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Original poster

What is the worst thing ever said to you by a boss?

194 replies

Chocywockydodahhhhhh · 27/03/2018 12:53

So many posts on here about bad bosses I was just wondering mine would be
I had a miscarriage on the Sunday and came into work on the Sunday and managed to get through. By Tuesday afternoon I was bleeding through my pads, pants and onto the chair and I was in a lot of pain so went home. I was off two days and when I got back my boss didn’t ask how I was or how I was coping and instead said
“why couldn’t you have worn a thicker pad and not gone home, we had some in the cuboard, you could have put two together”

Bitch

OP posts:
flowerslemonade · 27/03/2018 14:23

He wasn't nasty but when I was 16 I was working as a sports coach and my boss fucked off to London randomly for the entire day on his motorbike, leaving me and one other person (who was about 18/possibly 19) in charge of a group of 6-13 year olds for the day. We had NO qualifications and I had no experience and hadn't worked in that area before. We took them outside to the playing field and set up high jump and other stuff for them to do on the grass track, looking back it was incredibly dangerous and actually shocking someone would've done that and left us. It was meant to be a sports coach assistant role, like helping out and learning how to coach. I think we both had had a CRB check but nothing else. When he came back he just said "you been OK?" and that was it. He also gave me a lift on his motorbike where I had to hold him (yuck) and almost crashed, it was scary.

citychick · 27/03/2018 14:23

I've had ," how are your tea making skills luv" Angry

And

" I need you to go to NYC but you can't because you have a child".

After more bullying and descrimination from that boss I got a lawyer. Best decision I ever made.

BeyondThePage · 27/03/2018 14:24

Worked in Civil Service - up for promotion -

"Never mind love, bound to pass - there's quotas for women" followed by another man saying "Never mind love, if it goes tits up you can always go home and have babies" couldn't "win" if I passed or if I failed. I passed.

ItsAllDoomAndGloom · 27/03/2018 14:29

Quite severely depressed after the death of two family members in a few months.

Holding it together outwardly, still doing a good job.

Literally told to "cheer up" even when pushed into telling them how I felt and the situation.

Original poster
Chocywockydodahhhhhh · 27/03/2018 14:30

I have now left thank goodness
It hit me as she was someone i used to really admire but she just got worse from there. I was once told everyone really looks up to her (my boss) unless they have worked for her for more then a year. It’s so true she seemed to really be nice for a year or so then would turn.

I told them it had to be pregnancy related absence but was told for that I needed to document when I started bleeding and how much each day I lost and how it made me feel.

I didn’t bother, I should have friends it further but at the time I did not have he strength

OP posts:
Ponocky · 27/03/2018 14:31

I approached my boss as I needed help with some work. I said "Can I just ask you a quick question please?" and he replied "Unless that question is 'will you go to dinner with me', I'm not interested."

When I told my last boss of three years that I was pregnant he asked me instantly if it was planned. When I said "Yes, of course." he simply said "So you decided to give up your career on purpose then?!". I never went back after my maternity leave ended.

I used to ride a motorbike to work and part of my safety kit was a high-viz jacket that had the old 'Think Bike!' slogan and logo on the back of it. I often hung it over the back of my office chair. One day my bosses boss walked behind me, saw the jacket and said out loud as he walked away "Think Bike? Yeah! Office Bike! HAHA!". I was the only woman in my office. The men all stopped and stared, mouth open. They knew that wasn't true as I was a shy, newly married woman, who'd only been at the company 5 minutes. Didn't stop me crying at my desk though.

This whole thread is depressing Sad

CaffeineAndCrochet · 27/03/2018 14:31

Kneeling down to do some filing and manager tells me 'that's what I like to see, you on your knees'.

ItsAllDoomAndGloom · 27/03/2018 14:31

Also, not the worst thing but all part of the package, my boss never responds to my holiday requests.

We have to email them as per policy and they are just ignored until I ask face to face, met with a look of disgust and shrugged off.

I have to take this as a yes.

ItsAllDoomAndGloom · 27/03/2018 14:32

Passive aggressive bullshit.

Katedotness1963 · 27/03/2018 14:35

I was 18 and it my first job when my boss complained to me about one of my coworkers who continually let him down at the last minute. But, he told me, "I keep her on because we have to have someone attractive working here". Now, I knew I was no oil painting but that was a huge kick in the confidence...

ItsAllDoomAndGloom · 27/03/2018 14:38

I also once got a disciplinary procedure because the stationery cupboard wasn't tidy enough.

