Do you hate your boss? Do you dread what the next work day will bring? Studies have shown that when you have to deal with a bad boss day in and day out, it can have a negative impact on your health.
In some cases, employees can be at risk of a heart attack. A Swedish study found that the more an employee felt their boss was incompetent, the higher chance they had of having a heart attack.
Chronic stress as a result of dealing daily with a bad boss has been linked to high blood pressure, sleep problems and anxiety.
Research published in the Journal Of Applied Psychology looked at 279 studies to examine the connection between perceived unfairness and employee health. The analysis observed a link between unfairness and mental health issues, such as depression, sleep problems, high blood pressure and being overweight.
‘The evidence is clear that the leadership qualities of “bad” bosses over time exert a heavy toll on employees’ health,’ confirms Harvard Medical School’s Jonathan D. Quick.
So what can you do about it? All studies put the onus for fixing the problem on the organisation. Some suggest speaking directly to the abusive boss or taking the problem to higher management. However, Robert Sutton, professor of management at Stanford University and author of Good Boss, Bad Boss, believes bad bosses are immune to their weaknesses.
If you can’t quit or otherwise change your work situation, experts recommend buffering the effects of a bad work relationship by taking care of your health. Make sure you’re getting enough sleep, eating well and exercising. You can also try to incorporate stress-reducing techniques, such as yoga, into your daily regimen.
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