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Don't Like Your Boss?


Racoon

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If you don't like your Boss, you are not alone. :)

2 out of 5 lie, and 25% talk bad about you to co-workers, according to a new study :lol:

 

Most returning to work for a bad boss - U.S. Business - MSNBC.com

 

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - For most people, it’s back to work Tuesday after a holiday weekend with family and friends. And for many, a new study shows, it will be under a bad boss.

 

Nearly two of five bosses don’t keep their word and more than a fourth bad mouth those they supervise to co-workers, the Florida State University study shows.

 

And those all-too-common poor managers create plenty of problems for companies as well, leading to poor morale, less production and higher turnover.

 

 

“They say that employees don’t leave their job or company, they leave their boss,” said Wayne Hochwarter, an associate professor of management in the College of Business at Florida State University, who joined with two doctoral students at the school to survey more than 700 people working in a variety of jobs about how their bosses treat them.

 

“No abuse should be taken lightly, especially in situations where it becomes a criminal act,” said Hochwarter.

 

Employees stuck in an abusive relationship experienced more exhaustion, job tension, nervousness, depressed moods and mistrust, the researchers found. They found that a good working environment is often more important than pay, and that it’s no coincidence that poor morale leads to lower production.

 

“They (employees) were less likely to take on additional tasks, such as working longer or on weekends, and were generally less satisfied with their job,” the study found. “Also, employees were more likely to leave if involved in an abusive relationship than if dissatisfied with pay.”

 

The results of the study are scheduled for publication in the Fall 2007 issue of The Leadership Quarterly, a journal read by consultants, managers and executives.

 

The findings include:

 

*39 percent of workers said their supervisor failed to keep promises.

 

*37 percent said their supervisor failed to give credit when due.

 

*31 percent said their supervisor gave them the “silent treatment” in the past year.

 

*27 percent said their supervisor made negative comments about them to other employees or managers.

 

*24 percent said their supervisor invaded their privacy.

 

*23 percent said their supervisor blamed others to cover up mistakes or to minimize embarrassment.

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Given my experience in high tech--which is supposed to be pretty good--I'm amazed these numbers are as *low* as they are!

 

Of course you also have to factor in all those bad workers who just think that their bosses are bad because they make them actually do *work*. :)

 

"Looking in my cube when I'm playing Solitaire is an invasion of my privacy!"

 

A Good Boss, :lol:

Buffy

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I've had both good and bad, as well as many in between. To say you have a "good" or a "bad" boss is way too general. Some bosses are amazing and caring people, but do not know how to lead. Others are real jerks, but know how to direct their people and get things done. Some are selfish, others ignorant... Just as in any other social situation.

 

Some factors to consider:

How accurate are the perceptions of the workers?

Is their negative view a result of a personality issue, or based on actual faults?

What training has the boss been given?

What are the overall trends in the company itself? Was the boss simply caught up in a bigger transition?

:)

 

I've been on both sides, and it's never white and black... just various shades of gray. :lol:

 

 

I've even been in the exact same leadership position and had some members of my team say I was the best boss ever, and others say they couldn't stand me. I'm curious to see exactly what parameters they put on this study to measure it. :lol:

 

[EDIT]I forgot to mention that I did have a really bad boss. She was the vice president of the company. She was very dictatorial, and expected ideas but didn't accept any fresh ones that she didn't conceive. I hated it there, and it was her and my interaction that caused my dissatisfaction. I was too proud to quit though, so when she was flat out wrong, I told her so (in no uncertain terms) and she fired me. Not recommended to those who enjoy paying their bills. :idea: ) [/EDIT]

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