

I found a better job and left

MrsDanversGlidesAgain · 17/05/2024 09:37

turkeyboots · 16/05/2024 10:45

I worked for a woman who call my office phone, and if I didn't answer, my office mobile and them move onto my personal mobile and then call my house phone.
All in the space of 3 minutes
I'd miss a call due to being on another call or having a pee. Regardless she'd do this regularly and be really pissed off with me.
She was another one who blamed the menopause for being a nightmare.

I had a job in a very small training company - first job after being made redundant about 20 years ago. I was doing the payables in the office alone (apart from the colleague who said 'fuck' every other word) and finance head would wake up at midnight and start emailing. Then she'd email from the training. Then if I didn't reply she'd DM. Then if I didn't reply to that she'd call. Then she'd want to know why my work wasn't getting done.

That's the only job I've turned to someone, said 'I'm done' and walked out. Head of finance screamed at me down the phone for 10 minutes that night when she found out, but it was worth it.

4YellowDaffodils · 17/05/2024 09:43

I had a boss (law firm) who said to me once in an appraisal 'I don't much like your face'.

Granted, I have a face that looks like gently rising dough. But I was a good solicitor and the second highest fee-earner in my department.

Mind you, my line manager at the same firm started screaming at me that I was a fucking migrant and why the fucking firm could not employ 'British jobs for British people' was beyond her. I did take that to the boss who did not like my face and he shrugged and said 'what is she like?'

5 years i lasted at that job before I had a nervous breakdown.

Newestname002 · 17/05/2024 10:33

4YellowDaffodils · 17/05/2024 09:43

I had a boss (law firm) who said to me once in an appraisal 'I don't much like your face'.

Granted, I have a face that looks like gently rising dough. But I was a good solicitor and the second highest fee-earner in my department.

Mind you, my line manager at the same firm started screaming at me that I was a fucking migrant and why the fucking firm could not employ 'British jobs for British people' was beyond her. I did take that to the boss who did not like my face and he shrugged and said 'what is she like?'

5 years i lasted at that job before I had a nervous breakdown.

5 years i lasted at that job before I had a nervous breakdown.

Hope you are well on the mend now and with people who appreciate you. I feel sorry for anyone who still works in the toxic environment of your last company, who lost a valuable employee. 🌹

JaneFarrier · 17/05/2024 15:35

I think the very oddest thing a boss has done is to insist I sent back my meal at the Christmas lunch because she didn't think it was sufficiently vegetarian for me. She believed it contained parmesan cheese, which admittedly isn't vegetarian, but I wouldn't have sent the whole dish back over it. I wasn't the only one - her objection to parmesan was mentioned at her funeral of all places.

Other than that my bosses have been fairly tame. I did have one, otherwise very nice, who unguardedly referred to me as his "work wife" once (we were a team of two and had worked closely for years, and I'm sure that's all he meant) and then evidently panicked that this sounded sexist, and awkwardly tried to demonstrate how equality-minded he wsd for the entire rest of the day. I wasn't offended - and I was the only one who heard it!

AndSoFinally · 17/05/2024 16:58

Invited the whole team round for a BBQ on his hobby small holding, got completely pissed, and then tried to run one of our social workers down with his tractor (in fairness, we were all rooting for him...😝)

worryworrysuperscurry · 17/05/2024 17:11

In my first week in HR I took a phone call from a manager enquiring about bereavement leave. One of her staff's daughter had died while giving birth to her stillborn grandchild. It was just awful for everyone.
My callous manager refused to speak to her and said that there was no defined bereavement leave for adult children or grandchildren, so I was left with the task of telling this manager that HR said that her staff member could take just three days off. I've never forgotten that and it's over 30 years ago.
The same boss told a woman whose father died, followed four days later by her mother, that she could only take the allotted time for one parent. She was an utter bitch, and I have to confess that when, several years later (long after I had left) I found out she couldn't have children, my first thought was thank fuck she can't breed.

mybeesarealive · 17/05/2024 17:23

Managing partner of the European division of a major transatlantic law firm. I was explaining how my career and progression had been impacted by my son's disabilities and his experience of a school placement breakdown / exclusions (unmet needs arising from ASD and ADHD). He glanced at as watch, cut me off, and said "...well, I have another meeting at 12.30...", while gesturing towards the door with his hands.

That was last September/October. I was shocked and upset. I resigned in February (as soon as I could) and start my new job on Monday.

SadieSeptember · 17/05/2024 17:59

I worked in a charity with a boss who was completely incompetent as a manager as well as being super woke, insisting on pronouns on emails and the rest. She/her marked mental health awareness week by inviting us to drop into she/her office every afternoon to talk about our mental health. Nobody did. She/her resigned soon after but took the notice period off as sick leave due to…mental health.

PoshHorseyBird · 17/05/2024 18:06

I worked with horses for 25 years so could probably write a book about nut job bosses! But the most insane was a woman who, among many things, asked me to walk a couple of horses, in hand, to a field in the next village because she was too busy to put them in the horse box and drive them there. It was just a mere 7 miles away! If she was angry about something she would walk round in circles hitting herself in the head. She also thought I was using a pickfork too close to the horse I was mucking out and proceeded to grab it off me and jab it in my leg. She then couldn't understand why I walked out. Just three examples of what an absolute lunatic she was, she really needed to see a doctor!

Silverfoxette · 17/05/2024 18:42

Manager accidentally left her car window open in the morning and at lunch, sat into a soggy seat. She returned from lunch, removed her underwear and draped them over the radiator to dry