Does your boss make your blood boil?

Bosses that menace their staff with unfair decisions can actually threaten employees' health by driving up their blood pressure, a study of healthcare assistants has found.

Amongst the women studied, blood pressure rose significantly in those whose supervisors were seen to be unreasonable.

The increases were enough to be associated with a 16% risk of coronary heart disease and a 38% increased risk of stroke.

The British Heart Foundation says "It's down to us to learn how to manage work stress and not let difficult bosses affect our health."

Is your boss bad for your health? How do you manage your stress?

This debate is now closed. Read a selection of your comments below.

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The following comments reflect the balance of views we have received:

Too many macho managers around

Jevans, Brighton, UK

The majority of all UK bosses don't have a clue when it comes to dealing with staff. Too many macho managers around.
Jevans, Brighton, UK

My boss is neither qualified to nor capable of doing the jobs of the people he manages, but that doesn't stop him thumping the table and trying the bullyboy tactic. I found the best way to handle him was when he had a rant about a particular task still not being signed off was to give him the sheet and my pen and suggested that he may like to sign it off himself if it would be quicker. Having to admit to the whole office that he couldn't, had us in fits of laughter, and shifted the balance of power.
Chris B, England

If people stopped promoting the rat race as the only way of living, there is a better chance of having a boss who is not a rat.
Michael Harris, Cork, Ireland

Just switch off and keep taking the money

John, Australia (ex UK)

I find apathy is quite a good way of handling bad managers; just switch off and keep taking the money. Not as easy as it sounds if you like your work, but it's better than going mad.
John, Australia (ex UK)

The major and basic source of any worker's anxiety is the possibility of being discharged into an overly competitive job market. What is rapidly disappearing in the Anglo-American workplace is any sense of a personal commitment by an employer - especially the corporate employer- to their workers.
Louis B. Massano, U.S.A.

Louis B. Massano (USA) clearly doesn't like the current balance between "bosses" and "workers". I assume he preferred the situation a few years ago, when a shortage of employees meant that companies had to pay through the nose for under-skilled employees who had lied on their CV's and who showed no loyalty to their employers, usually leaving for another job as soon as their employer had paid to train them. It takes two to tango, Louis!
John, England

My boss really drove me up the wall to a point where I started developing stomach problems which my doctor linked to stress. One time he pinned in his office for literally one hour. After having enough of it, I responded by saying that everybody in the department was scared and how he was technically incompetent yet he was leading an IT department. I was later laid off. I thanked him for the severance package because I was about to quit without one!
S. Gingo, U.S.A

It's better to go find another job rather than have a stable one with people you can't stand

Robert, USA

"My great-grandfather did not take a boat trip from Spain, fight his way through Ellis Island, and his wife did not work for a sweat shop in the Italian quarter of New York just so I could put up with someone like you!" - When those words came out of my mouth, I knew it was time to find a better job. If you are desperate for food, then it's worth sacrificing your dignity for it. Otherwise, it's better to go find another job rather than have a stable one with people you can't stand.
Robert, USA

These days there is legislation to help people who are treated unfairly at work or bullied. I strongly advise people who are treated badly at work to explore every avenue there is for help including legal advice. Don't let the bullies win anymore!
R. Steward, UK

It depends upon the nature of the job and the workplace. In big factories one would hardly know the boss himself. The supervisors and managers will be the haughty ones and behave as if they own everything and their immediate subordinates are their slaves!
Srinivasan Toft, Denmark

An aggressive, bullying boss I used work for would build himself up into a state of rage at least three times a week

Nancy, UK

An aggressive, bullying boss I used work for would build himself up into a state of rage at least three times a week. He once became so enraged that he actually through the office kettle out of window shouting "you're not drinking my tea and coffee" as staff looked on in disbelief. Needless to say, the staff despised him and have all gone on to find much better jobs, leaving him to deal with his own anger-induced high blood pressure.
Nancy, UK

In Tanzania, the employees are taught to watch one another. Thus the moral is totally lost.
Firozali A. Mulla, Tanzania

I have always found that the attitudes at board level filter down to the shop floor. If your boss is treated poorly, then chances are they will treat people below them in the same way.
Peter, UK

Why don't those whose boss bugs them just get a new job - you control your life, not the person you work for.
Tom, England

Tom, England: To "just get a new job" isn't always easy. And why should we leave a job which otherwise suits us, with people we've worked with for years, just because of a bad boss? Shouldn't it be the boss who leaves?
Alex Swanson, UK

