7 Things Never to Say to Your Boss

The whole article seems to favor idolizing the boss' stance and belittling whatever problems the workers might have. Compared to other web articles offering how best to phrase complaints with management, this one just seems to espouse a "shut up and take it" mentality. That's what a lot of workers are doing in this economy, but it still doesn't guarantee job security (just that bosses get less resistance from their staff, no matter how badly they're doing).

At my last job, where I was often being unloaded on by the Manager to handle many jobs on top of my regular title of "Sales," I found it best when having too many projects put on my plate to counter with a question of the time-frame expectation for completing something (usually "immediately" or "before the end of today"), and then politely ask if they wanted me to set aside the OTHER projects I'd been given. Often, bosses will forget what they've already assigned to you, so it doesn't hurt to remind them what you're ALREADY doing for them. Sometimes they'll be stubborn and just order you to "do it all," with a grossly inaccurate estimate of how long it "should" take, but it often can get them to spread out workload more efficiently (or at least get them off your back about less pressing work).

The "fault" issue is a touchy one; usually because assigning "fault" of a problem is how people establish grounds for firing (at-will state or not, there's still grounds for suits if management is egregious with booting people for obviously discriminatory reasons). While you don't want to whine about things which conceivably "are" your fault (poor results hit us all from time-to-time), you can't be blamed for things over which you didn't have control (either because corporate policy actual forbids you from doing what was asked, or the problem originated from an outside source). Stating that tactfully is an issue in itself.

Idealistically, the relationship between boss and staff is a respectful and communicative one. The staff are obedient, but not "YES" people, and the boss is assertive but reasonable to dialogue. Of course reality doesn't work out like that. The problem is where we take our cues of workplace communication from. If we as employees actively LET communication between workforce and management break down, we're part of the problem.

Yes, respect and polite tone is important, but the whole business suffers if staffers never contradict their bosses or don't try and point out flawed thinking/planning. Being fearful of upsetting your boss at the slightest thing is usually a bad sign that things are already in a terrible state.

Chiming In of TX 2:50PM March 18, 2010

Due to 10+ percent unemployment caused by high-end tax cuts and a "doctrine" of "employment at will" that you never voted for as a citizen, you have no choice.

If your boss is one of those "simple souls" described above, who thinks your job is to do whatever he or she demands (regardless of whether it is ethical, sensible, fair, reasonably attached to your job description, or even effective), then don't forget to at least vote for some decent liberals in government at all levels.

If you're working for nice people, great. If you're working for jerks, ALWAYS remember that it is conservatives who intend to keep you in that situation. Who else do you think permits and defends employee contracts (handbooks) stating YOU can be fired at any time for ANY reason or NO reason.

No, by the way, I'm not a trouble-maker type at work. Never was. Always gave 120% and was never fired from anything in my life, and spent a good many years as a supervisor as well. But I know crocks of ____ when I see them. And many people are living that reality. SOME DAY, there has to be a push-back. Otherwise, most people are just gonna keep losing more and more to their corporate lords.

Muser of NM 12:16AM March 18, 2010

I really do love the one about the hands being too small to hit the shift key. It just goes to show that while you may think you've heard everything, you really haven't. There's always more crazy stuff out there!

Thanks, Kate. I needed a chuckle today.

Working Girl of WA 7:23PM March 17, 2010