You know you have a bad boss if...
...He doesn't keep his word to you and other employees who report to him. (39 percent don't.)

...She doesn't give you credit when you've earned it. (37 percent don't.)

...He has given you the "silent treatment" at least once in the past year. (31 percent did.)

...She makes negative comments about you behind your back to other employees or managers. (25 percent did.)

...He invades your personal privacy. (24 percent did.)

...She blames others to cover up mistakes she made or to minimize her own embarrassment. (23 percent did.)

According to researchers from Florida State University who polled more than 700 people working in a variety of jobs, bad boss behavior such as this creates problems not only for employees, but also for companies since such treatment leads to poor morale, less production and higher turnover.

The No. 1 reason people quit their jobs isn't low pay or boring work. It's due to a bad boss.

"They say that employees don't leave their job or company, they leave their boss," lead study author Wayne Hochwarter, an associate professor of management in the College of Business at Florida State University, told The Associated Press. "No abuse should be taken lightly, especially in situations where it becomes a criminal act," said Hochwarter.

Those who are in abusive relationships with their bosses experience more exhaustion, job tension, nervousness, depressed moods and mistrust, notes AP. And that's not all. "They (employees) were less likely to take on additional tasks, such as working longer or on weekends, and were generally less satisfied with their job," the researchers write in The Leadership Quarterly. "Also, employees were more likely to leave if involved in an abusive relationship than if dissatisfied with pay."

What's an employee with a bad boss supposed to do? Remain optimistic, advises Hochwarter. "It is important to stay positive, even when you get irritated or discouraged, because few subordinate-supervisor relationships last forever," he told AP. "You want the next boss to know what you can do for the company." He encourages employees to stay visible so others can notice your talent and contributions.

There are three instances in which you shouldn't just bide your time. If you ever feel threatened, harassed or discriminated against, you should seek assistance from your company's grievance committee or retain your own legal representation. "Others know who the bullies are at work," Hochwarter explained to AP. "They likely have a history of mistreating others."

--From the Editors at Netscape