35 Times Bosses Wrote Such Delusional Notes, These Employees Just Had To Shame Them Online (New Pics)
Leading other people is as much a noble pursuit as it is a great responsibility. Any employee hopes to work with a manager who helps them develop new skills, prosper at work, and strive for success. But unfortunately, a good boss is rarely a given. The world’s chock full of leaders who start to pressure, exploit, and micromanage workers as soon as they get the tiniest amount of power.
Some even reach new lows by enforcing outrageous office rules, demeaning their workers, and downright making their life a living hell. Well, if we can all agree on one thing, there’s only so much an employee can take. Many frustrated souls who had the "pleasure" of dealing with an out-of-touch boss make sure to document their toxic antics and rightfully shame them online.
We at Bored Panda scoured the internet and compiled a collection of extremely infuriating notes and messages bosses had the audacity to display at work. So sit back, pull your chair closer, and get ready to feel your blood boil as you continue scrolling through this list. Keep reading to also find an interview with a nationally recognized career coach, Kristina Leonardi. Then be sure to upvote the signs you see as completely irrational and share your own encounters with delusional managers right below in the comments.
Psst! If you think you can handle even more workplace madness, check out Part 1 of this feature right here.
This post may include affiliate links.
Just Turn It Off
Shout Out The Worst Place I Ever Worked (Minimum Wage, Of Course)
At My Significant Other’s Workplace (Which Is Also My Old Workplace) Absolutely Terrifying
It is if you tell them to shove their job straight up where the sun dont shine.
How many times have you heard, "People leave managers, not companies"? Whether you believe it or not, there’s a grain of truth in this old adage. In fact, according to a survey from GoodHire, a leading provider of employment and background screening services, this is the very reason that pushes workers to hand in their resignation letters.
In the report, the researchers surveyed a total of 3,000 full-time American workers, an equal number across ten of the most popular job sectors, to better understand manager-employee relationship dynamics. The results show that while 70% of employees revealed they strongly enjoy or somewhat enjoy working for their manager, 82% said they might quit their job because of a bad one.
My Boss (Gun Store) Put This Up In Break Room Today
I Work For USPS. Corporate Likes To Send Out Messages Almost Every Day To Carriers. This Was The Message Today
Found This Sign At A Local Dinner. Decided To Eat Somewhere Else. Sounds Like A Horrible Place To Work
To learn more about horrible bosses and how their behaviors affect the well-being of their staff, we reached out to Kristina Leonardi, a holistic career coach, personal growth expert, speaker, and author of Say It To Make It: Affirmations to Empower the Heart, Mind, Spirit and Soul. She explained that more often than not, a bad manager is the root cause of a worker’s departure.
"When reviewing their work history, many of my clients were happy with their jobs and, for example, would rate the actual role a 7 or 8 (on a scale of 1-10 with 10 being the best). But it would come down to a 3 or 4 almost always because of issues with their boss. In other words, they might have really liked their role and function and would have stayed there, but the toxic environment created by their manager is what made them leave," Leonardi told Bored Panda.
I Can’t Remember If This Has Been Posted Before But Gotta Love Their Motivation Technique
He Hasn't Even Been Dead A Week
The career coach pointed out there are different levels of toxic bosses. "Some behaviors are more benign albeit annoying, like micromanaging. Others are more obvious and heinous — like having no boundaries, gaslighting or being disrespectful or verbally, physically emotionally, or sexually abusive."
Every employee has at least one story about an awful supervisor. But the dire reality is that bad managers are abundant, and they have the power to turn a potentially fulfilling work environment into an enormous misery. More alarmingly, they can take a toll on our well-being. Leonardi explained that leaders who opt for negative behaviors at work can lead to employees having depression, anxiety, poor physical health, and low self-esteem. "Having a toxic boss creates additional stress and stress can cause or trigger a variety of illnesses, both mentally and physically," she added.
My New Manager Wrote This Up Today. Non-Union Grocery Business In Ohio. What Are My Options? Is This Legal?
1. Take photo of notice. 2. Openly discuss pay with colleague in front of manager. 3. Record conversation with manager when they take disciplinary action. 4. Contact lawyer & file lawsuit.
Report the sign to the state labor board. A lawsuit wouldn't really be worth it.
Load More Replies...
If you are in the US and according to the Department of Labor, it is illegal for an employer to prohibit employees from discussing pay. You might still be fired and have to sue employer.
