working with a difficult/crazy manager. What to do?

Do I work with you?

Just talk to her boss. He's a good guy, and he'll understand. I told him at the beginning of the year that I didn't want to work for her either, and so far so good! I don't know why they gave her that position in the first place. She never does any work, she's mean, rude, flirts with the guys, and plays on her phone all day.

Seriously, just talk to someone higher up in the chain before quitting. She's just being hard on you because she hasn't had to deal with training people before. We have other bosses here that are much better to work for!

Plus we've had three of us make serious complaints about her already - some of us multiple times. So if you do it too, they'll see that there really are people out there who dislike her. For some reason our complaints don't make sense to them. Maybe you can get through to them!

Quote from Majide : Do I work with you? Just talk to her boss. He's a good guy, and he'll understand. I told him at the beginning of the year that I didn't want to work for her either, and so far so good! I don't know why they gave her that position in the first place. She never does any work, she's mean, rude, flirts with the guys, and plays on her phone all day. Seriously, just talk to someone higher up in the chain before quitting. She's just being hard on you because she hasn't had to deal with training people before. We have other bosses here that are much better to work for! Plus we've had three of us make serious complaints about her already - some of us multiple times. So if you do it too, they'll see that there really are people out there who dislike her. For some reason our complaints don't make sense to them. Maybe you can get through to them!

you sound like you work with OP.

iconian is that you?!?!?!

Quote from daniel32 : you sound like you work with OP.

It really sounds like it But there is no "predecessor" in her group. Other than that, it was fairly spot on for the pain in the neck girl we have over here...

Don't make mistakes [/thread]

pretty much echoing others: start looking for another position while you're at this one. go to interviews on your lunch hour if possible, and if the potential employer starts pressing on why you can't take time off for an interview, explain that your current employer frowns on taking short-notice time off and you aren't comfortable letting them know you're searching for another job until you have secured one. only let them know about the bad manager during the interview, and have metrics to prove you're not a slacker ("she almost wrote me up for making two errors in 728 forms" as opposed to "she gets pissed even though i barely ever make mistakes.").

once you get a new position, have a closed-door meeting with her direct manager (and that person's manager as well, if possible). again, have metrics and objective data showing that you were a good employee, and have specific instances (as many as possible, write a doc if you need to) when she made you feel uncomfortable/undervalued/talked down to/etc. don't get angry and rant about her as a person, focus on her performance as a manager and how it affected your morale and work output. mention that others confided similar stories to you, but don't focus on it, and if they ask who, say you don't feel comfortable giving names in case the manager found out and decided to take it out on them. say you probably would have stayed at the firm if not for her (even if it's not true), and that you felt it your duty to at least let them know about her impact on her employees. don't say anything bad about the firm outside of her.

this allows you to dig her without burning bridges, and because you did it like a professional instead of firing off an email like a spurned teenager, they might actually listen.

Change keyboard layout to Japanese. She can't criticize what she can't read.

It all depends on what company you work for.

Sometimes, her boss might listen to complaints from her underlings.
At other companies, the management chain is EXTREMELY loyal to each other, so complaining to her boss will make things even worse.

The smart thing to do is probably just to keep plodding along. Go slow enough and double check everything so you don't make mistakes. When you get home, start sending out resumes. If you get called for an interview, call in sick.. even if it's a non paid sick day.. If they fire you for taking a sick day.. oh well. you prob don't want to work there anyhow.

You can try standing up to a bully.. but the odds are that it will backfire on you.. If she's as nuts as she seems, she's probably just going to amp up the pressure, write you up for false things, etc, etc..

And yea, don't write the farewall email.. really no point in that, plus it will be saved forever and used against you when possible.

I've lived through several psycho bosses.. the best thing to do is lay low, only talk to them when absolutely required, and give them the perception they are in total control.. In other words, they suggest something stupid.. just do it.. if it blows up later, laugh inside.. So spend however much time is needed so you avoid making a mistake.. even if your productivity drops greatly, at least you won't get reamed for a typo.

Put a laxitive in her coffee...

buck up and do the assignment correctly
this experience will make you stronger

next time she yells at you CRY REALLY HARD and say something like "My mom just passed away." While your face is full of painful expressions, apologize to her and say it won't happen again. Key is to make a big scene and make her feel really really really bad about herself. Or quit.

Quote from jumpinjohn1214 : next time she yells at you CRY REALLY HARD and say something like "My mom just passed away." While your face is full of painful expressions, apologize to her and say it won't happen again. Key is to make a big scene and make her feel really really really bad about herself. Or quit.

Laughing at someone really helps when they are angry.

Time for skulduggery...

Quote from Iaaaiws : If someone made a habit of hollering at me like that I would just look them right in the eyes and stare them down without ever responding or saying a word. I wouldn't move or show any reaction whatsoever--just keep staring blankly at them until they decided to be the one to break eye contact and leave. Then any time they came back near me I would stop whatever I was doing and just stare at them until they are gone again.

You are an genius! I like that in a person!

Quote from tennisplayer123 : Put a laxitive in her coffee...

You too!