Carol writes:
My boss is always trying to make me feel stupid by telling me that I don’t understand things, etc. He will tell me to do something and then when I do it the way he told me he tells me I did it wrong. I was on vacation for a week and when I came back I found out that they were hiring someone else to do most of my job description. I want to send a letter to the board of directors but not sure of what I need to say. Can you help?
The Career Doctor responds:
I get so many emails from folks with bad bosses that it makes me wonder where they all come from… and it certainly makes the bad bosses from shows like The Office or comic strips like Dilbert seem tame in comparison.
Only you can decide whether it’s worth the fight. The sad reality is that in many cases, even if you have well-documented evidence of abuse, you will get branded as someone who makes or has troubles — and depending on the size of your industry or town, that label could make it much harder for you to find new employment.
So, my advice would be to start documenting everything, including gathering information from co-workers who have witnessed the abuse, and consider action. Perhaps talk with an attorney that specializes in labor laws. I would not talk with the folks in human resources, nor would I make any comments about suing the company. Keep it quiet and to yourself before — or if — you take any action.
Of course, more importantly, for your sanity and self-worth, you should immediately be searching for a new job with a new employer. Besides, with the new hire, I would say the writing is on the wall concerning your future with the company. Start searching today!
And while it sounds too late for you, you might find some guidance in this article, Dealing With a Bad Boss: Strategies for Coping.
For some key rules on all aspects of job-hunting, check out this detailed list of Job-Hunting Do’s and Don’ts Articles published on Quintessential Careers.
