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How to work for a bad boss, let alone a bad boss who steals your ideas is very tough.

I know that this is an extremely difficult task. I know this from first-hand experience. I worked under this type of condition for well over eight years and it was tough. I held it together because every floor worker, other supervisors, and the unit head all knew what my superior was doing. They were all aware of what was taking place. I had something that my immediate superior did not. I had the respect of everyone, she could not even manage a simple conversation with others. The general workers, and other supervisors had nothing but disdain for her.

I was an upwardly mobile individual at the time, and having a high level of education and experience in my field; I was called upon often. There were special projects, and even mass training sessions that were administered by myself. The unit head often superseded my immediate superior, and often coordinated the projects with me directly. On many occasions the unit head actually told me to report directly to her and to not feel shy if I needed assistance with any of the new duties I had undertaken with her.

On one occasion in particular, I was on my way to the unit head's office to report for a briefing on a particular project that she had me working on, my immediate supervisor pulled me to the side and with her pointed finger in my face, she proceeded to tell me that I should feel lucky I'm up there with her, and it won't last, and that she was going to make my life really hard.

After the last project I worked on with the unit head, I resumed my regular daily duties. I enjoyed the little break I had away from any monotony that comes with daily drab duties. And it was special, I was recognized for the work I had done, but the hardest day was to come.

My immediate supervisor came to me out of the blue one day and told me that she had her own project for me to work on with her. She said that I had to set up an S.O.P.(standard operating procedure)for our unit. So I toiled for well over a week, and I did not miss one thing. I was thorough, and presented my supervisor with a beautiful package. It was about one month later that I discovered that my superior went before the district offices with my S.O.P. in hand and presented it as her work! It was highly lauded and became part of every unit thereafter! The district offices also gave a recognition dinner party in her honor.

When I found out all of this stuff, I was furious! This time it took the cake. I waited for the opportune moment and went to the unit head's office, I asked if it was okay that we had a short conversation. She said to come on in, but to close the door. I finally vented all of the frustrations that I had to bear under this supervisor. The unit head looked at me and said, "Everyone knows that she did not put that package together, and I think everyone in the district knows that point as well" and "Whats more, everyone also knows it was you who did."

The unit head told me that she wanted to let me in on a secret, she proceeded to tell me that the following month my immediate supervisor was being transferred to a smaller facility within our district. And that not only did I vent that day, unbeknown to me my other coworkers were in the unit head's office complaining on my behalf. Not only did they do that, they all also bolstered her to engage me as their immediate supervisor. Within that month I was named as the immediate supervisor and had enjoyed many years in that position along side some really great co-workers!

Learn more about this author, Mary Caliendo.
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