Work Matters

“Had Leukemia, Bullied by A Bad Manager”

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supermoxie

in

That is the title of an e-mail I got last week from a salesperson who had read about The No Asshole Rule.  Below is the text (with identifying information removed, to protect both the innocent and the guilty):

My boss told me I was "a wimp and a pussy" because I was tired and lacked energy after 6 months of chemotherapy.  He doubled my sales quota over a seven month period, and called about everyday tell me that I was a "fuck-up".  I finally had to leave.  I documented lots of the abuse, and presented it my superiors, they were very vague in their responses to me, but ultimately he was moved from manager to sales rep.

I think it is important to be reminded of stories like this one, which show the damage that assholes do. I list research showing the
psychological, physical, and financial damage that these creeps do in The No Asshole Rule.  But the stories behind the numbers are always far
more compelling.

I thought it was important to print this email because I’ve been seeing too many stories lately on the virtues of nasty bosses, on the upside of leaving a trail of demeaned and psychologically damaged people in your wake as you climb to the top.   In particular, I keep reading stories that portray the demeaning boss played Meryl  Streep in The Devil Wears Prada in sympathetic light; and this morning’s New York Times had column by David Carr that talks about the tough, smart, and effective — and sometimes toxic — Vogue editor Anna Wintour, who was the real-life inspiration for Streep’s character. I wonder, if David Carr had a superstar boss who treated him like our salesperson if he would express so much admiration for is or courage and accomplishments.

Comments

3 responses to ““Had Leukemia, Bullied by A Bad Manager””

  1. Atul Avatar
    Atul

    It amazes me that people like this get hired. I guess such behavior doesn’t come out in typical job interview techniques. (People who never return phone calls are another type of employee that should be avoided). I always says that such personal attacks accomplish little except to give the attacker an ego boost. In fact, I think that it demotivates people to do a better job for you the next time.

    Reply
  2. Tom Guarriello Avatar
    Tom Guarriello

    Bravo for getting past the clever counter-intuitive nonsense about the “benefits” of toxic leaders, Bob. Stories like this one vividly demonstrate the damage that assholes, or in this case, sadists, can do to people.

    Reply
  3. maren Avatar
    maren

    Ouch. My boss of 10 years was always a screamer and curser, but her assholeishness is several orders of magnitude greater since she hooked up with her asshole boyfriend who is now her partner and co-boss. The last straw has been their treatment of me since my diagnosis of breast cancer, mastectomy, and post-surgical bad reaction to antibiotic (original boss, a PHYSICIAN, said “Bullshit!” when told that bad reaction made me unable to return to work full-time exactly 4 weeks after surgery).
    There’s much more — but it’s too exhausting to detail at this point. Let’s just say that for 10 years I never used all my vacation time, usually less than half, and much of it was lost because it can’t be carried over. Four allnighters within the past calendar year — and I’m 54 years old — and one of them was between surgical biopsy and mastectomy: boss informed me “we will be staying all night” (we including me, without my having a choice in the matter), but then they left once they finished their (late) part, leaving me to continue polishing their words to submit in time for deadline, alone from 1 AM until dawn, with not even cab fare or dinner, and certainly no overtime!
    I have gotten out — to another job within the large organization — but the two co-bosses are furious at how THEY have been mistreated by the organization! You know, like someone in HR should have gotten my boss’s permission before enacting the transfer. Cry me a river.

    Reply

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