What's the worst thing a boss has ever said to you?

[Anonymous]

more in the category of back handed compliments:

not a boss but an upper level colleague said that I had the mind of a ferrari and the body of a volvo. (I'm 5'2" and was about 117# at the time but have had years of body and eating issues, so this did not help).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:more in the category of back handed compliments:

not a boss but an upper level colleague said that I had the mind of a ferrari and the body of a volvo. (I'm 5'2" and was about 117# at the time but have had years of body and eating issues, so this did not help).

Da fuq?

[Anonymous]

You don't have any personality

[Anonymous]

After I took a week off to visit my mom who was in the hospital after having a serious heart attack, my boss asked me to assure him that "this was the last time this was going to happen."

[Anonymous]

"You are never going to be a good lawyer." I was a lawyer. He then gave me glowing reviews and kept requesting me on his cases but continued berating me and giving me what he called "life lessons" like "I don't know how you graduated from law school." It was mystifying.

[Anonymous]

"Do you give presentations because you need to be loved?" She made all kinds of manipulative statements suggesting I was seeking the limelight, as opposed to a normal person who was engaged in my work. Took me ages to realize she was threatened. I also got "are you having a midlife crisis?" That was after she sneered at my tendency to work beyond my mandated hours.

[Anonymous]

I was 18 and working as a waiter in
a restaurant, boss said my breath stank and I was putting customers off their food. Told me to stick gum to the roof of my mouth to under my Retainer!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:"When you are in a meeting [any meeting], you are not to speak unless asked a direct question. Then you can answer that question only. Nothing more."


Ooooookay.

When I was an associate a D.C. BigLaw I was told by a partner, "associates should been seen, not heard. Clients know you have nothing useful to contribute and I think associates at (FirmName) are given too much encouragement and coddling."

Speaking as a former Biglaw associate, it's kind of true. I did not need to be told that the rule was seen and not heard. Unless you're very senior or are sent to handle the client by yourself, clients are not there to speak with you. You are there to take notes, do the research and grunt work, and make the partner look good.

[Anonymous]

When I told my boss I was pregnant, I was told,

"Guess you won't be getting in shape this year!"

I know others have experienced a lot worse but this was like a gut punch.

It was from a woman, no less. A psycho multi-marathoner who was always face-booking about wine and running and not liking kids.

[Anonymous]

This thread is making me really glad not to be a lawyer!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This thread is making me really glad not to be a lawyer!

no wonder the lawyers I know are nasty

If you have to fight this abuse, you'll either eventually cave and turn nasty yourself or leave the profession.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Partner of my law firm called me into his office and asked: "is ching-chong, ching-chong offensive to you?" He was working on an Asian American discrimination case. You guessed it, I'm Asian American. The only AA at the firm at that time.

Slightly off topic, but at a firm social function about 10 years ago I told a true story about an Asian client calling me a rawyer. Got called into HR the next day.

You made fun of someone's accent and were surprised to be called out? And your argument is that they really did have an accent?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This thread is making me really glad not to be a lawyer!

I'm a lawyer and have had nothing but supportive bosses who wanted me to succeed.

[Anonymous]

That my parents must be so ashamed. (First real white collar job)

Whether I had any hot friends. Threw a tape dispenser at me in anger. Then, when he overheard me talking about a TBI I had as a child, said "but you don't seem retarded."

That guy is still failing upward, sorry to say.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:That my parents must be so ashamed. (First real white collar job)

Whether I had any hot friends. Threw a tape dispenser at me in anger. Then, when he overheard me talking about a TBI I had as a child, said "but you don't seem retarded."

That guy is still failing upward, sorry to say.

Yeah, I had a stapler-thrower who called me a f---ing idiot.