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Stanley Bing

Help! My boss is nuts

In their own words, Stanleybing.com readers talk about the bullies, narcissists and other crazy bosses they spend their working days with.

A reader from Arkansas writes:

My boss is the bully boss. She is always accusing me of insane things, gets a real high out of reprimanding me for things that either haven't even happened or they are so ridiculously minor that you would think she would have enough sense to not even mention.

The first time she publicly yelled at me it felt like someone had just kicked me in the stomach, and like I couldn't get enough air. While she was yelling at me I suddenly felt weak and leaned against a desk... then loud enough for everyone in their cubicles to hear she yelled "get off that desk." Immediately I jumped up...but she just kept yelling the same thing as if she had an audience she was playing to.

She can be accusatory one minute, and then tell me everything is just fine the next. It changes all the time. She looks to be about 75 or 80 with a real chip on her shoulder. Everyone else just gives her chocolate and treats her like she's boss of the year. It's just not in my personality to be such a fake. Because of her I'm thinking of changing careers because I know when I leave she'll be all too thrilled to trash me to anyone who'll listen. Any advice on how to leave this job and maintain some type of dignity? I know she'll want to cause a huge scene.
Last updated August 20 2008: 4:45 PM ET
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