Employees Share Tales Of Nightmare Bosses
Working at a job isn’t as bad as some people make it out to be. The actual act of doing stuff to pass time, and getting paid is pretty nice. What can make a job terrible and unbearable is a bad boss, supervisor, or some other person with an inflated sense of authority and self-worth. It’s an ugly truth that we’re all replaceable. It’s also an ugly truth that some bosses can be total nightmares for the sole reason that they can. Screaming at employees, taking organs and firing them, and even destroying cash to set an example, there’s no end to the insanity these demons in middle-manager disguises will thrust upon people. Thankfully, there’s a silver lining in some of these instances: we can laugh a little bit between the tears.
Stop Trying To Pull The Rug
As society moves further and further into the digital realm, things like property, ownership, and even currency are being redefined. With the growing interest, application, and advancement of cryptocurrencies, some companies are even compensating their employees with paperless payments. Some of these digital tokens have risen in value to the point where people wake up and find that their initial investments have made them overnight millionaires.
Many more lose a ton of cash. Those who succeed in making a profit are wise to get out while they can. This boss probably thought the same, but wanted to make sure he was the one running! No takesy-backsies, dude! Why not just be happy your employees made some cash and you still have a happy team? No? Okay, let’s see how that works out for you.
How Did This Even Happen?
When an employee goes above and beyond the call of duty, they should be commended for their efforts. At the very least, they shouldn’t be fired for being a good person. A bank employee, out of the kindness of her own heart, helped someone struggling to get home. After taking out her own money and helping the guy home, she was fired from her job!
Whatever the business claimed the reason was is automatically garbage. You can’t get fired for helping someone and using your own resources to do it! The fact that it was during Christmas makes this the perfect holiday special to run on the news.
Jinkies, What A Wild Twist!
Remember that animated show about the talking Great Dane and the twenty-somethings traveling around in a van solving mysteries? It’s a fun time for everyone! It’s also highly unrealistic. What former boss or supervisor dresses up as a monster to scare someplace he doesn’t work at anymore? We don’t remember what episode has the case of the haunted pizzeria, but it doesn’t sound like a memorable one.
Also, cartoons aren’t real. This would-be-robber tried to take the plot of the show seriously and stage his own masked-monster-break-in. After he was easily taken down by his former employees, his identity was revealed! Zoinks! His dastardly plans were foiled by meddling kids!
Take That Kidney Back Right Now
Donating one of your organs, or blood marrow, or even blood, is a selfless act. It can help save another person’s life, even if it affects you. People who do this are heroes. This woman went above and beyond for her job. When her boss needed help she stepped in and offered up everything she had. She even gave up one of her kidneys!
As soon as the transplant was over, and the boss was feeling better, they turned around and fired her! Apparently, her recovery was taking too long. That would be the moment we’d demand our gift back. You can’t just get a second chance and then ruin your savior’s livelihood.
Here’s A Tip: Don’t Do That
Most people in the service or food-related industries in America don’t make a lot of money. A lot of customer-facing positions even rely on tips, aka kind donations, from patrons to make ends meet. Even if you do a great job, you’re not even guaranteed the tips that are left for you! Some places total tips and evenly disperse them amongst the staff.
Other eateries allow their managers to destroy hundreds of dollars of tips just because. This one in particular had a great reason. Clearly, he was so hungry that he couldn’t stop himself from destroying his staff’s hard-earned cash!
That Doesn’t Make Any Cents
When most people talk about being in a toxic workplace, they’re talking about psychologically, emotionally, or something like that. Not everyone can claim their workplaces are literally toxic. This guy can. After leaving a position, he requested a final paycheck from his ex-employer. Since he was legally entitled to it, his former boss complied. He just did it maliciously. Since he had to pay, but wasn’t told how, the guy sent over a wheelbarrow full of pennies!
Thousands upon thousands of pennies were covered in motor oil, because why not, and then sent to this poor guy. Is there any way he can sue and get more pennies, but this time not covered in motor fluids? Send them back with an invoice for the transport.
It’s A Job Listing from a Terrible Timeline
Depending on when you grew up, the general message from society was to go to college, get a degree, and you’ll find good work. Degrees take time, cost way too much money, and are supposed to signify an academic accomplishment. Advanced degrees are specialized things that often give people great skills that can do good for a lot of different industries.
