Boss Study

No real shock here.

For most people, it's back to work Tuesday after a holiday weekend with family and friends. And for many, a new study shows, it will be under a bad boss. Nearly two of five bosses don't keep their word and more than a fourth bad mouth those they supervise to co-workers, the Florida State University study shows.

And those all-too-common poor managers create plenty of problems for companies as well, leading to poor morale, less production and higher turnover.

"They say that employees don't leave their job or company, they leave their boss," said Wayne Hochwarter, an associate professor of management in the College of Business at Florida State University, who joined with two doctoral students at the school to survey more than 700 people working in a variety of jobs about how their bosses treat them.

"No abuse should be taken lightly, especially in situations where it becomes a criminal act," said Hochwarter.

I've lived with bosses like this. Still do for that matter. Though I do find it interesting that most companies seem to see the employee as the problem and not the manager.

The findings include:

• 39 percent of workers said their supervisor failed to keep promises.

• 37 percent said their supervisor failed to give credit when due.

• 31 percent said their supervisor gave them the "silent treatment" in the past year.

• 27 percent said their supervisor made negative comments about them to other employees or managers.

• 24 percent said their supervisor invaded their privacy.

• 23 percent said their supervisor blamed others to cover up mistakes or to minimize embarrassment.

Workers in bad situations should remain optimistic, Hochwarter said.

"It is important to stay positive, even when you get irritated or discouraged, because few subordinate-supervisor relationships last forever," he said. "You want the next boss to know what you can do for the company."

Right, remain optimistic. The next boss may be better, but most likely won't be. I've had two good bosses and four bad ones, and two that pretty much couldn't be bothered to be involved at all.