Handling the Rude Boss

By Peace Pessu Should I “take” ‘em? Or should I wait?

She has been an employee of the company for seven months, had only started working with the new boss for two months and she already  feels like wearing a T-shirt that reads ‘My Boss is a Jerk’ to work. Why? He is rude! Most of the times she has to restrain herself from shouting out retorts to the demeaning words and attitude she gets from him every day, so she resorts to silence but the unaired grievances turn into the negativity she takes out on others and at home. This is the scenario a lot of us find ourselves in and the dilemma is what to do about it, seeing as most times there is the fear of losing our jobs if we try to address the matter. Although all bosses have bad days and sometimes don’t act the way employees want, some bosses regularly go a step further and show disrespect to those working for them. If you’re faced with a disrespectful boss, you’ve got some options.

• Talk to the Boss

You’ll have to be careful whenever you bring up your boss’ behaviour toward you. Some bosses are angered by the mere idea that they’ve done something wrong. However, rather than directly criticizing your boss, you might explain how the manner in which you are being treated has made you less productive.

• Keep it Professional

It may be difficult in the face of rudeness and insults from a boss, but certain standards are expected from you in the workplace. You must remain professional at all times; in the case of a disrespectful boss, this may require that you simply ignoring the problem whenever possible so you can do your job.

• Email Communication

Consider using email communication instead of speaking with him. He might be less rude in emails, because email provides a written record, which you can use as evidence of his behaviour if it gets to the point where you need to speak with the human resources department. When communicating by email, don’t be snarky, and avoid cryptic comments. Keep to the facts; be concise, clear and to the point. Do not provide any ammunition he can use against you.

• Stay Calm

Keeping control of a situation with a disrespectful boss can mean the difference between building a better relationship and losing your job. Keep calm and try not to show much by way of emotion. If you’re upset about a situation, consider avoiding your boss as much as possible for a few days and then arranging a private meeting where you can raise the issue in a calm and professional manner. Avoid confrontation as much as you can, and remember that words said in the heat of an argument are difficult to take back.

• Other Considerations

If you are getting too stressed out and taking the negativity home with you, consider looking for other work. Research the openings in the same company before looking for work outside the company. An internal transition can lessen the impact of looking for work elsewhere while still getting you away from the problem. Remember that as an employee, you have a right to work in a harassment- and hostility-free workplace. If your boss’ behaviour and rude comments are threatening, you need to do something about it. Contact the company’s human resources department. If that elicits no changes, you might even consider filing a complaint with your state’s labour department against your boss and the company. As easy as it may sound in black and white, these options are really difficult in real life application and demand a lot of strength and patience to pull off. But look on the bright side, these virtues you develop, in the end, make you a better you- though it might not be the same case for your boss. Cheers!