[Sir Francis Dashwood]

The biggest workplace jerks are the lazy ones who can't or won't do the job then point fingers at their betters.

Too many chiefs and not enough Indians... Everybody wants to be the boss but few can actually do the WORK...

[kittymyrib]

"Passion is an overrated virtue in organizational life, and indifference is an underrated virtue."

That, unfortunately, is the key to surviving a career in public school teaching these days. Teachers who start with a passion to teach children are soon confronted with so many obstacles to that goal that the only thing to do is quit or "check out" while continuing in the job. Initiative is buried under the stifling layers of local, state, and federal regulations that squeeze the joy out of teaching.

[snarkytart]

Ah yes. I have one of them here at my office.

This jerk where I am always wants to know why are we going to the doctors if we have an appointment.

He pulled my coworker into his office and said, "I see you are leaving early two days this month for doctor appointments. Is there anything wrong? Why are you going to the doctor?"

Yes that's right, he wants a medical rundown.

[AU72]

Also the more abusive they are to their minions the more kiss-ass they are to their superiors.

[Doogle]

Or helped herself to your food.

..years ago when I had this problem with a boss who liked to help himself to my secret Twinkie stash, and he would never admit to it,I simply "injected" a few marked single packaged bombs with Tabasco hot sauce. He couldn't say anything about it...and he stopped

[Sam's Army]

I've often had a theory that a crowbar to the jaw is a quick cure for a boss who is a jerk...

Come to think of it, that would cure a lot of things.

[BuffaloJack]

ping

[Diana in Wisconsin]

I've had some real doozies in the Army. Usually they were new Second Lieutenants straight out of ROTC who knew EVERYTHING. However, one word from the First Sergeant that they were to follow me around and I'd show them the ropes usually worked. If not, I had some simple ways to get them reassigned elsewhere. You're only as strong as your weakest link. ;)

I just started my Dream Job this past week. So far, so good. I like my new Boss's management style, and the next guy under her is great, too; he and I are equals. It appears that I'll have lots of autonomy in my new position, plus a seasoned staff to lead, which will be very helpful.

Show me the scope of my job, then get out of my way and let me do it. :)

[doodad]

We have a megalomaniac here who thinks she runs the place. When something happens, such as a power failure, I don't see my boss or the managers or presidents of the various companies in the building. No, I see the customer service manager in my doorway telling me it has to be fixed, what are you doing, when will it be back, etc.

I finally had to tell her to shut it.

[Just another Joe]

When it gets really bad is when not only is YOUR boss a jerk, but HIS boss is a jerk also.
Been there, done that.

Got out after 8 years with the company and burned bridges behind me.

[7thson]

Q: Is there such a thing as a sick organization? Can a workplace grow jerks?

A: Some organizations are sicker than others. Exhibit One is HollywoodCongress. There – I fixed it.

[pabianice]

A principal reason why Digital Equipment Corp. went out of business was the gang of new "managers" it hired in the early 80s. In this short space I cannot adequately describe the brutality some of them showered upon their subordinates. In one group one guy killed himself, another was committed to an asylum, and the rest were all fired for "incompetence." The boss kept all the profit sharing and bonuses for her group for herself. The "boss" was subsequently promoted. Of course, all meaningful work in the company stopped and ten years later the best, most profitable computer company in the world went out of business, top management first awarding themselves fabulous golden parachutes.

[Clinging Bitterly]

I have had a couple of bosses who were jerks. One was an owner who was just working himself too hard in a growing company, and eventually learned to let go of the idea he had to be on top of every little thing and became a great guy to work with. The other was an immediate supervisor who was a drinker, and he was just forced out.

Over the years I have become my department supervisor (at a different company that is larger and very successful) and past experiences have taught me the patience to do the job, where 20 years ago I probably would have been too much of a hothead. My guys (and girls) all start out young and inexperienced, all I demand of them is to be flexible and good listeners, and they will become competent rather quickly.

[Constitution Day]

Bumping to e-mail later.

[CORedneck]

In my previous job, I had the boss from hell. He was such a micromanager and he didn't like his subordinates taking too much time off at once (vacation). Everyday, I am glad I don't work for that @$$hole.

Here are some of his stunts:

1. When I interviewed for a new job within the same company but different project, he said I had to ask him permission to take time off for the interview even though he never cared before when I came and gone.

2. He said that vacation is a company benefit but when and how you take it is considered a privilege. He basically said that you had to give at least a month's notice before taking time, reasonable and fair but he would never approve until a week before and don't even try to get it more than a week away. So much for getting plane fair cheaply.

3. In the facility I worked at, we didn't have enough bathrooms (toilets) for the number of people on the given floor (5th). I usually go to the 3rd floor bathroom when I needed to use the library option since there was never traffic there. One of his "favored" boys saw me and reported me and I was called into his office. I was chewed out and he asked why the 5th floor bathrooms are not good enough for me. He then told me to use the 5th floor bathroom from now on even if I had to wait 15 minutes for a toilet to open up.

4. I sometimes drive a beater truck and one day, I was told not to park the by the building since it is an eyesore or it will be towed.

I am curious from others concerning their bosses from hell....

[Volunteer]

I work in academia. No money, lots of ego, and very little work being done.

[007girl]

I had a boss that always asked, "did you get the memo"?...

[ThomasThomas]

Most of my bosses have been pretty good. Mainly because the hire almost exclusively from with in the department. I do not travel much but once I rounded a tip up from a restaurant bill from .97 to a dollar on a expense report and he wouldn't pay the .03.

[Jaded]

Where to start?

[reagan_fanatic]

I work with a woman who handles walk-in business at our company. More often than not, she is rude and downright hostile to our customers. She routinely refuses to help them find what they need if she happens to deem them a bother.

We have an account that recently had asked us to phone in for a p.o. when an employee would pick up product from us - a reasonable request which would only take one to two extra minutes to do. Not only did she refuse to do that when he came in, but she then proceeded to berate the customer, then called the company and berated them!

Unfortunately, the boss lacks the spine to fire the old hag, even when told of her behavior. These has been more than one time I've had to bit my tongue until bloody to avoid running out the and just punching her in the mouth.