does your boss push you around?

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Did you ever have a boss who asked you for "favors" outside the limits of your job description? (No, not sexual favors -- just extra work.) What do you do? Do you just say "NO" and hope you don't get canned? Do you go along with it, but ask for extra pay or some kind of recognition? Do you just do whatever your boss says so as to avoid strife?

-- Anonymous, September 19, 2000

Answers

my old boss was a Chicken Butt. He used to do that shit all the time, expecting people to get up at the crack of dawn to be into work by 6:30, stay late, work on weekends, etc. To be fair, he worked about 90 hours a week himself, but he was insane. I remember the last Holiday season I worked there, there was an icestorm. I was supposed to be leaving town that day, but I had gotten a call from my boss the night before saying he needed me to go into the office and fix something on his computer before I left. So I dragged my butt into the office at 4:00 am in ICY conditions for pete's sake, wearing my pajama pants and a sweatshirt, thinking I'd just get it done and go before anyone came in. My boss, of course, came in about 10 minutes later. Instead of saying,"Good Morning" or "What are you doing here so early" he said, "Are you in your pajamas??" Hello? Mr. Chicken Head? It's fucking 4am. Of course I'm in my pajamas. I just got out of there pretty fast. When I got back into town and checked my email, there was a message from the boss regarding proper office attire...which he had sent on Christmas Eve. I quit shortly thereafter.

-- Anonymous, September 19, 2000

I have done resumes for my boss' family and I even designed her son's wwedding invitation. I have received exactly nothing in return. Not even respect.

-- Anonymous, September 19, 2000

Gwen, you don't want to hear about sexual favors? I do!

As far as other favors, all my bosses have used better judgement...I must give off some type of vapor that clues them in. Now, bossing around my bosses, I could write some crap about that.

-- Anonymous, September 19, 2000


I think I have that same vapor, Lisa. I have never had boundary problems with a boss before. Maybe I've been lucky, or maybe I'm just a real ice princess. My biggest challenge in the workplace isn't dealing with my own bosses, it's learning how to be a decent, effective boss to others while still remaining approachable.

-- Anonymous, September 19, 2000

I hear that, Jill. I've been a boss, and decided not to be a boss anymore. I like actually getting things done, without as much of the politics. That is such a foreign concept in US culture though, electing NOT to move back up the ladder.

I really feel for "bosses" sometimes. I think many are trapped (ego, debt, whatever) and don't feel they can move down to a different position, where they'll be happier. But, they still don't ask me for favors, and that works for me.

-- Anonymous, September 19, 2000



"No one can make you feel small unless you let them." - Eleanor Roosevelt

-- Anonymous, September 23, 2000

I hate being a stupidvisor. I mean I really hate it. Can't come in late or call in sick because the waves are really good. Can't tell anyone to f-off. I work for a city (civil service) so it's hard finding ways to motivate people or really discipline them. I can do it with force of personality but sometimes the civil service rules protecting workers from supervision get in the way of creating and maintaining high performing teams. You can't cut the anchor loose and get underway. It's frustrating when the boss gives you extra work and someone doesn't care to help. James

-- Anonymous, September 23, 2000

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