Those skills come with a higher price than someone with a Bachelor’s degree. If you don’t know what level that price is, we’ll help you out. That salary should be at least multiplied by four or five. It’s not that people don’t want to work. They just want to be paid fairly.
The System Says Not Today
Finding employment after being incarcerated is nearly impossible for hundreds of thousands of people around the world. The justice system in most places is supposed to be about paying a debt to society and being rehabilitated. In America, it’s about cheap labor and punishment. That’s messed up and it severely messes with your resume.
Even after someone is released and deemed a member of society again, they can be denied work and even risk being arrested all over again. It’s a vicious cycle that this nightmare of a boss is helping perpetuate. This guy is doing his best to follow the rules and someone else is screwing with him because he can.
Empathy At An All Time Low
Leaders are expected to lead. Managers are expected to manage. When someone gets sick, they shouldn’t be going to work. It’s just going to ruin everyone else’s workday and cause more people to miss even more work. The whole thing is a vicious cycle. Stay home. Tell your manager you’re too sick to come in and then turn your phone off.
Their job description is in their title: manager. They have to manage and maybe even jump in from time to time. If they can’t do that, they can’t do their jobs. If that’s the case, upper management needs to manage some staffing changes.
Threatened For Expressing Safety Concerns?
Fun fact: blocking fire exits is not only a felony in most countries, but it’s also a terrible idea. If you want people to stay later, work harder, and be more productive, don’t threaten their sense of safety. You really don’t want to threaten their jobs by pointing out how dangerous your first idea was.
That’s just a way to fast-track your eventual firing after the building burns down. We’re not telling anyone how to do their jobs, but breaking the law isn’t a great plan of action for this quarter. It doesn’t look like it’ll be a good idea for any quarter moving forward, either.
Pajama Party At The Loading Dock?
Whose brain blew a fuse and caused them to schedule a late-night staff meeting? The only way this is logical is if this is some sort of shift work or evenings-only kind of gig. That doesn’t make the first two messages any more reasonable or less insane. Denying all time-off requests until the universe freezes over isn’t how a leader works with people.
While the job market is tough, threatening your entire workforce with unrealistic demands and anger may not be in your best favor. What are you going to do if people wake up from their nightmare and walk out? If you lose all your employees, then you don’t get any days off either. What do you think of that?
We Work Faster When On Fire
Restaurants famously keep their dining areas cooler to encourage people to eat more and warm up. The opposite tactic, sweating people out until they’re productive, isn’t as efficient. Saving a few bucks on air conditioning is understandable. This seems cruel, though. If the inside of your office is 88F (31C), you better have all the windows open and oscillating fans running.
Oh, and a tech better be on the way. Those aren’t comfortable or even realistic working conditions! How cheap do you have to be to think this is a reasonable way to run an office? Maybe their brain is fried due to the heat.
How Do You Explain This On LinkedIn?
Rejected because HR couldn’t control their sexual urges? What type of rejection is this, and from the rejector’s own account of what happened? Holy crap, some people are nightmares wrapped in stupid and dipped sexual harassment. What does “I would have totally messed up” even mean? You’re married and she wasn’t being hired to be sexualized.
Claiming someone is too attractive and distracting to do a job says only terrible things about your own character. As soon as this was posted, someone found and fired them, right? This guy shouldn’t be anywhere near applicants, women, or the general public. He said it himself, he would mess up if he gets too turned on.
Does Anyone Win With Yellow Shakes?
Not to freak anyone out, but how clean is the food you’re getting at the drive-thru? We all know it’s not healthy. That doesn’t mean it shouldn’t be clean. Most of the time, none of us really think if the employee on the other side of the window washed their hands. We’re also fairly certain most of us aren’t wondering if they peed in our milkshake or not.
That’s not a gamble we ever thought we’d be taking at Arby’s. So, if McDonald’s ice cream machines don’t work, and Arby’s shakes have pee, what else is out there? Are y’all going to tell us Taco Bell is serving everyone baby or something?
Double-Down On The Sexual Harassment
Why can’t some people just keep it in their pants? If you’re at the office or any place other than with your consenting partner somewhere private, don’t whip out your genitals. If it wasn’t obvious, that’s kind of something everyone should understand. If your manager gets fired for flashing you, immediately block them. Some of them may fade away. Others will turn out like this nightmare of a predator.