I thought as long as it was stated in the hiring on packet AND discussed and both parties agree and employee accepts job they could do this. I guess not?
Load More Replies... 
yes thats illegal. employers cant tell this. "Under the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA or the Act), employees have the right to communicate with other employees at their workplace about their wages. Wages are a vital term and condition of employment, and discussions of wages are often preliminary to organizing or other actions for mutual aid or protection." https://www.nlrb.gov/about-nlrb/rights-we-protect/your-rights/your-rights-to-discuss-wages#:~:text=Under%20the%20National%20Labor%20Relations,for%20mutual%20aid%20or%20protection.
I managed a bakery for a while. Owners hired a new worker under me about a year after I had taken my manager position. He had a lot of previous bakery experience but on the hierarchy was lower than me and had far far less responsibility. One day coworker awkwardly came to me and confessed he knew they were paying him more than me and that I should ask for a raise because he saw how much work I did on a daily basis. Owners were furious when I turned around and demanded a $2/hr pay raise which I very much deserved. They gave it to me, but I’m pretty sure they got angry at coworker. Grateful to that guy, he was a very hard worker and very honest, believed people deserved to be paid what they are worth.
Basically, discussing pay with coworkers is the only way to make sure you are all being paid what you are worth!!!
Load More Replies...
I will never understand this. In Australia, you can go to a government website and look up the average pay for your profession. I know how much all my co-workers are getting paid. They know how much I am being paid. I'm understanding it's some sort of ridiculous power play from US managers, but really? It';s being made out to be some sort of big hush-hush state secret. Are pay scales/rates so all over the place people aren't getting paid a minimum wage? Oh wait, that was silly of me. US doesn't pay minimum wages, yeah?
yes this type of thing happens way too much. Employees here in the states need to become more educated on the laws. Employers seem to forget about what's legal and bully employees into submission on things like this
Load More Replies...
Ya know. If you paid people fairly and comparably this wouldn't even be an issue right?
You can legally discuss your pay with anyone you want. Any disciplinary action will be taken by the Labor Board against your employer, or your lawyers against your boss’/company’s lawyers, if your employer takes any such actions against you.
The store manger is where the store manager lives - appropriate, since they’re clearly a horse’s a*s.
Pretty sure there's a Federal law that says you CAN discuss salary/wages.
Just shout out your pay when sneezing and have everyone follow suit. That's not a discussion, it's just normal bodily functions.
This is illegal. Employees discussing their wages is federally protected in the US.
Not legal. Check the NRLA as has been mentioned. It's federal and totally irrelevant to whatever state you happen to live in.
We weren't "allowed" to discuss our salary with other colleagues. We all did, and of course that's when we all found out how underpaid some of us were compared to others.
I've never heard of a workplace where discussing your salary with coworkers wasn't against company policy. I've also never heard (personally) of this resulting in any disciplinary action other than a nasty look. Notice they say "unacceptable", not illegal.
Yes, this is totally illegal. But I'm guessing if you work at a grocery store you can't afford the lawsuit. Welcome to the US under late-stage capitalism, where the law only protects people who can pay for it! (My employer wasn't dumb enough to put it in writing, but it has also been made clear to me as a low paid corporate minion that 'my pay is no one else's business and it's inappropriate to discuss wages with coworkers.' Happens all the time, wherever they think they can get away with it. Since I'm not looking to become a union-organizing martyr or file a lawsuit, I'm not arguing, but it's very annoying.)
In fact, employees' right to discuss their salary is protected by law. While employers may restrict workers from discussing their salary in front of customers or during work, they cannot prohibit employees from talking about pay on their own time.
Big fat NOPE! You CAN discuss your pay and they should be reported if disciplinary action is taken, if you do!
This is totally against federal law. You should contact an attorney.
Everyone should discuss their pay. That's how you know what wages not only you should be paid, but what you can do better to get there.
Is this illegal in Canada? Because It used to be one of our rules at work.
In my state the state employee salaries are online for anyone making over 50k/yr. So anyone can know what they make.
No, actually, this is illegal in the United States. It's a federal law, so it applies no matter which state you are in
Load More Replies...Don't Worry We Won't
I'll let my car look like I just drove it through a sewer before I'd use this car wash.
