Boss sucks. Can I tell his boss?

[Anonymous]

Good God what a bunch of terrible whining employees

[Anonymous]

Well he is at liberty to critique your work (even if the criticism is just masked envy) and your boss's boss isn't going to police that for you and isn't going to appreciate being asked to do so.

I think your best bet is to respond in the moment when your boss makes these comments in front of others. Then one on one, you can ask him directly "I was under the impression that I was meeting, and often exceeding, performance expectations. Is that not the case?" Simply asking for clarification will let your boss know that jokes about your performance are not actually jokes since he's your boss.

[Anonymous]

Are you in a job that has very objective performance criteria (e.g. sales where you have to meet a quota or something similar)? Because if there is any subjectivity to performance criteria, then your boss definitely has the right to critique your performance (although it really should be done one-on-one and not in public). I would ask to meet him one-on-one and ask point blank about his expectations and why he thinks you are not meeting these expectations or what you should be doing differently. Because honestly, if your boss's boss is not defending you in public when he hears those "mean" comments, then he is probably thinking along the same lines as your boss.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Does "hostile work environment" ring some sort of alarm?

Yes.

You are misunderstanding the term "hostile work environment." This term refers to sexual harassment. OP has stated the comments are mean comments, not sexual comments.


OP, your boss can say mean things about you. It's not illegal.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:After these meetings people have come up to me to tell me that he is wrong and that they found it inappropriate.

Whatever you do, you need to make sure that other people continue to view your boss as the problem, and not you.

Are any of those people in a position where they could mention it to boss-boss? That way you keep your nose clean and it's coming from a more objective place.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Are you in a job that has very objective performance criteria (e.g. sales where you have to meet a quota or something similar)? Because if there is any subjectivity to performance criteria, then your boss definitely has the right to critique your performance (although it really should be done one-on-one and not in public). I would ask to meet him one-on-one and ask point blank about his expectations and why he thinks you are not meeting these expectations or what you should be doing differently. Because honestly, if your boss's boss is not defending you in public when he hears those "mean" comments, then he is probably thinking along the same lines as your boss.

+1. Your problem is that your boss does not like you. It's important to get a handle on how peers and senior staff view you and your work, some employees are totally tone-deaf. Agree with PP that a direct conversation is in order instead of confronting him publicly.

[Anonymous]

Only you will know if an informal conversation above the chain might work. What do you hope to achieve? No upper wants to hear whining and venting about petty office politics.

If directly confronted in public, be smart and assertive in public. This type preys on the week willed counting on kicking you off guard into submission. Don't ever be caught off guard. Remain polite, non-defensive. Figure out a path around the asshole vs. getting roped into the drama.

[Anonymous]

Do not work for a boss that doesn't like you. No good will come of it.