He’s basically going for a hail mary kind of incel play with this message. Who can possibly think losing their job counts as justification to get nudes? It’s wild how different some people’s version of right and wrong is from everyone else’s.
Did They Work At A Red Flag Factory?
Woah, woah, woah, woah! Asking for a reference from a former employer isn’t the same as asking someone out on a date. Don’t date your employees or sexually harass them. That’s one of the first things everyone’s taught at any job ever. It also should be universally understood that that’s bad. Sexually blackmailing or coercing someone is worse because it’s a double hit.
Not only is someone trying to intimidate someone, but they’re also threatening their career and well-being. This creepy and subtle threat/flirty line from this person is over the line. It’s so far past the line that they may see it in a few seconds because things are looping due to how nightmarish this is.
How Do You Deal With Sad Employees?
Leaving your emotional baggage and personal life at the door is pretty common for the office. That doesn’t mean people completely check out while working. Sometimes, we all need a shoulder to cry on or someone to vent to. Coworkers just so happen to fill that role from time to time. There’s nothing wrong with sharing your feelings with someone you trust. According to this message, not only are emotions banned from work, but if they appear, there will be consequences.
So, not only are managers now turned into spies, but employees will be punished for being sad. Doesn’t that just make people sadder? If there’s one thing that fixes a bad day is being yelled at for having a bad day.
You Gotta Separate Work And Play
If you love what you do, you’ll never work a day in your life. If you love your job, it can even make you feel comfortable and confident. This is a bit too comfortable and far too confident. That doesn’t mean you can act out your kinks while working. Everyone needs to consent.
Breaking in, even if it’s to a hotel you work at, definitely isn’t cool. It’s also against the law. Mr. Hilton wouldn’t like this, either. Not only should this man be losing his job, he should be banned from staying at any of the hotels! That, and, he has to live with that being his mugshot.
Don’t Let Your Kids Be Threatened
Parents, before your kiddo starts their first job, you need to teach them what is and isn’t legal at work. Don’t wait for the business to educate your child. They’re never going to look out for anyone but themselves. This text right here wouldn’t fly with any senior employees or people with experience. Employees need to be paid when on the clock. That’s the law.
Managers only think they can get away with this because they hired inexperienced or ner laborers. Screenshot, report, and then take this to HR (if there is one). Someone would love to see this and have a talk with the manager.
Didn’t See Your Toy Parked There
Pay your employees. Expecting people to work for you for free is slavery or an unpaid internship. It’s not a job. If someone decides to not pay their staff, there’s no reason to think the staff won’t get upset. Once the money stops flowing to one team, but keeps another in luxury cars, people may get a little bit more than just upset.
He asked for this! While it isn’t the smartest response, it sure does send a message. The boss shouldn’t be that mad. If they can afford a Ferrari, but not to pay their drivers, maybe they can carpool to help everyone out. Everyone wins and more spots will open up in the lot!
No Fuel’s Available If You Can’t Fill Up
Not being able to afford food is a personal issue when your employer is the root cause of the problem. The cost of living worldwide is skyrocketing. Prices for nearly everything are nearly unheard of in most places. While things like global economics, inflation, and whatever else aren’t in everyone’s control, some things can still be done.
To start, an employer can start paying people enough to at least afford food. If someone can’t, but you still expect them to work, something has to give. Oh, and telling the employee to get a second job is not the answer, in case some manager reading was wondering.
That’s Not The Best Response To Sickness
Back at the height of the pandemic, getting a COVID diagnosis was nearly heartstopping. After the vaccine came out, and people started protecting themself, the public began to relax (a bit). That didn’t make the virus any less deadly. Going to work sick is pretty bad. Going to work with COVID while living with someone immunocompromised?
That’s pretty close to a serious health hazard. An employer cannot make you work while sick. Yeah, it sucks you won’t get paid, but your health comes first. Their response to the scenario better is the only red flag this person needed before quitting. This is a textbook nightmare boss.
Are Alligators Threats To Art Galleries?
Not every job offers a seasonal bonus. However, when things get tough and everyone shows that they can accomplish the impossible, it can be nice to reward the team. A heartfelt thank you and something to show your appreciation isn’t expected, but it’s appreciated. A nice message is okay. But, put it on a card.
