Having a good—or even great—boss is honestly life-changing. When they support you, empathize with you, and genuinely care about your future at the company, coming to work feels purposeful. The sad reality is—unfortunately—that many managers simply should not be in positions of leadership.
However, some employees find the courage to stand up to those who misuse their power. Inspired by user u/JessyGlow’s story about how her colleague called out her enraged boss, the ‘Coworker Stories’ online community opened up about the times they or someone they knew stood up to their managers. You’ll find their full, awesome stories below.
We reached out to the author of the intriguing post, u/JessyGlow, and she was kind enough to share her thoughts about what good and bad management looks like. You'll find the insights she shared with Bored Panda below.
#1
This happened a few months ago but it lives rent free in my head. our boss (he's 6'4 and LOVES to remind people) was kinda grilling one of my coworkers during a team meeting for a mistake that wasn’t even really her fault.
he kept raising his voice and getting all aggressive and she just… looked at him, completely calm, and goes:
“you’re not intimidating, you’re just tall and loud.”
dead silence. then someone coughed. then the boss just muttered something and moved on. never brought it up again lol.
honestly legend behavior. she still works here. she drinks her tea like nothing happened. i aspire.
he kept raising his voice and getting all aggressive and she just… looked at him, completely calm, and goes:
“you’re not intimidating, you’re just tall and loud.”
dead silence. then someone coughed. then the boss just muttered something and moved on. never brought it up again lol.
honestly legend behavior. she still works here. she drinks her tea like nothing happened. i aspire.
79points
For u/JessyGlow, the author of the viral post, emotional intelligence is paramount for any truly good manager to have.
"To me, a good manager leads with empathy. They give clear direction, trust their team, and don’t feel the need to raise their voice to be heard," she shared her thoughts with Bored Panda.
"The toxic ones? Usually the opposite," she said that bad leaders tend to have a desire to dominate their employees.
"It’s all about control, blame, and making people feel small. You can’t grow in that kind of environment."
#2
My first job was nagging groceries in a smallish independent-owned grocery store. The owner was one of the worst people I have ever met and he was unnecessarily mean to all of his employees which were teens in school or adults who needed the job. He ran his butcher away and his reputation kept all of the other butchers away because they get paid more and get treated better almost anywhere else.
One of the managers hired his friend who had butchering experience and he happened to be the dad of one of my friends in school, which I thought was weird because he was in real estate. He was warned that the owner was an absolute jack off before he got the job. The first day at the job the owner had the morning meeting and was going off about the smallest things that didn't matter. The new butcher cuts off the owner mid-rant and says "You need to calm the f**k down and quit talking to people like this. You have short man syndrome and it's showing! I don't have time for this bullsh*t. Do you do this every morning? This is my last "meeting" and I'm going to cut some meat.". There was stunned silence in the room and everyone's jaw was on the floor including the owner. The butcher says "Haha, you people seem uncomfortable" and walks out of the door.
The owner was fuming and stormed out after him and all we hear is "you better shut the f**k up before I make you. You be black and blue and have no butcher and I'll go home and have a beer!". He didn't get fired or even reprimanded because the owner had to have a butcher or he would lose thousands of dollars per week. All of the employees loved that guy for the 3 months he worked there. He would always stand up for the employees and embarrass the owner when he got out of line. I told my friend how cool his dad was and he didn't believe me. He was about 20 people's idol for 3+ months. He also pulled pranks on customers a lot and was just a complete joy to work around.
One of the managers hired his friend who had butchering experience and he happened to be the dad of one of my friends in school, which I thought was weird because he was in real estate. He was warned that the owner was an absolute jack off before he got the job. The first day at the job the owner had the morning meeting and was going off about the smallest things that didn't matter. The new butcher cuts off the owner mid-rant and says "You need to calm the f**k down and quit talking to people like this. You have short man syndrome and it's showing! I don't have time for this bullsh*t. Do you do this every morning? This is my last "meeting" and I'm going to cut some meat.". There was stunned silence in the room and everyone's jaw was on the floor including the owner. The butcher says "Haha, you people seem uncomfortable" and walks out of the door.
