Last week, I had the unfortunate pleasure of having to deal with someone else's jackass of a boss. Being my own boss means I don't really have to listen to someone else's crap, which is one of the main reasons I wanted to be in business for myself. It helps when you have a business partner who is also a friend. So, I'm wondering, why would ANYONE put up with a jerk for a boss? And I'm not talking about people who annoy you or bosses that are different. I'm talking about mean bosses - guys (or gals) whose asses you'd kick if they were total strangers and treated you that way in public. Personally, there's no amount of money in the world you could pay me to work for someone I couldn't stand. What are your reasons?
Ok, that would add another question. Why would you BE a jerk of a boss? Aren't you ever concerned someone is going to get fired and decide that is reason enough to beat your ass?
It's a lot like being in an abusive relationship. You're afraid to leave, afraid to find a new job. You think you can control your current boss, you think you know how to handle him. But in the end, you should run! Run like you've never run before!
agreed, i would never take **** from a boss, i don't care if i were to just come out from college and start my 1st job... somebody yells at me, im hanging up or walking away....
Well, we are business partners in our business. As for the rest, I don't think anyone can be your boss unless they pay you. I used to know this guy who would produce bands (we paid for his help) and liked to say, "I'm the boss of all you guys." We all thought it was pretty funny.
I'm a jerk because I'm misunderstood. When you work for me, you get paid to work, not twiddle your thumbs. You get paid to do things "my way" not "the easy way". The term jerk is subjective, it just depends on what your definition of jerk is. I'm currently helping out one of my family members at their business, but I think she's a jerk because she doesn't trust me. This hurts my pride/ego because I have never done anything to prove that I am distrustful, therefore that is why I think she is a jerk.
I showed this to my girlfriend who has her MBA from Rice and spent a lot of time in human resource management and she said that every study done on the subject shows that bosses who treat their employees like you do actually cost their companies a LOT LOT more money than those with bosses who treat their employees well. Decreased productivity, increased sick time, poor performance...all byproducts of what you think is making people do it "your way." Something to think about. I worked for a guy like you. He didn't treat me that way until the last few months I worked there and I kept his business running for him when he was gone - which was a lot. It was the only job I ever walked out on without notice and with REALLY good reason. I told him he was a dick. A week later, a guy from the office called me in desperation because they didn't know how to do something with the computer system and only I knew how. They asked me to help and I told them only if they paid me. They didn't want to pay, so I didn't help. I heard that they had to hire a company to come in and fix the problem and paid them a few hundred bucks. They also lost a couple of key clients because of it. Serves them right.
I think you should mod his post to say "I am a jerk boss because my wife did not let me paint my kitten pink"
i worked in a computer store for a few months last year where my boss was a jerk, liar and a thief. the only reason why i worked there was to make contacts, there were a lot of CIOs who came in there to buy stuff and i was able to establish good relationships with them in the 5 months I worked at the store. It paid off as one of the hired me to be his right hand man and now I love my job and my boss. but to my other boss I came in worked for about 20 minutes and then said "you know what you can go f*** off you c**t" and threw my work shirt in his face and walked out. He was upset and said when my new boss would call about a recommendation he would give me a horrible review and make sure i wasnt hired. Luckily my current boss knew what an ass this guy was so he never bothered calling or never bothered with an interview for me since he liked me. Anyways now I still shop there for my company since its right around the corner and as much as he hates to do it, he has to kiss my ass since my companys buys a lot of workstations there. was a great great feeling.
Well, Jeff, most people have to report to someone in one way or another - even if you are your own boss, it can happen. You can run your own business, but if it is a service-oriented business, you will - unless business is going through the roof already - occasionally have to put up with "jerk customers"... then, even if you own part of your business, you might have other shareholders you have to report to. In Fortune 500 companies, even the biggest boss, the CEO, will have to report to her/his shareholders. So people might think - escaping a "jerk boss" does not necessarily mean one will not have to do with other, and possibly worse, jerks. That might be a reason why people keep putting up with a "jerk boss". Anyway...this reminded me of this little cartoon I had seen a couple days ago...
I think I should be clear about what a "jerk" is to me. To me, it is someone who is consistently mean and demeaning to employees either through intimidation, anger, threats, etc.
i'd stay with a jerk boss because i know at my job (and at a lot of big companies), my boss will change within about 1-1.5 years--either due to my promotion, a request by someone else, or the boss being promoted or switching jobs. So..if I like my job a lot, I can wait that out.
I stayed with mine because I wanted my PhD. He knew he had leverage over us grad students, especially the ones from abroad. I would have wasted several years of grad school if I just quit. Some of my colleagues did just that, and their careers have never really taken off. It's a sad situation.
I won't work at a job that I'm not happy doing. I got out of sales and into IT because it makes me happy...so if my supervisor is the problem, then I quit. Bottom line=life is short. Be happy doing what you love. Ah, but this is an entirely different situation than a regular job. This was also part of your education.
i have never had "jerk" bosses in terms of people who are just irrational and want to Piss you off for the sake of pissing you off i always try to understand why my manager acts the way he does (usually its my fault in which case i just smile and try to correct it) I have always worked in a corporate environment so i know the stress that my superiors go through, and I give them the benefit of the doubt if they seem to be edgy now and then If you want to meet Jerk bosses you gotta work in a chinese restraurant or soemthing, the bosses will swear at you like you killed his mum Isnt there a saying "treat everyone below you nicely , because one day they might be your boss"
I've never really had a jerk for a boss. I've been lucky enough for nearly seven years that I've had a best friend for a boss. In my other normal job, the 8-5 one, I've had the opposite of a jerk for a manager that's resulted in me going above and beyond the job description where I've made our department more efficient than it's ever been.
