Surviving a Sh*t Boss: A Guide to Staying (or Running for Your Life)
Let’s face it—bad bosses are as common as soggy fries in a drive-thru meal. You sign up for a job thinking it’ll be a great career move, and next thing you know, you’re stuck under the rule of a walking red flag in a pantsuit. Whether they micromanage your every move, take credit for your ideas, or seem to communicate only in passive-aggressive sighs, working for a terrible boss can drain your soul faster than an empty phone battery at 1%.
So, what do you do? Stick it out? Plot their downfall? Casually set their inbox on fire (metaphorically, of course)? Let’s break down your options.
Step 1: Assess the Level of Awfulness
Not all bad bosses are created equal. Some are just clueless, while others are tyrannical overlords who may or may not be the actual devil in business casual. Here’s a quick scale:
Mildly Incompetent – They mean well, but they’re about as effective as a chocolate teapot.
Ego Maniac – Thinks they’re the second coming of Steve Jobs but has the leadership skills of a damp sock.
Soul Crusher – Enjoys making employees cry. Probably drinks those tears in their morning coffee.
Walking Lawsuit – Uses words like “hustle culture” to justify unpaid overtime. You should already be on Indeed.
If your boss falls somewhere between ‘annoying but tolerable’ and ‘actively making your life a nightmare,’ you need to decide whether you can fix the situation or if it’s time to flee.
Step 2: Manage the Chaos
If your boss is simply bad at their job but not malicious, you might be able to survive with a few tactics:
Set Boundaries – If they send you work texts at 11 p.m., respond with a polite “Will handle this first thing in the morning.” If they insist, fake a Wi-Fi outage. No one questions bad Wi-Fi.
Manage Up – Sometimes, you have to subtly guide your boss into making better decisions, kind of like tricking a toddler into eating vegetables.
Document Everything – Keep records of assignments, conversations, and any bizarre requests. If things go south, you’ll have receipts. Literal receipts.
Find Allies – Nothing unites employees like a shared disdain for an unqualified leader. Build a secret support group. Maybe get matching T-shirts, just don’t wear them for casual Fridays.
Step 3: Know When to Leave
If your boss makes every day feel like an episode of Survivor: Corporate Edition, it’s time to ask yourself—how long before this takes a serious toll on your well-being?
Staying too long under a toxic boss can lead to:
Chronic stress and burnout (which is just your body’s way of saying, “We’re done here.”)
A ruined resume (if your boss is the type to bad-mouth ex-employees, you don’t want to be on that list)
Losing your love for your work (because once you associate your career with misery, it’s hard to bounce back)
If your mental health is suffering, or if your boss is genuinely harming your career growth, start looking for your exit strategy. Don’t let misplaced loyalty or fear of change keep you in a bad situation. You deserve a workplace that doesn’t feel like a psychological thriller.
Step 4: Plan Your Escape (If Necessary)
If you’ve decided it’s time to bounce, do it smartly:
· Job Hunt on the Down Low – Don’t start updating your LinkedIn with “Looking for new opportunities” while sitting at your desk. Be stealthy.
· Use Resources – Find a good recruiter (like me!) to do the dirty work for you. I work for you - to find the jobs, give you a run down on the role and the perks and sus out what the bosses are really like before you even meet with them! That way you can continue with putting up with your boss working, while I do all searching for you. Who wants to scroll jobsites mindlessly anyway, it’s about as bad as Tinder, with just as many red flags!
· Leave Gracefully – Even if you fantasise about storming out with a dramatic speech, keep it professional. Burn bridges only if you plan on never crossing them again.
Final Thoughts
Look, bad bosses happen. They’re like traffic jams, bad haircuts, and people who talk loudly on speakerphone in public—unavoidable but deeply annoying. The key is knowing when to adapt and when to leave before your job becomes a waking nightmare.
At the end of the day, your career and sanity are worth more than tolerating a human dumpster fire of a boss. If your boss sucks, remember: you are not trapped. There are better jobs, better bosses, and workplaces where your talent will actually be appreciated.
Until then, deep breaths, document everything, and maybe keep a stress ball handy – just don’t throw it at them!