Great Sign To See Outside Your Hr Department
According to Leonardi, harmful behaviors should not be tolerated. "However, the problem is that people often can’t even see how toxic a situation is because they are on some level familiar with it," she added. This often means "they are playing out their family dynamics in their work situation, usually with their bosses filling in as their mother or father with the same patterns of personalities and interactions. So in a weird way, as bad as it might be, it’s what they are used to or comfortable with, which means they can’t always perceive it as being unacceptable and detrimental."
Bout That Life
We get it, you sexually harassed your female employees until they quit after two weeks.
I’m Furious. This Email Was Sent To My Daughter About Discussing Pay Rates. What Are Next Options?
If you are in the US this is illegal according to the Department of Labor. Most employers do not know labor laws.
I Got This From The Company I Work At In The Mail Today
The GoodHire poll revealed that most employees in the American workforce feel irritated by a manager who is overbearing, micromanages, and expects them to work outside of working hours. When it comes to supervisor traits workers deem as positive, the responses were fairly simple — employees wish to have a boss who is authentic and honest. The researchers stressed, however, that "while quitting because of a bad manager is a huge and important decision, oftentimes those decisions are made because of consistent unhappiness at work.”
"Workplace dynamics have changed drastically," GoodHire’s COO, Max Wesman, said. "Now, employees have more leverage so managers need to step up and work on being better managers, and that includes showing empathy, improving transparency, and keeping the lines of communication open. Our survey is telling us that when employees aren’t satisfied, they’ll quit because they see the thriving job market and other opportunities available to them."
Apparently My Manager Thinks This Is A "Motivational" Sign To Keep Up Morale In The Workplace
How About Paying A Living Wage?
They should have hired more staff with THEIR "handout". A huge portion of the relief went to businesses just like this with very little accountability. Apparently this business didn't use it to provide for employees.
Guarantee They Don’t Pay Enough. Pay More!
By now, you’ve probably heard about the great resignation — a quitting trend that doesn’t seem to quit. Feeling tired of being treated like a piece of machinery, employees started voluntarily leaving their positions in droves after the pandemic rattled the world. Well, it looks like the quitting spree shows no signs of slowing down. In June, another 3.9 million people moved their talents elsewhere in the US alone, all in search of better pay, better opportunities, and overall better treatment.
This Is What My New Manager Handed Out At Her Introductory Meeting
Found On Facebook
At the time they wrote this, we had had 4 years of "conservative values", incarnate in the Orange Mussolini.
This Sign At My Work. They Will Charge Staff For Anything As Minimal As A Broken Ice Cream Cone
I worked at a restaurant where they tried to charge servers for broken glassware or missing tableware. These sort of losses over time are expected and it's illegal to dock a server's pay for them.
However, some people may be lucky enough to love their jobs but unfortunate to be stuck with delusional bosses. If you can relate to any of the entries you find in this list, yet feel unsure of how to handle your out-of-touch supervisor, Leonardi had a few pieces of advice to share.
"First of all, take responsibility and reflect on how you got yourself into that situation and/or how long you have endured it. Is the boss the person that hired you and were there any red flags that you ignored in the beginning? If you had no control over the boss you now have, were there opportunities to leave at any time?" The career coach stressed that taking responsibility is important. "That means if you had the power to get yourself into the situation, you have the power to get yourself out of it."
This Slide From The Stanley Parable
This one is satire, but the fact that it's more or less indistinguishable from the rest of the list is telling. (The Stanley Parable is a great game, btw. Really fun, everyone who hasn't played it yet should check it out.)
Found This Old Gem In My Camera Roll
Manager Instigating New “No Sitting” Policy - Work In Retail In UK, Nothing In Employee Handbook Or Contract To Say We Can’t Sit When There Is No Work To Be Done. Thoughts?
While it may seem like a tough lesson, it reminds you that you always have other options, Leonardi added. "Acknowledging the value that you bring and recognizing and honoring your own self-worth are often the underlying issues. Addressing that is often part of what the experience is trying to grow in you. Know that you are empowered to make better choices for yourself with the right perspective, strategy and professional help, if needed."
My Girlfriends Last Job Has An Interesting Response To Quitting
I smell legalities with this but I could be wrong. I will say though that when the national standard in the US for a tipped staff member is $2.13 an hour, and has been since the mid 80's, it's not a privilege. An employer should be shot for thinking or saying that it is. If they believe it is, that only shows why they shouldn't be in business.