If an environment is causing you undue stress, then leave

Kate, Orlando, USA

In the US, there are employment laws in place that seem to have greatly reduced occurrences of bad work environments, although I know they still do exist. However, I firmly believe that if an environment is causing you undue stress, then leave. Life is too short to be miserable.
Kate, Orlando, USA

I remember one hilarious moment when in a new job, my boss ran through a list of about half the department saying about each person "they are very difficult to get on with". I was aware that everyone else in the department got on with everyone else. This point seemed to escape him completely and he was blissfully unaware of the reason for the high turnover of staff in his department, always happily blaming the 'other' person.
Andrew Carter, UK

Being a nice manager it not always what the big bosses want.

Rachael, England

I had a great boss who was always helpful, friendly, interested in training staff and all in all a nice person...what happened to him..he was made 'redundant' yet strangely a new similar job was created for another member of staff...It seems that being a nice manager it not always what the big bosses want.
Rachael, England

A colleague was supposed to organise the move of our department from one building to another. Two days before we moved, we realised that nothing had been done and I had to organise in less than 24 hours what this idle person should have been doing for the last 6 months. Despite being told that I did all the work, the boss gave all the credit to this other person. He got promotion and a pay hike. I did not even get a thank you for my efforts. I expect you can imagine what I think of the boss!
Anon, England

I wonder how many of these "overstressed" employees of "unreasonable bosses" were also overweight and/or unfit and/or smokers?? Stress is a lifestyle problem not just the result of working for a bad boss.
John Smith, UK

The theory that employees within an organization will advance to their highest level of competence and then be promoted to and remain at a level at which they are incompetent.
Big Al, USA

My husband worked for the NHS and became the target of the department bully. When he stood up for himself the manager stood behind his desk waiving his fists and saying my husband was mentally impaired and had lost all his friends.

Needless to say after 22 years of loyal service to the NHS he had to resign. On reflection the problem wasn't the bully it was the total incompetence of the manager for letting it all happen. Yet another manager who could "do the job" but had no "people skills" whatsoever.
Anon, UK

British employees are very badly led

Paul McCann, UK

People are made managers because they are another manager's friend, don't make waves and are perhaps are good at their job. None of this mean they are good at managing people or that they know employment law. British employees are very badly led.
Paul McCann, UK

I used to get depressed and fed up but then I decided to let it go. I told my boss last week that I had spent the morning dealing with a stroppy teenager before coming to work and I did not expect to have to deal with a stroppy 34 year old as well and that he can do what he likes; I have a teenager, he can't scare me. He laughed at this and it broke the ice somewhat. Stress? Who needs it? Only 30 years to retirement!
Sam, UK

One doesn't always get along with every person one meets

Carol, UK

I once had an employee who complained to me that I caused him stress in precisely the same way I now suffer with my present boss! I tried my best then to alter my behaviour and his perception to make things better, but at the end of the day one doesn't always get along with every person one meets. So I'm off to pastures new because life's too short - for me and for my boss!
Carol, UK

As someone who used to work in the UK, my heart goes out to all British workers. Dear hard workers in the UK, bosses are the same everywhere, but no one can beat a vain, negative thinking British manager.
S. Ahmed, UK, working in Saudi Arabia

Changing jobs is not easy for the over 40s

Anon, England

My boss is fine - it's those further up the tree that are the problem. Their incompetence and callous selfishness have caused several waves of redundancies but my boss has largely insulated me from their effects. Ironically, it's his attitude that has built a sense of loyalty and team spirit that keeps people working here even if logic suggests they should quit. In response to some of the earlier comments: changing jobs is not easy for the over 40s especially when they are the only wage-earner in a family and paid around the average level for the industry. That is one of the main things that cause the stress: you'd like to go but the hassle involved is daunting.
Anon, England

I don't think my boss knows what day it is. I have never met such an unorganised person. On a good point, we have quite a free reign at work, but that's only because my boss is totally unaware of anything we actually do!
Jen, UK

This time last year I had a bad boss. My wife was pregnant at the time, and there were potential serious complications with the baby, but she didn't care as she constantly moaned about colleagues with kids. It all ended with her telling me I was no longer needed, the day after I told her we'd had the all clear regarding the baby.This luckily for me resulted in a breach of contract and therefore compensation. I am now with another company and getting on with my new boss just fine.
Anon, UK