She didn't get far with that. Power trip Sad

PrettyWisdomous · 27/03/2018 14:39

When I was about 18 or 19, my boss (who was fully aware of my newly diagnosed MH conditions) shouted across the small open-plan office that I should be in a mental hospital, because I had the audacity to have a chat to one of my colleagues.

A different boss said he was giving me an annual bonus despite my MH conditions Hmm

Rudgie47 · 27/03/2018 14:40

"You deserved a kicking and thats what you got a fucking kicking"
"Your an adult you fucking do it".
Being intimidated e.g. "you'll go and you'll do it", whispered quietly at me whilst staring me in the eyes.

Ijustmovedtothecountryside · 27/03/2018 14:42

I once worked for a small printing company which included my boss, his wife, and me. They were a very unusual couple; both obsessed with losing weight, even though they were tiny. And all they ever seemed to do was criticise everyone else and look down their noses at the world.

Anyway, the wife was very controlling and one lunchtime I had a Twix chocolate bar in my bag, which I offered half to my boss. He ate it, and then I can't remember why but the wife found out and went mad at him (I was sent home early so they could fight in private!).

Another time, it was just me and my boss locking up. There were heavy shutters on the window which we practically had to bolt lock. And then the room would be in total darkness until someone opened the front door.
As I reached for my bag in the darkness, I felt him move closer towards me and then he said, "I'd like you to do something for me". Thinking he wanted me to hand him his bag or something I thought nothing of it. But then he put his hand on my shoulder and continued, "Something special," he went on and I began to worry. I started heading for the door and he followed, standing in front of me. "I want you to..." by now I thought I was going to scream, but he moved his face towards my ear and semi shouted, "I want you to go home and enjoy your weekend!"

Cath2907 · 27/03/2018 14:43

To cheer you up I have worked for 7 bosses in the last 20 years, 6 of whom were men. I've also worked with a large number of Directors and Senior Directors over the last 5 years most of whom were men and a couple of VPs and Senior VPs. Not one has ever felt me up, made derogatory comments about my appearance or been a dick towards me. In fact I have experienced a lot of support and kindness through bereavement, family illness and other personal issues.

I guess what I am trying to say is not all bosses are shit some are rather lovely (I remember 2 with great fondness as they were more like caring uncles than bosses when I first started work).

FrangipaniBlue · 27/03/2018 14:44

My first ever job I was told by a senior partner that I'd never make it in the profession because I didn't have what it took.

19 years later I have my own company which is a direct competitor to them. My company makes more money.

FrangipaniBlue · 27/03/2018 14:45

and I also echo what @Cath2907 said!!

My best bosses have been male.... and the worst were female!

LittleMissNaice · 27/03/2018 14:47

Is miscarriage pregnancy related sickness? I was signed off after mine last year and my employers refused to acknowledge it as that.

EasterRobin · 27/03/2018 14:47

I was reprimanded for "looking like a lesbian".

Reallycantbebothered · 27/03/2018 14:47

When I went for interview for a very well known high street store back in the mid 80's, I'd just got engaged and was due to graduate....I was asked when I'd be having children.....I wish I'd been able to think of something witty and acerbic didn't get job and didn't have children for another 10 yrs , so their loss

WorldofTofuness · 27/03/2018 14:50

"I'd like to drop a bomb on Oxford and Cambridge, and Islington, because, you know, of the people who are there."

In full knowledge that I'd been to uni at one of these places--leaving aside the appropriateness of talking open-plan about bombing people.
(The twat had taken an instant dislike when I started the jobfair enoughbut it turns out had earlier refused to do the interview training which would have allowed him to choose a candidate he did like.)

snash12 · 27/03/2018 14:51

"Oh, don't do your jacket up, I want to stare at your tits"

"I wouldn't have interviewed you if I knew you had a boyfriend"

BeyondThePage · 27/03/2018 14:51

my best boss is my current one - a female who runs her own business... I was seriously ill last year and was told - "take all the time you need, your job is here however long it takes, come back when YOU are ready, we will not expect you until you tell us"

NutElla5x · 27/03/2018 14:56

Wow Chocywocky that really was a heartless comment to make,I'm actually in shock! It was very brave of you to drag yourself into work in the first place (I don't think I could have done).Your bitch of an employer doesn't deserve you and you deserve these Flowers Sorry for your loss x

LadyOfTheCanyon · 27/03/2018 14:57

I used to work for a gay man ( relevant as he had massive issues with women's sexuality).

He used to make misogynistic remarks about our "awful" bodies and was so so proud of never having touched a woman's vagina ("apart from your Mother's when you were born," as I pointed out, which completely horrified him.)

One day, one of my colleagues mentioned that she had dreadful menstrual cramps.
He positively sneered and said "I know when any of your girls have your periods. I can smell you."