Is Your Boss a Bully?
Five tips on how to cope with a superior who may not have
anyone's best interests in mind.
November 11, 2003: 10:53 AM EST
By Gerri Willis, CNNfn
NEW YORK (CNNfn) - Abusive bosses, bullies with big job
titles, make everyone else's lives miserable.
Online polling shows that the problem is widespread and that an
abusive boss is more likely to be a woman than a man.
According to the Workplace Bullying and Trauma Institute, bullying by
women toward women represents 50 percent of all workplace
abusiveness. Bullying by men toward women represent 30 percent.
Men bullying men is an even rarer situation, at 12 percent.
So what should you know if you think you might be a victim of an
abusive boss? Here are today's five tips.
Tip 1: Identify the abusive boss
There are at least four types of abusive bosses, according to the
Workplace Bullying & Trauma Institute:
The constant critic who uses put downs, insults, name-calling, and
makes aggressive eye contact.
The two-headed snake who pretends to be
nice while sabotaging you.
The gatekeeper is also known as the
control freak, while the Screaming Mimi is
emotionally out of control and explosive.
A March 2003 poll conducted by the
consumer research company Maritz
showed that 23 percent of American
employees would fire their boss if they
could.
Tip 2: Know when it's too much
Invariably, any boss is going to exhibit behavior at some point that
might be considered abusive. The problem comes when it happens all
the time.
It's over the line when it affects your health, if you chronically suffer
high blood pressure that started only when you began working for the
boss, if you feel nauseous the night before the start of the work
week, or if all your paid off-time is used for mental health breaks.
Tip 3: Look at the flip side
Abusive bosses benefit from such behavior because they deliver
exactly what their own bosses want. To get a handle on their
behavior, consult with people in the office to find out how they
respond to people who whistleblow or call them on their offensive
behavior.
Some bullies back off if you call them on their actions.
Tip 4: Don't be a wallflower
A bully in the corner office isn't much different than a bully on the
playground. Don't present yourself as a victim when dealing with a
difficult boss by either apologizing or confessing all the time.
Abusive bosses smell blood. Being humble invites assaults.
Tip 5: Bullying is not illegal
Clearly your boss doesn't have to be nice, kind, or fair. However, if
you are suffering some sort of physical ailment or emotional trauma
as a result of your boss' actions, then you can ask for reimbursement
for medical expenses and days of work lost under Worker's
Compensation.
Keep in mind that doing this may create a situation where your boss
tries to get back at you. If that happens, this may make for a legal
case.
If you can't get satisfaction from Human Resources, try your state's
industrial commission, which is responsible for enforcing Worker's
Comp rules.
You may not be the only one pursuing these actions; over the past
five years more and more employees are filing complaints due to
abusive bosses. To understand your rights, go to
www.workplacefairness.org.
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