I had a boss who screamed and shouted and cried and chatted to her boyfriend all day on the phone. She then went on attachment to another part of the same company and came back baffled that her boss was someone who screamed, shouted and cried; how do these people get these jobs she marvelled. How indeed. Roll on self-employment.
CCC, England

My years at my previous job did a lot of damage to me emotionally and physically

John, USA

My current boss is like a kind and wise father, so there are very good ones out there. My previous boss was absolutely unbearable, however. I finally confronted him and was "laid off" (luckily for me). Although my previous boss had recommended me for higher management I soon learned that I was to be his henchman and was supposed to fire people whom he didn't like. Needless to say that my years at my previous job did a lot of damage to me emotionally and physically.
John, USA

It's a great job, with no prospects and little chance of retiring

Rob Hooton, UK

My boss is great, he lets me do my job and only interferes with the way I do it when something has to change. I'm informed of the change, and then I'm left to do my job again. How nice! The only down side is that I'm underpaid and overworked (breaking all UK and EU employment laws no doubt!), but then I do work in the pub trade. It's a great job, with no prospects and little chance of retiring early, but fun. The only cause of stress and high blood pressure is from a small minority of my customers!
Rob Hooton, UK

The rule is always look after yourself. The worst boss I had continually favoured his friends or "boys' club" members. I lost track of the number of times that I was belittled, and once got him to admit that he did undermine me. HR took his side and even my union CWU were a waste of time... nothing they can do as "unions are not recognised in your telecoms company".
Ulrika, UK

I innovated systems to make my job more efficient and later learned my boss had presented them to head office as his own, and now the same system is used in all branches. I had more colds than ever before, and developed rashes which my doctor had never seen. Within a month of leaving, all ailments cleared up without medication or doctors. After 11 years, leaving my old job was scary, but now I consider it the wisest thing I've ever done.
Peter, Ireland

I've got zero sympathy for people who whine about their boss. The choice is yours - go get another job, or stop moaning!
John, England

John of England's claim that people should stop moaning and find a new job is not a solution. Firstly, moaning is a good way of releasing the tension that leads to stress, and secondly it's not as easy to change jobs as John would like us to believe. If it were, we'd be seeing a greater turnover of personnel. I think he's possibly a stress-inducing boss himself.
Ed, UK

For goodness sake! You're paid to do a job, not to have therapy. Is all human character to be abolished and replaced by team-playing proactive customer-focused automatons?
Douglas, England

The general manager of my company is lewd, drinks too much and is often brash and offensive. However, these are only some of the joys of being self-employed.
Toby, UK

I think my hair is thinning

Richard, UK

My boss is hardly in at all, but the blokes who I work with do make my blood boil. I think my hair on the crown of my head is also thinning and am resorting to thickening shampoos. (I'm not sure if thinning hair is linked to stress though?).
Richard, UK

My father gave me some top advice before starting my first job: "Work is rubbish, the boss is always an idiot, get used to it, you've got 50 years of it to put up with." Knowing this in advance kept my expectations low and my blood pressure in check.
Neil, UK

. Am I just being cynical but in the past few weeks we have had 'studies' that prove coffee is good for you, coffee is bad for you, stress is good for you, stress is bad for you, and so on¿? Could I point out that it is the time of year for the submission by academics of their research projects for their PHDs? Let's not take this one any more seriously than the government's dossier on WMD: Yet another "schoolboy's" thesis.
Barry P, England

Bosses have blood pressure too! And many employees are just as difficult and unreasonable as the bosses so ably described by your correspondents. We need less of this 'bosses' and 'workers' attitude. It comes from another age.
Graham Shelton, England

My wife has had problems with her supervisor for years but refuses to quit as that would mean the supervisor has won. My wife is very unbalanced at the best of times and suffers from depression a lot. This supervisor has been making it far worse for her and I feel that her health suffers a great deal. Many complaints are made against her boss and I believe she also had legal proceedings started against her. How much does it take for companies to discipline or dismiss horrible bosses like her?
Jon Lipscombe, UK

I was working for a horrible boss and I was miserable for a long time. Then one day, I realised that by staying there and taking that abuse, my boss wins because he still has control over my life. I walked out one day and in hindsight I can't believe I stayed there as long as I did. I've now started my own consulting firm and am very successful.
Beth, London, UK

