Most people at some point of their careers wind up feeling their boss deserves to be fired. Or at least demoted to a position where they can’t do any harm. Or annoy any staff.
Yet as obvious as this may seem to you, somehow upper management allows the boss to stay. They may even promote them. And that’s enough to drive any sane worker crazy!
Why a boss deserves to be fired
From staff point of view
Some things a boss does that make you question why they’re still in charge:
- Makes decisions that seem thought-free (stupid)
- Spends their day pursuing personal interests / gaming
- Doesn’t understand the work they’re in charge of
- Treats people unfairly
- Acts like a bully / staff afraid of them
- Dates or harasses staff despite company policy
- Allows “favorites” to run wild
- Is rarely in the office and when there doesn’t do much
From management point of view
- Gives good presentations of department progress
- Tells good jokes at meetings
- Good golfer
- Related to the CEO
Okay. You can see I’m reaching for good reasons why the person gets to stay. In some cases, those may be close to the truth. But in other cases, some of what seems obvious to staff doesn’t ring true to upper management. For not always obvious reasons to those below.
I once had a boss who was immensely unfair in how he treated people. And he was frequently oblivious to what was happening on a daily basis. But he had staff who felt compelled to do a good job anyway and so he looked good. And got promoted.
There’s also something about management that likes to stand up for their own. And then there’s Human Resource employees, reporting to upper management, that feel the need to whitewash anything that might cause trouble. Not always true, but not uncommon.
And then there’s this…
Does boss really deserve to be fired?
It’s easy to get caught up in boss-criticizing. And boss-blaming. Not that they’re perfect. But sometimes workers zero in on their boss, such that boss flaws seem to grow and multiply.
It could be that the worker is unhappy anyway. Or just a habit to share boss complaints with coworkers — not uncommon. And when that’s the focus, reaching the conclusion that the boss is a problem is not that far away. So much of this can be about perspective.
⇒ Putting a New Perspective To Work
This is not to negate that there are truly awful bosses. Just a reminder that there may be other ways of looking at the situation. And also a reminder, as The Who once so wisely told us, “Meet the new boss. Same as the old boss.”
Some more posts to help
What NOT To Do If You Work For a Dumb Boss
How To Deal With a Bully Boss
12 Reasons You’re So Unhappy at Work
My Boss Has a Favorite & It’s Not Me!
Why Is HR So Useless When You’re Being Bullied?
How Gossip at Work Can Hurt You
Dreaming of a New Job Where the Grass Is Greener?
Should I Go Out With My Boss If He Asks Me?
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