The 13 Most Horrible Bosses of All Time

Beau Iverson Power
Ranker 114,762 views 13 items

We've all had a bad boss or two, one that makes us stay later than we want to, doesn't pay us enough or makes us do demeaning things for her/him like take out their trash when it's full. Bad bosses get a lot worse than that, though. From firing a woman who just donated a kidney to her boss, to a boss that made employees tattoo his birthday on their necks, to a boss who installed sniper towers and canons when workers asked for a raise, these are the worst, most horrible, bad bosses of all time.

If you think you've got it bad, just read a few of these and come into work tomorrow morning at peace with the fact that your bad boss isn't going to fire you over bringing him/her a flat Coke or liking a Facebook page. All of the bad bosses you've ever had ain't got nothin on the worst bosses of all time. And if they do, maybe it's time you looked for a better place to work (i.e. the streets).

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6

Boss Fires Employee for Flat Coca Cola, Not Recognizing Him

It's understandable for an employee to want to keep a low profile at the workplace, but some bosses expect all their staff at the front-and-center. Jim Dolan, son of Cablevision / HBO founder / billionaire Charles Dolan, is one of those bosses. As chairman of Madison Square Garden, he has a reputation for being an absolute tool. Cases in point:

-He once fired an employee for serving him flat cola.
-He once fired a security guard for not recognizing his face.

Dolan is also known around the workplace for using colorful language - if not a very broad vocabulary - liberally sprinkled with those misogynistic B-words and P-words designed to keep lady staffers and athletes, like Anucha Browne Sanders, in line. In response to accusations of foul language around his arena, Dolan said:
It’s not appropriate. It’s also not appropriate to murder anyone. I don’t know if that’s happened here.
Whatever that means. Dolan also reportedly let Knicks player Stephon Marbury use his own truck to get down with a MSG intern - which officially makes him either the World's Worst Boss or the Best.
7

Boss Breaks Employee's Nose While Forcing Her to Kiss Another Worker

What do you imagine goes on behind the shiny white doors of Vogue? Here's a glimpse:

In 1999, publisher Richard "Mad Dog" Beckman was out with employees when he decided he wanted to see two women kiss. He chose Carol Matthews, West Coast ad director, and Emily Jahncke Davis, Vogue's international fashion director. He smashed their faces together so hard that it broke Matthews's cheekbone - so badly that she needed extensive reconstructive surgery. Beckham, who had a reputation as boisterous bully, apologized, but Matthews sued anyway. When she got a fat pay-off, she left the company.
8

Boss Fires Employee for Time Spent Off After Double By-Pass

Last time I had surgery, I was out of commission for a week. I spent every day on the couch watching "My Super Sweet 16" and popping Vicodin, unable to bathe, dress myself, or even microwave my own Easy Mac - much less go to work. And all I did was have my wisdom teeth removed.

In January 2008, New Zealander Murray Gardiner, 60, was admitted to the hospital after suffering a week's worth of major chest pain. He was put into emergency surgery for a double bypass. Afterwards, records noted that the procedure was "uneventful" and had "nil" complications" - successful by all accounts. Except one.

Gardiner's boss, Patch Rubber Company director Julian Proctor, dropped by the recovery room not with flowers or balloons, but with his briefcase. He pulled out a letter that said the following:
Murray, this is very hard on both of us but unfortunately I have to find a replacement for you.

I have been told that the operation was not fully successful in that the veins that they took from your legs were not much better than the ones that were going to your heart, so that only half the operation was able to be completed.

To return to full duties too soon could kill you.

A temporary replacement for you can not be found even if you are able in the future to resume full duties.
9

Employee Fired for Liking a Facebook Page

Take this one to the Better Business Bureau:

Library of Congress employee Peter TerVeer, logged into his personal account, clicked the "Like" button on a Facebook page called 'Two Dads.' It's just what it sounds like - a group that helps "promote the gay and lesbian community."

His manager John Mech, keeping tabs on TerVeer's personal Facebook use, took note of the new Favorite. Then he started writing TerVeer - a pretty good employee - negative performance reviews. He made a few derogatory remarks about TerVeer's sexual orientation. So many, in fact, that the employee's therapist recommended that he take a leave of absence, which the Library of Congress agreed to.

When TerVeer came back, however, he was sacked, and guess why? You got it: For missing 37 consecutive days of work. Nice.
10

Walmart Employees Disarm Robbers, Save Lives, Get Fired

In January 2011, four Walmart employees in Salt Lake City were confronted by a robber and pushed into an office. One worker, in a heroic move, ripped the gun away from the would-be shooter, disarming him until police could come. After saving the day, they all got fired:
They were fired for violating the store's policy on shoplifters, known as "AP09."

AP09 shows employees are allowed to use reasonable force to limit movements of struggling suspects. But if a gun comes out, associates must disengage and withdraw.
Acting like a hero could endanger customers, but what choice did the employees have? They literally had their backs against the wall. Sounds like Walmart higher-ups could stand to take another look at their company policies.