Democracy Dies in Darkness

Your money and your mental health can suffer under a bully boss

Businesses also pay dearly when they allow bad situations to fester, and the toll is not just financial.

5 min
(Washington Post illustration; iStock)
Column by

On occasion, I’ll be revisiting and updating past columns with the most universal financial advice. This column originally ran Sept. 21, 2021.

I was looking at the history of Labor Day, and it got me thinking about bad bosses.

The holiday, which dates to the late 19th century, was created to recognize “the many contributions workers have made to America’s strength, prosperity, and well-being,” according to the Labor Department.

Unfortunately, many people have come to view the federal holiday as merely a marker for the end of summer or an opportunity to snag a sale.

But maybe it should also be a time for senior executives and down-line supervisors to examine their management style.

As an intern, I would retreat to the restroom at the back of the newsroom to hide my tears after encounters with one particular editor.

Whenever I saw her approaching my desk, my stomach would knot in anticipation of a discussion that would inevitably make me want to scream or swear. She was mean and harsh, rarely offering a word of encouragement. She made me want to quit.

Skip to end of carousel