Bad Bosses and Mental Health – How to Save Yourself – Asrar Qureshi’s Blog Post #1097

Bad Bosses and Mental Health – How to Save Yourself – Asrar Qureshi’s Blog Post #1097

Dear Colleagues! This is Asrar Qureshi’s Blog Post #1097 for Pharma Veterans. Pharma Veterans Blogs are published by Asrar Qureshi on its dedicated site https://pharmaveterans.com. Please email to pharmaveterans2017@gmail.com  for publishing your contributions here.

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Credit: Marcos Felips

Credit: Yan Krukau

Preamble

During my first basic training program at an MNC, we were trained by three top bosses of the company. The company did not have a dedicated training department, hence this arrangement. The senior most gentleman was marketing manager, and he was teaching complex subjects also. For us, he seemed to have all the knowledge in the world. We were in awe. However, one thing disturbed us. When he asked questions from participants and did not get the reply he desired, he would usually retort with ‘sh*t’ and ‘bullsh*t’. When it happened over few days, we felt greatly stressed. We talked about this to the other senior manager/trainer who listened to us sympathetically but expressed his inability to do anything about it. This was our first experience with a tough boss. Later, during a long career, met many bad to toxic bosses and saw people suffering. 

In today’s fast-paced corporate world, stress is inevitable. But not all stress comes from the workload—often, it stems from the people we report to. A bad boss can turn a dream job into a mental health nightmare. In fact, studies have shown that the relationship between an employee and their manager is one of the strongest predictors of workplace satisfaction—or distress.

Let’s explore how bad bosses impact mental health and what individuals and organizations can do to counter this silent epidemic.

The Psychological Damage Bad Bosses Can Cause

Chronic Stress and Anxiety

When you’re constantly walking on eggshells, unsure of your boss’s mood or next move, your mind is in a constant state of alert. This leads to anxiety, sleepless nights, and even physical symptoms like headaches or high blood pressure. Over time, these symptoms can convert into real diseases. 

Lack of Recognition and Support

Employees thrive on appreciation. When bosses fail to recognize achievements or provide constructive feedback, it leads to feelings of worthlessness and frustration. Over time, this undermines motivation and engagement. There is a limit to which the employees can remain self-motivated, beyond that, they start losing energy to perform better. 

Toxic Communication

Bosses who yell, ridicule, use sarcasm, or engage in public shaming create a hostile environment. Such behavior doesn't just affect performance—it chips away at a person’s confidence and mental wellbeing. It is said everywhere that the work should be criticized, not the person. However, toxic bosses start with personal attack and continue with it.

Unfairness and Favoritism

Nothing breaks team spirit faster than favoritism. When promotions, responsibilities, or praise are doled out unfairly, it leads to resentment, a sense of injustice, and a toxic atmosphere. With impunity, favored people are upgraded, given perks and benefits, and 

Overwork and No Boundaries

Bad bosses often fail to respect personal time. They push employees to be available 24/7, blur the lines between work and life, and reward burnout over balance. This results in emotional exhaustion and eventual breakdown.

Erosion of Self-Worth

When a boss constantly criticizes and never encourages, it destroys self-esteem. Employees begin to question their own abilities and internalize failure—even when it isn’t their fault. Loss of self-worth is probably the most damaging effect caused by toxic bosses, because it haunts the employees for long time.

What Organizations Should Do

Leadership Training

Equip managers with skills in emotional intelligence, empathy, and communication. Not everyone who’s technically skilled is fit to lead. Focus from technical competence should be shifted to people competence. Those who do not change even after training should be removed.

360-Degree Feedback Systems

Implement systems where managers are also evaluated by their teams. This creates accountability and encourages self-improvement. I have seen that 360-degree does help though to a limited extent.

Mental Health Programs

Companies should offer counseling, mental health days, and employee wellness programs that are accessible and stigma-free. Ideally, these should be free and built into employee benefits.

Clear Reporting Channels

Employees should have safe, confidential ways to report abusive behavior without fear of retaliation. HR departments can play a vital role in it.

Build a Culture of Respect  

Organizations must go beyond slogans and truly embed respect, fairness, and kindness into their culture.

What Employees Can Do

Set Personal Boundaries  

It’s okay to say no. Protect your time and energy, especially outside work hours. It may not be so easy, but somehow it should be exercised as far as possible.

Document Toxic Behavior

Keep records of incidents. These can be useful if you need to involve HR or seek legal advice later. It is a good defense that would come in handy when needed.

Seek Support

Don’t suffer in silence. Talk to peers, mentors, or mental health professionals. Talk to HR for help and support, though in many organizations, HR is unable to take on line managers, but effort should be done all the same.

Focus on Self-Care

Exercise, eat well, rest, and disconnect. Your mental resilience is your best armor. Mental health requires good physical health also.

Know When to Move On

If the environment remains toxic despite your efforts, it’s not a failure to leave—it’s self-preservation. We understand that people who work with such bosses for long, lose their self-esteem to an extent that they find it hard to even move elsewhere. They are also apprehensive that they may not face the same at the new place. However, it is important to leave this place and move on.

Sum Up

Bad bosses don’t just affect job performance—they can damage lives. Mental health matters, and leadership must be held to a higher standard. Organizations that ignore this issue risk losing their best people, promoting toxic cultures, and ultimately paying the price in lost productivity and reputation.

It’s time we stop tolerating toxic leadership and start valuing kindness, empathy, and respect as core management skills. The usual argument that these bosses are producing results is as stale as it lame. Results may become even better by replacing toxic bosses with better people.

Concluded.

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For most blogs, I research from several sources which are open to public. Their links are mentioned under references. There is no intent to infringe upon anyone’s copyrights. If, any claim is lodged, it will be acknowledged and recognized duly.