Workers are quitting in droves, and bad bosses have a lot to do with it.
Between April and September 2021, more than 24 million American employees quit their jobs, an all-time record. MIT researchers investigated why and found, in a study, that the top reason people quit was due to a toxic workplace culture. In fact, they found that a company's culture impacted retention more than wages.
Much of a bad workplace culture comes down to one's leader. People take their cues from how bosses act, and learn what's acceptable and what's unacceptable.
"A bad boss won't just jeopardize your career growth — they'll also negatively impact your personal life," says Lynn Taylor, a national workplace expert, author, and leadership coach. "A good manager will bring out the best in you and have a more uplifting affect on all aspects of your life."
It's important to know whether you've got a bad boss on your hands so you can "take measures to mitigate the stress and own greater power in the relationship" as soon as possible, she adds. Some ways you can try mending your relationship include looking for commonalities to bond over, and proactively offering to help lighten their workload, CNN reported.
Based on an interview with Taylor and using the books "Bad Bosses, Crazy Coworkers & Other Office Idiots" by Vicky Oliver and "The Asshole Survival Guide" by Bob Sutton, Insider compiled 26 signs your boss will eventually crush all happiness you're clinging to — and steps you can take along the way.