Saw This While Shopping. This Is So Degrading
Walked Into Upper Management’s Office Today And Found This Gem
11. Writing this 12. Managing 13. Skill 14. Paying better wages 15. Being nice 16. Working 18. Following your own rules 19. Following labor laws 20. Not being a dictator
"Life is a classroom," Leonardi said. "It just so happens we spend most of our time and energy at our jobs. No matter what the situation, take a step back and reflect on what the universe is trying to teach or show you in order for you to break patterns and know your value. Then, you are able to get to a place where you can truly thrive."
No Raises But We Know Times Are Tough. No One Got A Raise, But Hey They Got Ramen Noodles
This Showed Up In An Obscure Corner Of The Hotel I Work At
Duh Parents… Your Money Problems Are Solved!
In 2013 I Worked At A Fro-Yo Shop Where The Owners Intensely Watched The Cameras; Store Has Since Closed
I worked at a place with a demagogue of manager who was always trying to catch people doing the wrong thing. Everybody hated her, but the owners thought the place couldn't run without her. When she finally left, things cruised along just as well as before, and employee retention went way up. Micromanagers are bad for business.
I Posted A Bit Ago About An Antagonistic Sign, The Business Added Another One
I may be sleep deprived, but reading "pizza family" made me picture calzones as the pregnant mommy pizzas that give birth to pizza rolls...
My Availability Has Always Been Strictly Mon-Fri. I Spoke To A Manager When I Saw This Sign And Was Told I Will Be Working That Day, Regardless Of My Availability
Right. But usually when companies have big events like inventory it’s still mandatory unless you have something like a doctor’s note or a funeral. Seems like this is just a generally known thing. Inventory requires all employees. My old workplace used to bring in temps for inventory because there’s just so much to do.
Verbal Warning For Going To The Bathroom Can I Sue?
Sign Posted In A Walgreens Bathroom
Note: this post originally had 53 images. It’s been shortened to the top 35 images based on user votes.
"nO oNe WaNts tO wOrK aNYmOrE". Mate, no one wanted to work in the first place! We just like things like clothes and food and shelter....
Also, there was a post about how businesses/mangers/bosses have been saying that saaaame line since at least 1880. If there were truth in the line at all, the world would've ended nearly a century ago. We would all be living in some anarchic dystopia. As it stands now we are moving there but not because "no one wants to work anymore". It's partially due to all kinds of shitty labour laws/violations, low pay/lack of raises (less than livable wages), and dealing with shitty micromanagement.
Load More Replies...
I have 3 words for you. Unions, unions and unions..... America seems to be a horrible place to work.
Each of these made me think: Contact ACLU, NLRB, and local media. Why? B/c news stories do a lot of damage a lot faster than lawsuits.
No one is rewarded enough to afford to live at what these jobs pay. Pay the f*****g people enough to live comfortably or close your business.
Wow. So you expect people to be robots, get paid next to nothing and smile about it? Good luck.
What about the one that expected the staff to smile and write a report about drug usage - to be discussed at the next meeting?
Load More Replies...
What is amazing to me is the expectation of these businesses have of their employees. Their attitude is "If I, as the business owner/ manager come in with a dog turd on my shoe and tell you, the employee, to lick it off, not only should you comply, but be happy to have the opportunity to do so". Crazy way to think. These examples are result of corporate welfare, coddling, and the snowflakes who embraced it.
Business owners need to realize they NEED employees so their business can succeed. Pay them a decent wage and treat them with dignity, for f***s sake.
Worked at an office. Receptionist asked for a raise, they said no. She quit. They yelled at me for not letting them know she would do that. I told them I told you but you didn't take it seriously. They hired a woman who waited for the third ring before answering the phone. That was her main job.
Load More Replies...
Saying no one wants to work is like asking kids about their dream jobs. No one in their right mind dreams of working, it's a necessary evil because we like sleeping indoors and eating.
The majority of these small business should have never been. There's two type of people that open a small business. People that have a good product, understand how to run a business and are able to adapt to changing customer demand. The other people are folks that are basically unemployable due to their difficult personality. The only way they can find employment is to be their own boss. People that think they're running a business but in reality it's barely running it's self with the support of ill appreciated workers. These shitty owners feel that business is failing because it's everyone else's fault and not their own.
Too many people think they can sit back and hire others to work while they are "entrepreneurs". We worked 7 days a week for 6 years before we started taking Sundays off and added time to the other days.