The owner was fuming and stormed out after him and all we hear is "you better shut the f**k up before I make you. You be black and blue and have no butcher and I'll go home and have a beer!". He didn't get fired or even reprimanded because the owner had to have a butcher or he would lose thousands of dollars per week. All of the employees loved that guy for the 3 months he worked there. He would always stand up for the employees and embarrass the owner when he got out of line. I told my friend how cool his dad was and he didn't believe me. He was about 20 people's idol for 3+ months. He also pulled pranks on customers a lot and was just a complete joy to work around.
44points
#3
A former co-worker of mine (who was in her 20s at the time) was known for schooling folks for raising their voices at her by saying simply, “you will not speak to me that way. Let me know when you’ve calmed down.” And then would gather her stuff and leave the room. She even did it to our CEO a couple of times. EPIC and mature and exactly what we all should (be able to) do.
42points
According to u/JessyGlow, her post's massive virality was very much a surprise. "That’s wild. I didn’t expect the post to get that much attention at all," she opened up.
"I just shared it because it’s one of those moments that’s stuck with me," u/JessyGlow said.
"I think it [the topic] resonated because a lot of people have dealt with intimidating bosses, and there’s something so refreshing about someone calmly calling it out like it’s no big deal," she told us, adding that she's glad that so many people connected with the story.
According to the Harvard Business Review, toxic bosses can increase feelings of fear and anxiety at work. They also undermine trust, lower morale, increase employee turnover (bad for businesses everywhere), and increase their employees’ risk of burnout and serious illnesses.
“Numerous studies have found a link between toxic bosses and serious health issues such as depression, high blood pressure, PTSD, anxiety, and even premature aging,” HBR states.
#4
An old boss of mine was once yelling at my team for some dumb sh*t. I stopped him and said, calmly, "I sing in a hardcore punk band. If you want to yell, I can yell louder. Your choice."
He actually laughed and took it down five levels. He and I are friends to this day. We're all just people.
He actually laughed and took it down five levels. He and I are friends to this day. We're all just people.
40points
#5
We had a plant worker that drove out of our parking lot like a bat out of hell onto a 5 lane highway every single day.As the EHS director at the time, I cautioned him several times about his driving. He laughed at me and said Sooo. I called the local PD and described his actions every day at 3:31 pm, and the make, model, and color of his car. They nailed him for reckless driving the next day, and the day after that, and the day after that. Those points added up pretty quick. Soon his gf was driving him to and from work…and we never saw his car again.
39points
#6
I had a boss once arguing with a new hire about a food safety issue, and the new hire was very very wrong, but kept arguing over and over. The boss ended the conversation by saying “if you wanna argue, you either need to be right, or be smart. And you’re not either.” This was like 4 years ago and I still think about it lmao
39points
Some of the main signs of a toxic boss, according to HBR, include the facts that:
- They lack self-awareness;
- They lack empathy;
- They’re excessively motivated by self-interest;
- They demonstrate inconsistent behavior;
- They take advantage of power dynamics;
- They micromanage;
- They set unreasonable expectations;
- They belittle and demoralize;
- They seek to blame others;
- They’re overconfident about their knowledge.
#7
I once had a boss tell me for the third time in a year that I was getting more put on my plate. So, for the 3rd time that year, I asked for a raise. I smiled as he yelled at me for asking for more money for the 3rd time. I waited for him to finish. “Forget the raise, I’m not leaving this spot until you apologize.” I’d let him yell and yell, waiting for him to stop. And each time he did, “still waiting on that apology.” He stormed out of the office. Not just the conference room we were in, but the whole office. Got in his little sports car and sped off. Called me an hour later to give me the raise and apologize.
34points
#8
I had a VP of a job i worked at where he revved out of our parking lot every day in a hot rod going 3x the local speed limit. Major narcissist who even told me Hitler was a great general.
