Avoid the Trap of a Bad Job With a Good Boss

A good boss can’t protect you.

Image created via Midjourney, © Image created with AI; the author assumes responsibility for the provenance and copyright.

“People don’t leave bad jobs, they leave bad bosses.” (Or so the saying goes.) Does that mean you should stay in a bad work situation if you have a good boss?

I once worked for a terrible company. All the traits of a toxic work environment, with senior employees bullying the junior staff, a micromanaging CEO, and workloads that would make anyone’s head spin.

The thing that made all of this bearable? My boss.

I stayed at the company for a long, long time. But in the end, a good boss couldn’t offset the bad. I knew I deserved better.

If you’re in the same situation, you need to weigh much your boss can “protect” you versus the negative impacts of the job as a whole.

Benefits of a good boss

There’s no doubt that a good boss can make a world of difference at a job. Whether it’s making a bad situation better, acting as a sounding board, or advocating up the food chain on your behalf.

I got along really well with one of my former bosses. She was the ultimate listening ear (and commiserated with my gripes). I could complain to her about anything and talk about my dreams for improving the situation. She provided mentorship and helped…