7 Things Your Boss Should Never Say to You

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How about this one: Youas your boss for help with a new aspect of the job. This is the resopnse you get
I don't have time to hold your hand figure it out.
Here's another one we get.
Stop complaining be glad you have a job ( said in a sarcastic tone) cause someone else will snatch this one right up.

kathy Specker of IL 12:14PM March 26, 2010

Here is one for the books. Last year I lost my daughter, and it was difficult but I continued to stay professional at work. A couple of weeks later at work someone had said something to me and it made me think of my daughter and I was very sad. I continued to do my job, but my boss was on my case. So I explained to her that I was very upset and just needed a little space to grieve. She turned around and said and I quote "Business is Business and personal stuff can't get in the way!" unquote. I turned around and very calmly stated, that was very cold and is very unprofessional of you to even say that! Ever since then she has been making my life hell, because I stood up to her and told her she was unprofessional. Now, she is trying to push me out of my job! Unbelievable, how people today can be so vein and unfeeling.
Keeping the faith.

Melony of GA 11:12AM March 26, 2010

Norm,
If you're going to be critical of someone's proofreading skills, make sure your own are impeccable. "Folks just too lazy," ??

Virginia of CA 10:41AM March 26, 2010

My former boss’s catch-phrase: “It is what it is”. She may as well have had this tattooed on her forehead. I felt it was a cop-out of an answer, when I was trying to get actual meaningful clarification.
Another thing she said to me during my review was: “Nobody EVER gets Exceeded Expectations”. Then what am I working toward? I understand leaving room for improvement on a review, but NOBODY… EVER… getting high marks. Even if it’s true, it’s not something an employee should know.

Kim of OH 10:05AM March 26, 2010

I work in the medical field and suffer from anxiety attacks, for the past 2 yrs my boss keeps asking people at work if I had fallen, my team leader tells me that he asks him weekly . my boss also calls me to see if I am doing ok , I know why he is doing it and he makes a joke out of it and I dont think it is a joke and dont know what else to do

michael l czech of WI 9:36AM March 26, 2010

Most of those comments are most likely used with those under-achievers, poor performers, complainers, whiners, as well as those that THINK they know how to run the business better than the "boss" (i.e. "voice out").
If you have a boss make a comment similar to those, it's likely that your time with that company is limited. Take the hint and start looking for a new job... the boss is probably trying to tell you something (maybe you should get the hint).
Of course, I might question taking the advice of a "workinggirl" that has held 59 jobs! That doesn't speak too highly to most employers looking for someone that might be a good employee and an asset to any business. Actually, it sounds like someone that can't seem to hold a job or just can't find something they really like to do and keeps searching for something better... of course, it's probably the "boss's fault".
I've been an employee and a boss. I started working for a boss when I was 14 and I've only held 7 jobs in my life... one for about 20 years. Now, I am the boss of my own business. I hire people to do a job that will enhance the efforts of the business and expect a positive attitude toward that endeavor. In my years as an employee, as well as a boss, I've found that most who hear those types of things are not positive individuals and are not an asset to the business.

The Boss of TX 8:26AM March 26, 2010

Take a look at the economy! Was it this bad 20 years ago? No, take a look at how long people are at one job now. You rarely see someone that has been working at their job for 20 years. That is because all of the hard working non whining generation is retiring and now we have the offened text messaging crew working. As a previous production supervisor, I have use a few of these lines and I disagree they do work. I agree with most of the list, however there are times that some of them need to be said. With the lazy button pushing, youtube work force we have in this day and age, someone needs to let them know that just showing up for work and punching the clock does not mean you should get a good paycheck. Now this is not the cas with everyone, however the part that the employee's do not see is the companies working extremely hard to find and retain good employees i.e. show up to work, show up on time, work safely, produce quality, and be productive. I seen over 120 different people at my last position get terminated within the first 60 days because they did not show up for work. The funny thing is 90% of them were 25 and younger. I say put your cell phone away pay attention the first time you were told what to do and just do it. You get a paycheck and the only way to make that paycheck bigger is to make yourself more valuable. If you were doing your job in the first place the boss probably would not of said anything other than good job

Rick of KS 8:16AM March 26, 2010

my boss/manager is always in the office, doing less work rather than real managers do, aside from her daily activities like monitoring the cash flow, talking about entertainment events, talking about life of her employees, she should be in the field, looking for corporate prospects, finding good and potential agents, planning, forecasting, innovations, upgrading things in the future, but aside from all this, she is not doing it, even a very simple idea to advertise her business, even a simple slogan to catch fish in the ocean, you knew what i mean? i have shared her all of this ideas, but i think shes not a type of a person that sees and adapt what is good for the company. i am an honest and loyal employee (except for this voice-out) and i even work more than anyone else in the office, it really saddens me, specially when i warn her about the agents we have that not to be trusted and be careful, she just replied I know I know I know, look at now, the agents are not producing profit but always asking for their allowance, its a funny thing to petty someone in need, but as the manager/boss at least she can make a plan in order for those agents to work on it. it links to you no.2 in 7 things shouldn't say to your employee, although its not a compliant its an compliment, because i care and i love my work even i work more than i paid for. ^_^
thanks and more power.

nino 1:56AM March 26, 2010

After you responded to your boss's question of why you think you are one of the most valuable employees in the company, she answers: "You don't work any harder than anyone else here."

hardworker of CA 12:47AM March 26, 2010

These are all great examples of Stupidperformance.
We used to call this "business as usual." Finally we have arrived at the end of Command and Control.
The only industry where it still seems to be the norm is Oil & Gas. I'd love to see the CEOs of some of these firms go on Undercover Boss and become a Roustabout on a rig for a day.
Long live Servant Leadership.

dave guerra of TX 10:34PM March 25, 2010