He drove his car up when i was sitting outside on break smirking and acting all high and mighty.
I just looked him in the eye and said, "Nice car. Compensating for something?" He just drove off
He drove his car up when i was sitting outside on break smirking and acting all high and mighty.
I just looked him in the eye and said, "Nice car. Compensating for something?" He just drove off
33points
#9
There's a manager where I work who always works himself up in a fit and starts yelling and complaining at everyone and everything. But his employees always tell him to stop in a very patronising way, like you would to a child or a little brother, and he doesn't stop but he goes to have his fit in his office. It's really fun to see
32points
We’re all responsible for enforcing our personal boundaries, both in our personal lives and at work. It takes a lot of courage to stand up to someone in power. If your boss is aggressive, a bully, harasses others, or does something illegal, you have a variety of options on how to proceed.
For smaller issues, you could talk to your manager directly about how their behavior affects you. Ideally, you want to be friendly but firm, explaining the issue and looking for compromises without being overly judgmental or giving in to their manipulations. If that doesn’t work, you can reach out to HR to mediate the issue or get in touch with your boss’s boss or someone else in management to figure things out.
For larger, more sensitive problems with possible legal repercussions, you may want to reach out to your labor union or lawyer for advice on how to handle things. No matter the size of the issue, it’s vital that you have evidence to back up your claims, from work emails and messages to notes with specific times and dates of iffy behavior.
#10
Clients construction manager was literally screaming at me in the morning meeting, and he was this 5'0" d**khead who was quite literally the ugliest man I've seen in real life.
After he stopped for air, there was a few seconds of stunned silence and I just burst into awkward laughter. Nobody knew what to do including me. How do you respond to an ugly homunculus jumping up and down screaming?
After he stopped for air, there was a few seconds of stunned silence and I just burst into awkward laughter. Nobody knew what to do including me. How do you respond to an ugly homunculus jumping up and down screaming?
29points
#11
Way, way back, I worked as a sandwich artisan as my very first job. I was in high school and very much so looked the part.
We got this one guy who came in ranting and raving, if I recall correctly, that the PRE-PACKAGED cheese was apparently smaller than he remembered and he was threatening to come over the counter about it if I didn't give him more for free.
I just calmly pointed to our shift manager, who was weighing meat portions within view and said, "That's my manager. He's a nationally ranked boxer. You can come over this counter if you want, but he's gonna make you regret it." Manager stared the guys down as he took off his gloves. The cheese was no longer that important.
The kicker was that if they guy had just asked nicely, I probably would have given it to him.
We got this one guy who came in ranting and raving, if I recall correctly, that the PRE-PACKAGED cheese was apparently smaller than he remembered and he was threatening to come over the counter about it if I didn't give him more for free.
I just calmly pointed to our shift manager, who was weighing meat portions within view and said, "That's my manager. He's a nationally ranked boxer. You can come over this counter if you want, but he's gonna make you regret it." Manager stared the guys down as he took off his gloves. The cheese was no longer that important.
The kicker was that if they guy had just asked nicely, I probably would have given it to him.
29points
#12
When I was a young man, I had bright red hair. VP of my department had his hair drawn back into a pony tail, but you could tell that he had a bald spot toward the back.
He announced loudly one day, "You have the ugliest hair I've ever seen." Without missing a beat, I replied, "At least I have hair, buddy." A number of people chuckled, including the VP, to his credit.
He announced loudly one day, "You have the ugliest hair I've ever seen." Without missing a beat, I replied, "At least I have hair, buddy." A number of people chuckled, including the VP, to his credit.
29points
Have you ever had the displeasure of working under a toxic, rude, entitled, or downright awful boss, dear Pandas? How did their behavior impact your life and performance at work? Did you or anyone else at the company ever stand up to them?
If you feel like you’d like to share your experiences or give people new to the job industry some advice, you can open up in the comments below.