When your team is getting attacked by wildlife, enduring harsh weather, and whatever else it was, they deserve some nice recognition. Sending a quick “Hey @everyone” isn’t enough. That’s not being selfish, it’s being honest. What kind of pay on the back is that anyway? It wasn’t even said in-person or live!
This Sounds Like A Health Hazard
Don’t listen to this idiot. If you’re sick, don’t go to work. All you’re going to do is get other people sick. Think you’re going to be productive? No. You’re also just going to prolong your recovery. It’s a bad decision all around. It’s already terrible that this boss made their sick employee come in. What’s worse is that they’re trying to exploit this sick person into acting as some sort of carpool!
That’s just going to lead to two employees getting sick. Eventually, they’ll be doing all the opening, operations, and closing. Perhaps that’s their ultimate goal. They’ll be a warlord for an empty and tiny kingdom.
Oops, Your Ex-boss Just Forgot!
How in the world does giving someone their final paycheck, or any paycheck, slip through the cracks? It doesn’t. It’s also stupidly illegal. Playing dumb and holding a grudge isn’t the responsible business-owner thing to do. You may not have liked how an employee acted or ended up, but you can’t hold their earned wages hostage.
The only thing someone gets out of that is an easy lawsuit and a much bigger payment than you would have ever had to cough up. This boss needs to have a little more respect for the legal process. If not, they’re not going to have a business much longer.
Whatever Would The Customers Think?
If someone works at a bakery, but can’t afford to buy the bread they’re making, there’s a problem. This person wasn’t stealing. They weren’t robbing anyone. They literally waited until older baked goods were in the dumpster before taking them home to survive. Whoever this manager is, they’re a monster. Chastising a sick employee for taking stale bread sounds like the beginning of some horrifyingly sad Christmas movie.
Fearing a customer’s opinion on seeing an employee have to dig through dumpsters to survive when they’re literally making food, is the least of your worries. Someone better have lost their job and we hope it wasn’t the sick baker. The only thing sicker than this person is their boss’ response to the situation.
Thanks Jer, You’re A Tool
It is not illegal to talk about your salary or wages at work. In fact, it’s illegal for employers to say you can’t talk about your earnings with coworkers. Your money, your information, your right to share it. Don’t get bullied into silence. This sign is already a fantastic piece of evidence in a future lawsuit against the manager and the mega-gym corporation they represent.
It’s ridiculous that some people are so clueless and reckless with proper workplace laws and regulations. Maybe “Jer” was just tired of working there and needed a creative way to get fired. That’s a lengthy way to go for guaranteed unemployment.
The Office Isn’t An Elementary School
Remember having to ask for a hall pass in school to go to the bathroom? It felt weird then to ask to go pee, but kids get in trouble a lot, so okay. Whatever. Now, remember last week at the office when you had to ask your boss if you could go pee? No?
Because we’re all adults and don’t need permission to use the bathroom. Someone needs to let this new manager in on that little factoid. Implementing a “hallway pass” is such an amazing way to make sure your career is short-lived and hated by everyone.
Someone Steal A Dictionary For Them
The word you’re looking for is “you’re”. We know that it sounds exactly like “your” but it’s spelled differently. Even if language, spelling, and syntax aren’t critical to your job, you still need to spell threatening announcements correctly. That little typo already makes this nonsense look even stupider than it is on its own. Going to the bathroom isn’t stealing time. It’s a right and necessity.
The little poem at the end is cute, though. Do not steal or it will get real! Will the Cat in the Hat appear and start rhyming at us about the dangers of time theft? We don’t have the energy for that. Oh, whoops, that’s against one of the rules.
Managers Don’t Own Their Employees
In many Western countries, employees are “at will”. That means they can leave a job whenever they want. That also means an employer can fire you for almost any reason. That doesn’t mean that your manager owns you. If you weren’t scheduled to work the holidays, and you leave to visit family, you’re fine. You’re good. You deserve to have a happy holiday without worrying about the office.
If a staffing crisis occurs, that’s your manager’s issue to solve on their own. You’re out of state! It’s not even possible to fly in for a quick couple of shifts! You’re not getting paid, but you get to enjoy your freedom and time.