My Boss Screamed at Me Tonight

I worked for an executive editor once who had a temper and was a screamer. I was the ASE.
First time he threatened to fire me, I was mortified, totally shaken, wondering what I was going to do when I got fired. The second time he threatened to fire me, I again was stunned, but carried on best I could in a very uncomfortable situation. The third time he threatened to fire me, it just became part of the job: come in, scan the paper, check the wire, have my job threatened, edit the horse entries, be threatened, go to lunch. It was part of the daily routine.
The addendum to this story however, was the SE. He took the same ration of shit that I did, even more, actually. He couldn't take it. He came in at 8 one morning, and when his job was threatened at 8:05, he quickly typed a one-sentence resignation and walked out the door.
A few years later, I got word that this former executive editor, working elsewhere, had been killed in a car crash. I called my former SE to tell him. He said, "Oh no, I just wanted him to feel some pain, I didn't want him to die."

 

I still am trying to figure out that raccoon/beach photo thing earlier in the thread.

 

you too, huh?

 

You and me both.

It was originally posted on the Gay Nazi thread, but I still can't figure it out.

 

Something about raccoons drowning being the new euphemism for threads dying, I think.

 

The raccoon is dead = full of fail. Only cooler.

 

Nightowl, most of the posters on this board understand exactly where you're coming from. No small number of us have been through the exact same scenario. And most of us know -- and it's highly likely you will too once the grapevine about this thread reaches your paper's management -- most of us know that it's wise to employ a little enlightened self interest when venting about it on here. We know this because, in fact, a couple of posters have done the same thing and been fired a short time later. You just gave your boss validation for following through on the threat. If she's not inclined to get rid of you, someone above her quite possibly is.

Before someone uses the quote function to reply to your original post, I'd go back and tone it down. Your creditors will thank you.

 

3. That's very wise.

And I would add this before you decide to quit this bullshit business: There are assholes in every workplace, people who have been promoted beyond their abilities. You might encounter one working for an insurance company or airline or the Post Office.

So a change of career may not liberate you from having a screaming asshole for a boss.

 

Nightowl, it's understandable if you are mad because she yelled at you, but if you talked about it afterwards, and are still mad, you probably should rant to a friend or a family member who's not in the business.

I've seen people get upset over the industry, rant to coworkers, and end up getting in trouble when either said co-worker rats them out, or someone else overhears the conversation and decides to play the rat role.

 

If your boss is a person with whom you can have a reasonable conversation (and by your original post, I suspect that is in doubt), simply ask her what you could have done better. Her answers will be telling . . . useless, perhaps, but telling nonetheless.

You can't help the fact that the game went 14 innings and you can't make a writer write and file faster. If, on the other hand, you're pretty sure a follow-up conversation is useless to both parties, ignore the whole thing, knowing you did the absolutely best you could. You can only improve on those things over which you have some control.

 

It is just plain dumb in this day and age for any manager to treat an employee with such disrespect - in any business. It is so counter productive in the long run. That lady should not be a manager of people. It's not Paris Island.

Look at any employee study on how they view their organization. Employee loyality is at an all time low. On average only 34% of all employees are truly loyal to their organization. That means that on any given day 66% are ready to leave for another job. # 1 reason for this lack of loyality - lack of trust in their managers.

Good organizations understand this dynamic and work to build the trust . If you look at organizations that make the Fortune list of great places to work their loyality factors are in the 50's.