Ranking bad bosses is a game no one wants to win, but for those of us who began our work careers in the last century, we can remember a time when toxic work environments and bullying bosses were considered totally normal.
In my case, I had been warned. In the mid-1980s, before I began work as a contract editor in the public relations office of a health sciences organization, my future boss urged me to interview employees to learn about her management style.
“Some people call me an evil woman,” she laughed, running her hands through her rough, wavy hair.
None of her employees criticized her directly; they were careful to strike a balance between being demanding and knowledgeable, tough and knowing their job.
I quit because I thought I could handle it for a while, plus I needed a job to get back to California from the East Coast.
As I left the office and started walking down the sidewalk to my rental car, I felt a tug on my sleeve. I turned around to see a young, dark-haired woman I had only spoken to briefly, crying.
“You seem like a nice person,” she said, crying, “and I have something to tell you.”
I was surprised, but also curious.
