The Toxic Boss
Once upon a time a young woman was in need of employment and so she went on her mission of job hunting. She was new to her city and eagerly looking for employment. She wanted work that she could call "home" for the next 20 years or so.
She stumbled across an advertisement that seemed to be a great opportunity. She began to research the company. The website looked professional and encouraging. The company motto was in line with her beliefs; so she pulled up her resume and cover letter and set to work.
After several email exchanges and a very unorthodox interview, she felt encouraged that she would be the candidate chosen. The location was prime to her new residence, the pay would be sufficient without commuting or parking fees. The ball was rolling. The phone call came and the job was hers if she wanted it. She accepted it.
Well, it didn't take long before HUGE questions began to surface about the "stability" of her boss. I mean everyone has their moments. Everyone has good days and bad days. Business fluctuates and has natural ebbs and flows. But wow, this was beyond anything she had ever seen.
In fact there were moments she had to pinch herself that she wasn't having a nightmare set in the 1960's or thereabouts. The Boss would discipline his employees right in front of customers and other employees. He had no shame is how he treated them. "Get used to it, I am not gonna change." he would declare to anyone who thought to challenge his berating actions. He didn't blink twice when telling you that if you didn't "F'ing stop what you were doin and F'ing do what I want then I am going to F'ing fire everyone."
No this was not a nightmare, pinching herself only added physical pain to the emotional and mental torture that she experienced each day. Lunch times were filled with tears at her home before gathering herself up and going back for some more battering.
Several huge RED FLAGS waved boldly in her face as she went to work day after day.
Flag #1 - She was hired for a certain position, but not able to do the work that position required.
Flag #2 - Priorities changed every minute depending on the mood of the boss.
Flag #3 - The boss would email her and tell her it was her responsibility to keep him from having a nervous breakdown that day.
Flag #4 - Each employee in the office would inquire how the boss' mood was every day before entering the premises.
Flag #5 - He either told his employees that he could not afford to pay them or asked them to refrain from taking their paycheques all the while eating out, taking vacations and driving a $60,000 vehicle.
Flag #6 - He yelled profanities at customers and told them to get out of his business, when they needed him to deal with purchases gone bad.
Flag #7 - This was the flag that took the cake. He told her one day that he didn't hire her for her skills and abilities, but for her looks.
In less than three short months, this woman went from being a happy, encouraging, and inspired employee to a scared, dying, miserable wretch.
Customers, associates, and co-workers asked her why she even stayed. Even she wondered. I guess it was to try and prove some worthless point in the end. She was frustrated because her boss left her no time to complete her work. He spent all his time demanding answers to rhetorical questions. He lectured all employees as if they were seven year old children.
She often envisioned Scrooge and his tunnel vision regarding money.
Sadly one day when, yet again her boss was an emotional yo-yo, she had to confront him on information he shared to the office that was totally incorrect. Professionally she emailed him and advised him of the error. The next morning she found herself staring at an email that advised her she was on notice.
"You aren't going to bully me this way any more!" she said to herself. And she collected her things (after calling the Labour Relations Board and Employment Benefits) and walked out the door. She didn't look back nor did she didn't regret her decision for one moment. The "powers that be" sided with her in her quest to free herself from a hostile environment and she lived happily every after.
She stumbled across an advertisement that seemed to be a great opportunity. She began to research the company. The website looked professional and encouraging. The company motto was in line with her beliefs; so she pulled up her resume and cover letter and set to work.
After several email exchanges and a very unorthodox interview, she felt encouraged that she would be the candidate chosen. The location was prime to her new residence, the pay would be sufficient without commuting or parking fees. The ball was rolling. The phone call came and the job was hers if she wanted it. She accepted it.
Well, it didn't take long before HUGE questions began to surface about the "stability" of her boss. I mean everyone has their moments. Everyone has good days and bad days. Business fluctuates and has natural ebbs and flows. But wow, this was beyond anything she had ever seen.
