A new study by FSU professor Wayne Hochwarter, an associate professor of management in FSU's College of Business, and his two doctoral students reveals a few of the reasons why people hate their bosses.
Working with doctoral students Paul Harvey and Jason Stoner, Hochwarter surveyed more than 700 people who work in a variety of jobs about their opinions of supervisor treatment on the job. The survey generated the following results:
Thirty-one percent of respondents reported that their supervisor gave them the "silent treatment" in the past year.
Thirty-seven percent reported that their supervisor failed to give credit when due.
Thirty-nine percent noted that their supervisor failed to keep promises.
Twenty-seven percent noted that their supervisor made negative comments about them to other employees or managers.
Twenty-four percent reported that their supervisor invaded their privacy.
Twenty-three percent indicated that their supervisor blames others to cover up mistakes or to minimize embarrassment.
According to the researchers, "Employees stuck in an abusive relationship experienced more exhaustion, job tension, nervousness, depressed mood and mistrust. They also were less likely to take on additional tasks, such as working longer or on weekends, and were generally less satisfied with their job. Also, employees were more likely to leave if involved in an abusive relationship than if dissatisfied with pay."
It looks like quite a few people feel their bosses were picking on them, ignoring them or using them. The study didn't say how many employees were not annoyed at all by their supervisors. It would be interesting to know how much overlap there was between the different grievances. (via Boing Boing)