Load More Replies...
Americans cry about inflation. Guess what?! It's all around the world and US is not the world. Many countries have higher inflation than you, much, much higher.
And do people in your country never complain about inflation? Must be nice!!!
Load More Replies... Instead of calling out the politicians who denied the pandemic, a lot of bosses seem to blame the politicians who are getting us out of the resulting inflation and problems. It was world wide...how could an American president be blamed for world wide inflation and shortages. If the democrats were that powerful...
Most people are perfectly happy to work ... just not for c**p wages and no benefits.
You mean I could have just given my period a talking-to instead of having life-altering surgery?
coming from the Netherlands, are US-citizens really this thick when it comes to politics and social values? I realize (read: hope) that these signs are probably more the exception that the rule... but over here I have never ever seen anything like this. It would probably get the news as some sort of laughable novelty item.
Good for you? Yes, we are suffering. No need to rub it in.
Load More Replies...
"nO oNe WaNts tO wOrK aNYmOrE". Mate, no one wanted to work in the first place! We just like things like clothes and food and shelter....
Also, there was a post about how businesses/mangers/bosses have been saying that saaaame line since at least 1880. If there were truth in the line at all, the world would've ended nearly a century ago. We would all be living in some anarchic dystopia. As it stands now we are moving there but not because "no one wants to work anymore". It's partially due to all kinds of shitty labour laws/violations, low pay/lack of raises (less than livable wages), and dealing with shitty micromanagement.
Load More Replies... I have 3 words for you. Unions, unions and unions..... America seems to be a horrible place to work.
Each of these made me think: Contact ACLU, NLRB, and local media. Why? B/c news stories do a lot of damage a lot faster than lawsuits.
No one is rewarded enough to afford to live at what these jobs pay. Pay the f*****g people enough to live comfortably or close your business.
Wow. So you expect people to be robots, get paid next to nothing and smile about it? Good luck.
What about the one that expected the staff to smile and write a report about drug usage - to be discussed at the next meeting?
Load More Replies... What is amazing to me is the expectation of these businesses have of their employees. Their attitude is "If I, as the business owner/ manager come in with a dog turd on my shoe and tell you, the employee, to lick it off, not only should you comply, but be happy to have the opportunity to do so". Crazy way to think. These examples are result of corporate welfare, coddling, and the snowflakes who embraced it.
Business owners need to realize they NEED employees so their business can succeed. Pay them a decent wage and treat them with dignity, for f***s sake.
Worked at an office. Receptionist asked for a raise, they said no. She quit. They yelled at me for not letting them know she would do that. I told them I told you but you didn't take it seriously. They hired a woman who waited for the third ring before answering the phone. That was her main job.
Load More Replies... Saying no one wants to work is like asking kids about their dream jobs. No one in their right mind dreams of working, it's a necessary evil because we like sleeping indoors and eating.
The majority of these small business should have never been. There's two type of people that open a small business. People that have a good product, understand how to run a business and are able to adapt to changing customer demand. The other people are folks that are basically unemployable due to their difficult personality. The only way they can find employment is to be their own boss. People that think they're running a business but in reality it's barely running it's self with the support of ill appreciated workers. These shitty owners feel that business is failing because it's everyone else's fault and not their own.
Too many people think they can sit back and hire others to work while they are "entrepreneurs". We worked 7 days a week for 6 years before we started taking Sundays off and added time to the other days.
Load More Replies... Americans cry about inflation. Guess what?! It's all around the world and US is not the world. Many countries have higher inflation than you, much, much higher.
And do people in your country never complain about inflation? Must be nice!!!
Load More Replies... Instead of calling out the politicians who denied the pandemic, a lot of bosses seem to blame the politicians who are getting us out of the resulting inflation and problems. It was world wide...how could an American president be blamed for world wide inflation and shortages. If the democrats were that powerful...
Most people are perfectly happy to work ... just not for c**p wages and no benefits.
You mean I could have just given my period a talking-to instead of having life-altering surgery?
coming from the Netherlands, are US-citizens really this thick when it comes to politics and social values? I realize (read: hope) that these signs are probably more the exception that the rule... but over here I have never ever seen anything like this. It would probably get the news as some sort of laughable novelty item.
Good for you? Yes, we are suffering. No need to rub it in.
Load More Replies... 