This is one of my “boss horror stories”, read it and submit your own story to christina@christinascorner.org. Keep it anonymous or feel free to use your name but please change all other names for safety precautions

Dear King Asshole:

I wanted to clear up any misconceptions, should any there be, as to why I quit. First, please know that as an attorney, I respect you tremendously. You handle your cases as every attorney “should” but doesn’t. You don’t do anything half-ass and there’s nothing anyone can do but respect that.

As a person, I have no respect for you at all. You haven’t/didn’t earn that. The first six months, I can’t count how many times you disfavorably compared me to Ana. I was never going to be Ana, Jack. I can only be me. We got past that. Then came the tantrums and yes Jack, when people are screaming “fuck this” and “fuck that” because they aren’t/didn’t get his/her way, that is a tantrum. Some days you came in ready to take your anger out on one of us (sadly there is good news, you switched around who you’d take it out on so none of us got it twice in a row). We had extensive talks and for the last several months you’ve just kept to yourself in your office when you weren’t particularly having a good day. Jane and I knew you were having bad days those days and I think we were both appreciative of your respect for us in keeping YOUR bad mood to yourself. It was a big step for you and I was extremely moved by your willingness to acknowledge this behavior and make a move towards changing it.

I can’t even begin to count how many times you referred to one of your own employees as “incompetent” this is to include both your wife and your daughter. In fact, just the other day you were on the phone, apparently talking to another attorney about a document he had received and you said word for word the following: (sarcastically) “You received that! Oh my god, that means one of my employee’s actually did their job in a timely manner”. I have no idea who you were talking to or about. But can you imagine if the person you were talking about heard you? How might that make them feel? Do you even care? You don’t have a single employee who doesn’t work there ass off for you and that included me.

I can’t begin to count how many times you’ve degraded Asians (let’s not forget the Mexicans and anyone else you may not be able to understand). Are you really that naive to think that just because you can’t understand them that they are “stupid”? You know you say those kind of things ALL THE TIME. One of your own employees, Pan, as we all know, is Asian. Do you think she appreciates hearing those comments? Maybe she doesn’t care, but where does the respect come in for her. Would you appreciate it if we constantly spoke badly about Jews? What about Margaret’s employees? Your feelings toward them were never a secret, the whole office knows how “fucking stupid” you think they are.

How many times have you referred to a woman as a “CUNT” or a “WHORE”? I bet you wouldn’t be able to guess if your life depended on it. You called Maria a “stupid cunt” once not too long ago when she was right outside of your door. Is this respectful? How would you feel if another man referred to Alyson as a “cunt” or a “whore”? Consider that the next time you feel like using such vicious words so freely.

What about the comments about the clerk being one step ahead of Janet. What were you insinuating? That Janet is stupid?

What about those files you screamed at me for not acknowledging, not considering for even a second that you would of acknowledged them, which it turned out you did. You never apologized for that.

I can’t count how many times I’ve heard you say ” I guess I wasn’t listening”. I think you only hear things you want to hear. Otherwise, yes, you’re really not listening and believe me, a couple times that was very evident.

I could go on and on. But just with the examples I’ve given, mind you, they are examples, you nor anyone else in the office can deny. Can you imagine that ANYONE would want to hang around you for an 8 or more hour day? Take yourself out of your shoes, just for a moment. If you were someone else, can you honestly say that you would be content hanging around?

I ultimately decided to quit when you stated Monday you didn’t know how much longer you could “carry me” (for the umpteenth time) I’d like to know how you felt you were “carrying me”? My hours were adjusted from 7:30 to 4:00 to 7:00 to 3:00 (with no lunch) that means that really, there was only a half hour difference in my hours. How does that constitute you carrying me?

I wish no ill will toward you, I’m willing to bet, having to live with yourself each and every day is punishment enough.

Respond if you wish, if not don’t. There will be no further correspondence from me. I just wanted to state my feelings.

Christina Lyons

Tags: Dear Boss //