In fact there were moments she had to pinch herself that she wasn't having a nightmare set in the 1960's or thereabouts. The Boss would discipline his employees right in front of customers and other employees. He had no shame is how he treated them. "Get used to it, I am not gonna change." he would declare to anyone who thought to challenge his berating actions. He didn't blink twice when telling you that if you didn't "F'ing stop what you were doin and F'ing do what I want then I am going to F'ing fire everyone."
No this was not a nightmare, pinching herself only added physical pain to the emotional and mental torture that she experienced each day. Lunch times were filled with tears at her home before gathering herself up and going back for some more battering.
Several huge RED FLAGS waved boldly in her face as she went to work day after day.
Flag #1 - She was hired for a certain position, but not able to do the work that position required.
Flag #2 - Priorities changed every minute depending on the mood of the boss.
Flag #3 - The boss would email her and tell her it was her responsibility to keep him from having a nervous breakdown that day.
Flag #4 - Each employee in the office would inquire how the boss' mood was every day before entering the premises.
Flag #5 - He either told his employees that he could not afford to pay them or asked them to refrain from taking their paycheques all the while eating out, taking vacations and driving a $60,000 vehicle.
Flag #6 - He yelled profanities at customers and told them to get out of his business, when they needed him to deal with purchases gone bad.
Flag #7 - This was the flag that took the cake. He told her one day that he didn't hire her for her skills and abilities, but for her looks.
In less than three short months, this woman went from being a happy, encouraging, and inspired employee to a scared, dying, miserable wretch.
Customers, associates, and co-workers asked her why she even stayed. Even she wondered. I guess it was to try and prove some worthless point in the end. She was frustrated because her boss left her no time to complete her work. He spent all his time demanding answers to rhetorical questions. He lectured all employees as if they were seven year old children.
She often envisioned Scrooge and his tunnel vision regarding money.
Sadly one day when, yet again her boss was an emotional yo-yo, she had to confront him on information he shared to the office that was totally incorrect. Professionally she emailed him and advised him of the error. The next morning she found herself staring at an email that advised her she was on notice.
Really??? REALLY???
"I don't think so...I don't give my all and have your disregard me as a human being. This is not the dark ages Dude!" she silently declared.
 |
| Do you really want to continue bullying me at work??? |
"You aren't going to bully me this way any more!" she said to herself. And she collected her things (after calling the Labour Relations Board and Employment Benefits) and walked out the door. She didn't look back nor did she didn't regret her decision for one moment. The "powers that be" sided with her in her quest to free herself from a hostile environment and she lived happily every after.
~The End~
The meaning found in this story is:
People who treat their employees this way usually have a deep rooted identity crisis going on in their own heart. If you can relate to this post, feel intimidated and harassed at your place of work, you are in luck. In today's society, there is no tolerance for belittling and abusing employees. I urge you to contact your Labour Relations Board and find out how they can help you. Here are the links to the varied Canadian Labour Relations Boards.
Ontario Labour Relations Board
British Columbia Labour Relations Board
Alberta Labour Relations Board
Saskatchewan Labour Relations Board
Manitoba Labour Relations Board
Quebec Labour Relations Board
Nova Scotia Labour Relations Board
New Brunswick Labour Relations Board
Newfoundland and Labrador Labour Relations Board
Prince Edward Island Labour Relations Board
Northwest Territories Labour Relations Board
Yukon Labour Relations Board
Nunavut Labour Relations Board
People who treat their employees this way usually have a deep rooted identity crisis going on in their own heart. If you can relate to this post, feel intimidated and harassed at your place of work, you are in luck. In today's society, there is no tolerance for belittling and abusing employees. I urge you to contact your Labour Relations Board and find out how they can help you. Here are the links to the varied Canadian Labour Relations Boards.
Ontario Labour Relations Board
British Columbia Labour Relations Board
Alberta Labour Relations Board
Saskatchewan Labour Relations Board
Manitoba Labour Relations Board
Quebec Labour Relations Board
Nova Scotia Labour Relations Board
New Brunswick Labour Relations Board
Newfoundland and Labrador Labour Relations Board
Prince Edward Island Labour Relations Board
Northwest Territories Labour Relations Board
Yukon Labour Relations Board
Nunavut Labour Relations Board
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