My boss believes I am a Chinese spy

Yiva, USA

My boss believes I am a Chinese spy, despite the fact my family moved out of China when I was 10 years old. He had the HR people to do a complete background check on me, secretly (I learned the truth from a friend who worked with HR team). After they found absolutely nothing, he still openly made comments about how terrible to do business with the Chinese. Even now it still makes me upset to think about the miserable time I had in that organisation.
Yiva, USA

I had to travel with my boss abroad for a one-day meeting in Poland. First thought: Nice one. However, I had to get up at 3am, get a plane at Heathrow at 6.30am. We started endless meetings as soon as we arrived and caught a plane back to UK at 6pm local time, expecting the day to be finished and finally rest. On the plane, my boss says: it is only 4pm in UK, two more hours of work ahead of us.
Anon, UK

Help!! My boss is also my partner... better get my blood pressure checked hourly!!
Sally Marshall, UK

I finally realised I had to leave my job when my blood pressure was consistently nearly twice its normal rate and I couldn't conceive. My unethical and, at times, illegal boss was the only cause of stress and anxiety and I blame him totally, as do the others who have left his horrendous employment. The relief was phenomenal. My blood pressure dropped within weeks of making my decision to leave and I got pregnant soon after.
Anon, UK

My old boss claims he slept with me

Amanda, UK

My old boss claims he slept with me on a company trip. I only found out that he had been claiming this about a year later. What could I do? Nothing except let it "be known" that he was lying. But for that whole year people actually believed him. The firm is a massive investment bank in the city - I would have committed professional suicide by confronting him. When I'd reach my desk I'd have an urge to run and run and keep on running. I quit that screwed up life and am happy, free, and don't have a lecherous lying boss to deal with any more.
Amanda, UK

I worked for a small company where everyone was scared of the big boss, and all the bosses under him tried to emulate him, all turning into little Genghis Khans. There was no coaching, no sense of belonging to a firm, just fear and the most awful backstabbing. Everyone's behaviour became more and more bizarre, obsessed with the company's product, and frightened of speaking even at the coffee machine. I left before my freedom stints in the ladies drove me to smash the place up. I've gone on to do wonderfully, the company is now a near nothing.
Samantha, UK

Life is stressful and blood pressure goes up during sex. But so what? Sounds like the British Heart Foundation is hoping to get some cheap publicity, while at the same time taking a swipe at business!
Jason Patel, UK

I had the pleasure of interviewing my old boss for a job in my team

Jean, UK

My last boss insisted on micro-managing me to the nth degree and being super-critical about everything I did. In the end I did the 'professional' thing and talked to her about it. She said it was my fault and to get on with it. I next had a chat with personnel. By this point I was dreading work, throwing up every morning with stress and with a constant headache.

Turns out the personnel manager was good friends with my boss and between them they made my life so unpleasant I left. I got a better job with this company's direct competitor, and a couple of weeks ago I had the pleasure of interviewing my old boss for a job in my team. Needless to say she didn't get the job...
Jean, UK

My boss is excellent. As is my job. He is down south, I am up north. He never phones, and only ever e-mails something that's been sent to him from higher up the food chain. On the down side it's not good as far as promotion prospects go - but who cares as long as I'm left alone and get paid well?
Anon, UK

I find myself burning up energy both at work and home thinking about my unhappy work situation. I regularly drive into work depressed and go home angry purely because of the unfair treatment I receive. The Office series really helped me get through some tough times. Instead of walking out of my job with no other job to go to, I have stuck it out and look every day look for the right job. A colleague left in disgust with no job offers over a year ago and still is out of work.
Anon, England

It was good for team building: We all hated her

John, UK

My worst ever boss was gratuitously offensive to everyone. As a result, it was quite good for team building: No matter what happened, we all hated HER. But the stress nearly drove me mad.
John, UK

My boss is so critical that she'd fight you to be right. "Gosh, isn't it a nice day?" we say. "No it's not" says she, "it will rain later." How about being told in your appraisal that if you don't say good morning to her, she'll make sure you don't get promoted? How do I manage my stress? I handed in my notice last week...
Sarah, UK

My boss is bad for my health... but only because he took us all out for a slap up meal, a night at the dog track and an all night drinking session last Thursday! Top bloke!
Dan, UK

Bosses are there to make our lives miserable and stressful aren't they? I don't manage stress very well at all. Simply because I try and get things done, but am not high enough in the company to get anyone important enough to listen, and it winds me up no end. It's time business took responsibility for employees' wellbeing instead of milking us till we drop, and expecting us to look after ourselves.
Anthony, England