Working America recently sent out an email asking folks to send in stories about bad bosses they've had. This is the second year in a row they've done the "Bad Boss Contest". Here's some of what they have to say about it:
It’s that time of year: Time to find out just who has the worst boss in America. Is it yours? Tell us, and you could win a weeklong getaway--miles away from your boss. Airfare is included. Enter the contest by telling us why your bad boss is the worst.
Whose boss is seriously bad? You tell us. We want YOU to tell us which bosses are the worst of the worst. Your vote just may give someone suffering with a bad boss the chance to win. Read the stories below and vote for your favorites now.
And now, some comments about the series you're reading:
Issues of class and labor seem to pop up quite a bit on Daily Kos as sidebars or as impacting other topics in important ways, but they don't get their own diaries as often as they perhaps should. Yet work and class have enormous relevance in American life. Almost all of us must work for a living. Most of us who work owe a great debt to organized labor - even if we are not ourselves members of unions, we benefit from the advances unions have made over the years, in safety conditions, limited hours and overtime pay, benefits, child labor laws. And while a shrinking percentage of American workers are represented by unions, not only do union members earn more than their nonunion counterparts, but nonunion workers in highly unionized industries and areas benefit from employer competition for workers, leading to better pay and conditions. Class issues, too, apart from the question of organized labor, are central in many of the political struggles of the day. From bankruptcy legislation to the minimum wage to student loans, legislation affects people differently based on how much they make, what kind of access to power and support they have.
With this series we aim to develop an ongoing discussion around class and labor issues. Such ongoing discussions have emerged in the Feminisms and Kossacks Under 35 series, and, given the frequent requests for more (and more commented-in) diaries on these issues, we hope this series will accomplish the same. Entries will be posted every Tuesday night between 8 and 9pm eastern. If you are interested in a writing a diary for this series, please email Elise or MissLaura and we will arrange for you to be put on the schedule.
Here are some of the "Bad Boss" stories you can vote on at the link above:
Death No Reason To Miss Work
No Bereavement, Colorado
My father passed away unexpectedly due to complications resulting from pneumonia. When I advised my boss that I would need Saturday off to attend the funeral, his compassionate response was that no one could cover for me. (I had not missed a day of work in 4 1/2 years for any reason.) He refused to give time off, and I missed the funeral. I did get bereavement time...a week later.
This one is really pretty appalling. What a way to repay your employee who never missed work- force him to miss his father's funeral. Disgusting.
Making Pizza Between Contractions
Pregnant at the Pizzeria
This happened a few years ago at my old job. I worked in a Pizza shop for many years. I was 9 months pregnant and one afternoon I went into labor.
My boss used to go out for lunch at the same time everyday, and the day I went into labor, he was getting ready to go out. He told me "don't dare pull the gate and close the store!", "wait until I come back from lunch and you can go to the hospital". Needless to say, the dedicated employee I was, I stayed and waited on customers and made pizzas between contractions.
When he came back, I rushed to the hospital and had the baby within 15 minutes.
When I came home from the hospital 2 days later, the boss called and said he needed me back to work the next day. Again, the dedicated employee I was, I went back.
For working there for all those years, when he found out the mall wasn't renewing his lease (about 6 months prior), he waited until 2 weeks before closing to let me know. He only gave me $200.00 severance pay. Go figure!!
Again we have the story of an employee willing to go HOW many extra miles for her employer? And her repayment is...um...being treated like crap. Nice.
Here's one more--
Illness
No Time Off for Cancer, Missouri
I was diagnosed with skin cancer and because of the location on my face they could not just cut it out. So I had to schedule radiation treatments for 9 weeks. When I went in to tell the boss, she slammed her fist down on the desk, looked me in the eye and screamed, "this is not a good time for the company for you to be having cancer!"
She proceeded to tell me they would not allow me to take time off and I could schedule before or after work -- preferably after. They offered no insurance, vacation or sick days.
I guess this woman should have checked with her company before deciding to go ahead and get skin cancer. How utterly thoughtless of her!
I can't believe how appalling some of these stories are. Click here to read and vote on which story you think should win. Click here to tell your own "Bad Boss" story. And please do tell us some of your own stories in the comments.