#13
I once said to a very arrogant and unpleasant head of our Infrastructure Dept who was boasting loudly about how if you had "Head" in your job title, you could get people to do anything. "Yeah, well, in your case, you've also got d**k in front of it". He was apoplectic but couldn't really say anything as I was in a different Dept, and my boss, who was senior to him, burst out laughing when she heard it.
28points
#14
My tiny male boss asked me (female), at least 10” taller, former rugby player, if I was intimidated by him. Laughing in his control freak face at the question, saying no and walking away was a great feeling.
28points
#15
I was delivering some vegetable oil to one of my companies' bottling plants in Quincy IL back in 2011. There was going to be a wait to unload, so I was invited into their break room. So I'm sitting there. The 2nd shift crew is on their lunch break. There was a group of ladies sitting together chatting. Their boss comes in and start ripping into one lady about something. She calmly says, " You better check yourself before you wreck yourself" to the boss. His face dropped, and he stormed out of the break room.
That lady is a legend in my mind.
That lady is a legend in my mind.
27points
#16
I got a job welding after I retired from the Army. It was about an hour drive to get there. I was hired when the platform manager was on vacation. First day he's back he walked into my welding booth "Can you explain to me why I should keep you here living an hour away when I have guys that live 5 minutes from here that can't show up on time?!?"
My response was, "Well, yer paying me in a week what the Army paid me in a month and so far I haven't had to k**l anyone."
I didn't see him again for like 2 months.
My response was, "Well, yer paying me in a week what the Army paid me in a month and so far I haven't had to k**l anyone."
I didn't see him again for like 2 months.
26points
#17
The boss was shouting at a team member. I was in the meeting just because we had some tasks in common. I belonged to another team. When he finished shouting. I just said: as long as people think they can solve problems by shouting I will not waste my time attending this meeting and left. There was never a shouting in the meeting after. It’s important to speak up to aggressive behavior.
25points
#18
One time the receptionist told the CEO he was the Michael Scott of managers with his corny jokes. He was dead because he thought he was this bad**s business man who everyone respected.
23points
#19
This is my ex-business partner.
He was 6' 3" probably 250. Not huge, but not small by any description. By no means would I call him "in shape". He was just large.
For some reason I forget, he started shaving his head, and it did make him look more intimidating.
His step-father was a Marine, so he had USMC stickers on the back window of his truck like that was his legacy too.
His primary "point of defense" was just to speak louder. If he didn't think he was being listened to, he would stand up and speak louder.
He was used to being the biggest person in the room and getting what he wanted just by leering at someone.
But if you just told him to shut the f**k up and sit down, that's exactly what he would do.
He was 6' 3" probably 250. Not huge, but not small by any description. By no means would I call him "in shape". He was just large.
For some reason I forget, he started shaving his head, and it did make him look more intimidating.
His step-father was a Marine, so he had USMC stickers on the back window of his truck like that was his legacy too.
His primary "point of defense" was just to speak louder. If he didn't think he was being listened to, he would stand up and speak louder.
He was used to being the biggest person in the room and getting what he wanted just by leering at someone.
But if you just told him to shut the f**k up and sit down, that's exactly what he would do.
21points
#20
I was at a large public event on the Mall at DC. I worked my way closer to the stage, and this large, 6'4-6" 50-something gentleman tried to shoo me back because they were keeping the space open for ingress/egress. I hadn't realized that, so I backed up to where other people were standing. He followed me and kept trying to get me to move farther by getting in my personal space and getting loud. I was perfectly fine where I was, other people were standing there and newcomers moved into the space I had just occupied without anything being said to them. I stared him in the eye as he literally loomed over me, then just ignored him. I was there to END this type of misogyny, not be victim to it. I don't know that an older, much shorter female had ever stood up to him before, but after several minutes of him continuing his intimidation while I peacefully ignored tf outta him, he finally grew embarrassed and left. I waited about 5 mins and left the area bc I couldn't see a damned thing anyway.
buddymoobs, AllGo - An App For Plus Size People's profile AllGo - An App For Plus Size People/Unsplash (not the actual photo)
Report20points