Here's A Quiz

Who are survey respondents talking about when that say ________ has given them the silent treatment, taken credit for work they didn't do, and broken promises? Is it:

1. Their pre-schooler
2. Their spouse
3. Their boss

The Answer: 3.

Yup, the boss. Wayne Hochwarter, an associate professor of management at Florida State University's College of Business surveyed 700 people in a range of fields about how they were treated by their supervisors. Among other things, they said:

• Thirty-one percent of respondents reported that their supervisor gave them the "silent treatment" in the past year.
• Thirty-seven percent reported that their supervisor failed to give credit when due.
• Thirty-nine percent noted that their supervisor failed to keep promises.

Such behavior had a real impact. Hochwarter says employees stuck with such bosses "experienced more exhaustion, job tension, nervousness, depressed mood and mistrust." They were also less likely to put in extra hours and - no surprise - were less satisfied about their work. It doesn't take a great leap to figure out, as Hochwarter did, that employees with putzy bosses are more likely to leave than those who aren't happy with their pay.

So, what do you do if you have such a boss? First, stay visible, Hochwarter says. Staffers tend to blame themselves - a common theme in abusive relationships - and their instinct may be to hide. Don't do it. Remember, that others probably know your boss is a jerk, and you shouldn't prevent them from noticing your good work.

His second suggestion is, I think, tougher: Keep your chin up. "It is important to stay positive, even when you get irritated or discouraged, because few subordinate-supervisor relationships last forever," he says. "You want the next boss to know what you can do for the company." That's very nice, but if you've ever lived through a bad boss, you know how hard it can be to face going into the office every day. So, I'd add be realistic when weighing how much you like your work against how much you want to work in a decent environment. It's not a bad time to be looking for work in accounting, after all.

Finally, remember there is a not-so-fine line between being a bully and real harassment, discrimination or violence. If you've got a boss like this, be sure you know where to get help, whether it's through HR, a lawyer or even the authorities.

Who's afraid of the big bad boss? Plenty of us, new FSU study shows [FSU.com]